Corruption of Outlook PST files can have a huge impact on productivity. It™s important to take steps to avoid it in the first place.
The following are 13 tips for doing just that:
1. Keep Your Computer Clean and Updated:
It is important to keep your computer free from viruses, spyware, and other malicious programs. Regularly scan your computer for any potential threats and update your operating system with the latest security patches. Additionally, keep all software you use regularly up-to-date to ensure its compatibility with Outlook PST files.
2. Avoid Overloading It:
Outlook PST files grow in size as more data is added to them over time. To prevent the file from becoming too large and unwieldy, periodically delete emails, attachments and other data that you no longer need.
3. Use an Anti-Virus Program:
Install an anti-virus program on your computer to protect against malicious programs that may damage Outlook PST files. Be sure to keep the program up-to-date with the latest virus definitions and scan your computer regularly for any threats.
4. Back Up Your Data Regularly:
Create regular backups of all important data stored in Outlook PST files so that you can easily restore it if lost or corrupted due to an unforeseen event. You can use Windows Backup and Restore or a third-party backup solution such as Acronis True Image for this purpose.
5. Don™t Use Outlook PST Files For Network Sharing:
Outlook PST files are not designed to be shared across multiple computers on a network. Doing so can lead to corruption of the file and data loss.
6. Don™t Use Compression Software on Outlook PST Files:
Using compression software such as WinZip or WinRar can corrupt Outlook PST files, leading to data loss. Therefore, it is important to avoid using these types of applications on them.
7. Avoid Interruptions During File Transfers:
If you are transferring an Outlook PST file over the internet or a local area network, make sure that there is no interruption in the connection during the transfer process. An interruption could cause the file to become corrupted.
8. Use The Built-in PST Repair Tool:
Outlook comes with a built-in repair tool for Outlook PST files, which can be used to fix any minor corruptions that may have occurred. To use it, open up the Control Panel and type œscanpst in the search box. The executable will then launch and allow you to select the Outlook PST file you want to repair.
9. Don™t Modify or Delete System Files:
Don™t modify or delete any system files related to Outlook, such as the outlook.exe or pstprx32.dll files, as this could lead to the corruption of your Outlook PST file.
10. Don™t Use Multiple Profiles:
Using multiple profiles with Outlook can lead to corruption of the PST file, so it is best to avoid this practice if possible.
11. Defragment Your Hard Drive:
Defragmenting your hard drive on a regular basis can help keep Outlook PST files running optimally and reduce the risk of corruption. You can do this by opening up My Computer, right-clicking on the C drive, and selecting œProperties from the menu that appears. Select the œTools tab from here and then click œDefragment Now to begin the process.
12. Avoid Adding Attachments To Emails:
Adding attachments to emails increases the file size and can lead to slow performance. In addition, if you save a copy of the attachment to your hard drive for later use, remember to delete it from the email once you no longer need it.
13. Turn off Outlook Add-ins when not needed:
Turn off any Outlook add-ins that is not being used as they could be causing corruption or slowing down performance. To do this, go to œTools > œOptions > œAdd-Ins and uncheck any add-in that is not currently in use.
Conclusion:
Following these tips can help keep Outlook PST files running smoothly and free from corruption. Regular backups should be created to ensure that any data lost due to a corrupted file can be restored quickly and easily. Additionally, using an anti-virus program and avoiding unnecessary file transfers can also help protect the health of your Outlook PST files.
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