Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Apps and Features on the pop-up menu.
If an Office application such as Word or Excel isn’t working correctly, sometimes restarting it will fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, you can try repairing it. When you’re done, you might need to restart your computer.
Repair Office from the Control Panel
The steps to access the repair tool vary depending on your operating system. Choose from the drop-down list below.
- Select your operating system
Select the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select Modify.
Note: This will repair the entire Office suite even if it's just one application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone app installed, then search for that application by name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or MSI-based install, you'll see the following options to proceed with the repair. Follow the steps for your installation type.
Click-to-run
In the window How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair > Repair to make sure everything gets fixed. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Control Panel from the pop-up menu.
From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Right-click the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and from the drop-down, select Change.
Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home, or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:
Click-to-Run installation type:
In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based installation type:
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Click the Start button > Control Panel.
From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Click the Office product you want to repair, and then click Change.
Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home, or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
Depending if your copy of Office is Click-to-run or an MSI-based install, do the following for your Office installation type:
Click-to-Run installation type:
In How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair to make sure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. (The faster Quick Repair option is also available, but it only detects and then replaces corrupted files.)
MSI-based installation type:
In Change your installation, select Repair and then click Continue.
Follow the remaining instructions on the screen to complete the repair.
Running Repair didn't help. Now what?
Use this easy fix tool to completely uninstall Office.
Click the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool. (This tool won't uninstall stand-alone apps such as Project or Visio. For stand-alone apps, uninstall the app using the control panel.)
Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.
Tip: The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.
Edge or Internet Explorer
At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.
Chrome
In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.
Firefox
In the pop-up window, select Save File.
Next, from the upper-right of the FireFox browser window, select the downloads arrow and then select SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.
Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.
Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.
After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.
Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.
Office 365 | Office 2019 | Office 2016 | Office 2013 | Office 2010 | Office 2007
Is my Office Click-to-Run or MSI-based?
Open an Office application, such as Outlook or Word.
Go to File > Account or Office Account.
If you see an 'Update Options' item, you have a Click-to-Run installation. If you don't see the 'Update Options' item, you have an MSI-based install.
![Outlook Repair Tool 2013 Outlook Repair Tool 2013](https://www.sfware.com/images/sfpstrt/2-sfware-pst-repair-tool-select-drive-and-find-pst.png)
Generally, we found that Inbox Repair Tool works in minor corruption issues and repair header corruptions only. So get a solution that will help you in getting your Outlook data to file back even if you are facing Microsoft Outlook Inbox repair tool not responding issue.
Sadly enough, scanpst.exe does not always excel in fixing the errors of Personal Storage Table. Most people who use Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 desktop mail program do often get stuck with a sarcasm, which can be framed and explained as below:
User’s words – I have scanned my PST file with scanpst.exe utility and it still displays an error with the following message:
Error Message: “Internal errors were found in this file. They must be repaired for this file to work correctly.”
“I did choose repair and got the ‘Repair Completed’ message after running it. But even then I am getting the same error message again when I try to open the PST files. How can I successfully fix corruption of Outlook data file while Inbox Repair tool not responding and unable to access its email data items?’ I am pretty sure it just matched your line of words, isn’t it!”
The irony is due to the fact that it (Scanpst) is a tool rendered in the mail program itself but fails at most times and many things more can be understood from the below section. You can download Inbox Repair Tool Alternative Solution, available for free download here:
Why is Inbox Repair Tool not Responding?
It is a fact that Scanpst.exe keeps encountering issues and often fails to repair your corrupted Outlook Personal Folders. It becomes quite a troublesome process when the inbuilt utility Inbox Repair Tool not responding at all or fails to fix the corruption issue. This is because the facility provided by Microsoft, to repair the damaged Personal Folders is free of cost tool that gets installed automatically with the installation of Outlook desktop mail program on the any Windows machine irrespective of the version.
Moreover, it is available for free with all releases of MS Outlook desktop client and is the one and only inbuilt utility. That is, whichever version like Microsoft Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, scanpst.exe automatically get installed in Microsoft Office. Therefore, it can be said that when the need is to fix corruption in Outlook data while Microsoft Inbox Repair Tool not working, the situation gets really difficult. But ever thought why the .pst file gets corrupt, why the scanpst.exe fails to work, need for executing the repair tool, etc. Well, there are several reasons behind these. So, let’s discuss the subjects in detail!
Need for Running the Inbox Repair Tool
A general need for running the ScanPST.exe arises when Outlook rejects loading or opening PST files and displays several errors. Screenshots of some of the error messages are given below:
Failure of Inbox Repair Tool for Outlook
Whenever PST files fail to open due to corruption issues, Scanpst, the Inbox Repair Tool automatically pops up with a message seeking permission to repair damaged PST file. And at times users themselves opt for the application to get the Personal Folders repaired when they are sure about corruption. But most often it ends up ScanPST not responding during repair process or ScanPST does not working issues. Know why?
When the Scanpst is executed it provides browse option to select the Personal Storage Table. On clicking on the Repair tab of the tool it checks the file directory structure and file headers, which are actually low-level objects and tries to repair the file. But unfortunately, it fails to repair the upper-level objects such as email messages, attachments, calendar, contacts-list, notes etc. The worst feature of the utility is that when it gets unable to read the hierarchy of files/ folders, it deletes the entire folder along with the sub-folders from the directory. This results in complete data loss which would otherwise have been prevented.
Preventive Steps for PST File Corruption Issues
There is a well-known saying that ‘Prevention is better than Cure’. Therefore, in this section of the blog, common corruption causes are discussed so that PST file can be protected from getting damaged. Though there are a lot of safety measures in-built in Outlook for the prevention of .pst file corruption, there are multiple reasons that may result in damage and are mentioned below:
- Malicious Attack by Viruses – Deadly viruses and Trojans may attack the Outlook data files and damage them. Therefore, computer systems should be kept well protected by the use of anti-viruses and anti-malware.
- Corruption in File Header – Damage in file header leads to inaccessibility of PST (Personal Storage Table) files that sometimes lead to complete corruption of the storage files and further results inaccessibility of stored data items.
- Improper Extermination – Terminating MS Outlook improperly and frequently is also one of the causes of PST file corruption in all versions of Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 etc. and hence should be avoided.
- OS Re-installation – Sometimes due to re-installation of operating system the Outlook data files face corruption. Therefore, as far as possible OS re-installation should be avoided.
- Increase in PST File Size – When the storage limit exceeds the PST file size, the Personal Folders are more likely to get corrupt. Hence, the storage limit should not be crossed.
- Crash in PC/Outlook – Computer might crash at any time and if it crashes while Outlook is in running state, then PST files may get corrupt. So, frequent backups of the PST file should be made.
- Fault in Add-ins –Sometimes the add-ins may also cause corruption to the PST file. Thence faulty add-ins should be removed completely or at least disabled.
- PST file Storage on a Network Share – PST files are designed to be stored on a local hard drive. Utilizing them from a network share is not supported by Microsoft and leads to PST corruption, data corruption, and even data loss. Therefore, PST files must be used on the local hard drive.
Finally, a Suggestion
On failure of prevention from corruption issues, PST files get damaged. So, you need a powerful Inbox Repair Tool Alternative to repair Outlook PST file when Inbox Repair Tool not responding for Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007. A reliable application to save the retrieved data after fixing corruption issues, in various common mail formats as well as in the inherent file type. Therefore, it can be investigated and used in case corruption is severe and Scanpst.exe fails to work.
Most of the errors in Outlook arise due to corruption in its Personal Folders (PST) file. This further leads to isolation of all the data items such as emails, tasks, contacts, calendar, journals, etc. that you stored in it. The reason is that all these data items get stored in the PST file, which if damaged, denies you access to all the information within it.
However, for you to overcome this unfavorable situation, Microsoft has a free of cost utility called ‘Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)’ inbuilt in Outlook. The sole purpose is to empower you to be able to repair Outlook PST file by executing it.
However, the downside is that it is well suited for users with an advanced technical know-how. Also, severe corruption issues can be outside its capability in several situations. There are many other software utilities that are at par with scanpst.exe, which can give you a healthy Outlook data file while overcoming the limitations of the inbuilt tool. Thus, they can be used as alternatives, for both individual and business purposes.
Listed below are the 6 alternatives to Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe):
Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair
It is an out-of-the-box software that can repair your PST file, even if it is severely damaged and has a capacity greater than 2GB. It also provides you with the option to locate the PST file if its location is unknown. Moreover, it can retrieve data from encrypted Outlook data file.
It restores all the Outlook data items in a new PST file that can be saved in any desired location. You can then directly import it in Outlook that is configured in your system. Further, it allows you to save the emails in multiple file formats such as MSG, EML, RTF, HTML, and PDF.
You can use it on your system that runs Windows 10, 8, 7, or Vista. Talking about the Outlook program, it supports all availableversionsincludingOutlook 2016. Last but not the least, it enhances your experience with its self-explanatory interface. It is not just at par with any other tool but excels in what it has been devised for.
Pros | Cons |
Supports encrypted PST file that has been damaged | I didn't find any |
Allows saving emails in multiple file formats |
Disk Internals Outlook Recovery
It is a PST repair software that can repair the corrupt Outlook file and retrieve all its data items, however, not from the encrypted file. It can even recover the deleted emails and attachments, even if they are removed from Deleted Items folder. Plus, it can locate the Personal Folders file even if its location is unknown.
It also empowers you to save the retrieved emails in EML format, and imports in email clients such as Outlook, Vista Mail, and Outlook Express. Before saving, it gives you the provision to preview the recoverable data files.
Pros | Cons |
Fully automatic | Its latest version 3.3 supports Outlook only up to version 2007 |
Can recover deleted emails | Cannot recover from encrypted PST files |
DataNumen Outlook Repair
It is a renowned Outlook repair software that forms a new PST file with the suffix ‘fixed’ added to its name. For instance, if the name of the corrupt PST file is xxx.pst, the repaired file with complete data items will be saved as xxx_fixed.pst. Here, you have the provision to select the format of the fixed PST file from the two possible formats - Outlook 97-2002 and Outlook 2003-2010.
Pros | Cons |
Can retrieve Outlook data from damaged PST file. It is useful for all versions of MS Outlook | Supports saving emails only in plain text, RTF, and HTML format |
Outlook Mail Recovery
The Outlook Mail Recovery by Disk Doctors can recover the data items from a damaged PST file, and save them in a newly created PST file. Although its name signifies that only emails can be recovered, however, it has more to offer. With this utility, you can also retrieve all data items such as emails, attachments, calendar items, contacts, tasks, and journals.
This software is not bound by the causes of corruption; therefore, it can repair any corrupt Outlook data file. However, even its latest version supports Outlook to the maximum of 2007 version, and not the ones released post that. For instance, Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007.
Pros | Cons |
Can recover attachments of extremely vast size and embedded HTML messages | Does not support Outlook 2010, 2013 & 2016 |
Supports both high encryption and compressed encryption PST file | Outdated regarding support for Outlook and Windows OS version |
Yodot Outlook PST Repair
Another software that can repair corrupt Outlook data file is Outlook PST Repair by the highly reliable data recovery company called Yodot.
It has a ‘Smart Scan’ option with the help of which it retrieves data from even the severely damaged PST. Moreover, it comes up with a message on the screen when the scanning process ends. The message reveals the number of each kind of data items that can be retrieved in the new Personal Folders file.
Pros | Cons |
Retrieves deleted emails in the new PST by default | Does not support Outlook 2016 |
Repairs Outlook OST file as well |
OutlookFIX - Cimaware Software’s
OutlookFIX from is yet another notable PST repair software that can repair Personal Folders file of Outlook version 2016, Outlook 2013 PST file, as well as supports all other versions. It is a flawless software at par with the Outlook’s Inbox Repair Tool. Moreover, it overcomes the limitations of the built-in tool called scanpst.exe.
Pros | Cons |
Does not cause data loss | Password protected PST can be repaired only if it is not encrypted |
It is a 9001:2000 certified software | MS Outlook must be correctly configured to be able to run the tool |
The Final Word
MS Outlook provides you the benefit of exchanging emails, storing contact information in Contacts, preparing notes through Notes component, scheduling your work through Tasks, etc. in your personal and professional life.
Therefore, when its PST file gets damaged, or corrupt, and the stored data items turn inaccessible, these six recommended tools serve as alternatives to the built-in Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe). You can choose the one that best fits your needs and requirements.
Outlook has an in-built repair tool that helps users to diagnose and repair corrupt or damage PST or OST files. The in-built Outlook repair tool is commonly known as scanpst.exe and it gets installed in machine as soon as user installs the Outlook as mailing client in their machine. The main purpose of (Scanpst.exe) is to diagnose and repair the file errors. As the name suggest the Inbox Repair tool only scans the PST and OST file not the mailbox on Server. By scanning the PST, tool checks weather the file structure is intact or not. If it finds the problem in file structure then it first reset its structure then rebuilt the headers.
Get enriched information & locate Scanpst.exe or Inbox repair tool in Vista, XP Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. Search out where scanpst.exe is located in local system for windows 32bit as well as 64 bit for your MS Outlook version.
Location of Scanpst.exe File
Microsoft Outlook has different versions and depending on the combination of versions of Outlook and Windows, the location of Scanpst.exe file also varies. Here, is the table showing location of scan.pst in different locations of Outlook.
You can use the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data file. The Inbox Repair tool checks the Outlook data files on your computer to see if they're in good shape.
You might want to use the Inbox Repair tool in the following situations:
You receive a message that Outlook can't open your data file
You receive a message that Outlook can't open the set of folders
You think your Outlook data file may be damaged
If you're using an Exchange email account, you can delete the offline Outlook Data File (.ost) and Outlook will recreate the offline Outlook Data File (.ost) the next time you open Outlook.
Notes:
![Office repair tool 2013 Office repair tool 2013](https://www.softaken.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/outlook-pst-recovery-tool.jpg)
Microsoft Outlook Repair Tool 2013
The Inbox Repair tool doesn't connect or analyze any data stored in an Exchange mailbox. The tool only looks for errors (corruption), and if there are any, gives you the opportunity to allow the tool to fix those errors. If you can't start the Inbox Repair tool, you should try to repair your Outlook program.
We recommend backing up your existing Outlook data file before you start the Inbox Repair tool. For more information, see How to back up an Outlook data file.
Repair an Outlook data file (.pst) file
Exit Outlook and browse to one of the following file locations:
Outlook 2019: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
Outlook 2016: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficerootOffice16
Outlook 2013: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15
Outlook 2010: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14
Outlook 2007: C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice12
Open SCANPST.EXE.
Select Browse to select the Outlook Data File (.pst) you want to scan. If you need help locating your Outlook Data File, see Locating the Outlook Data Files.
Note: By default, a new log file is created during the scan. You can choose Options and opt not to have a log created, or you can have the results appended to an existing log file.
Choose Start to begin the scan.
If the scan finds errors, choose Repair to start the process to fix them.
Note: The scan creates a backup file during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup file, in the Enter name of backup file box, enter a new name, or choose Browse to select the file you want to use. You may need to run the tool several times in order to repair your Outlook Data File. In some cases, items may not be recovered if they were permanently deleted or corrupted beyond repair.
When the repair is complete, start Outlook with the profile associated with the Outlook Data File you just repaired.
What happens after you repair an Outlook Data File?
In the Folder Pane, you might see a folder named Recovered Personal Folders that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. Although the repair process might recreate some of the folders, they may be empty. The Lost and Found folder contains any folders and items recovered by the repair tool that Outlook can't place in their original structure.
Create new data file
You can create a new Outlook Data File and drag the items in the Lost and Found folder into the new data file. After you've moved all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file, including the Lost and Found folder. To create a new Outlook Data File, see Create an Outlook Data File.
Recover items from the backup (.bak) file
If you can open the original Outlook Data File, you might be able to recover additional items. The Inbox Repair tool creates a backup file with the same name as the original, but with a .bak extension, and saves it in the same folder. There may be items in the backup file that you might be able to recover that the Inbox Repair tool couldn't.
Browse to the folder where the .pst file is stored and you'll find the .bak file (for example, [email protected]) created by the Inbox Repair tool.
Make a copy of the .bak file and rename it with a bak.pst extension. For example, [email protected].
Import the bak.pst file into Outlook, and use the Import and Export Wizard to import any additional recovered items into the newly created .pst file.
Note: Learn how to import a .pst file by reading Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file.
Locating the Outlook Data Files
You can check the location of your Outlook Data Files in Outlook.
Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
Select the Data Files tab.
All Outlook Data Files (.pst) and Offline Data Files (.ost) are listed along with the name of the account the files are associated with.