OST files or Offline Storage Tables are used by Microsoft Outlook to store email data offline, allowing users to work even when they are not connected to the Internet. However, OST files can become corrupted due to a number of reasons, including incorrectly configured registries. In this article, we will show you how to repair OST errors caused by incorrectly configured registries.

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Step 1: Identify the Registry Errors

The first step is to identify the registry errors that are causing the OST errors. This can be done using the built-in Registry Editor tool on Windows.

  • Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type "regedit" in the Run box & press Enter.
  • In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
  • Check if the values for the OST file path are correct. The OST file path should be in the following format:
  • C:\Users%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook%filename%.ost
  • If the values are incorrect, you will need to correct them.

Step 2: Correct the Registry Errors

Now that you have identified the registry errors, you need to correct them. Follow these steps to correct the registry errors:

  • In the Registry Editor, right-click on the "Outlook" key & select "Export".
  • Select a location to save backup file & give it a name. This will create a backup of the registry key.
  • Make the necessary changes to the values for the OST file path. Make sure that the path should be correct.
  • Close the Registry Editor & restart Outlook.

Step 3: Repair the OST File

If the registry errors were the cause of the OST errors, correcting them should fix the problem. However, if the OST file is still corrupt, you may need to repair it using the built-in repair tool in Outlook. Here's how:

  • Open Outlook & go to "File" > "Account Settings" > "Account Settings".
  • Click on the "Data Files" tab & select the OST file you want to repair.
  • Click on the "Settings" button & then click on "Advanced".
  • Hit on the "Outlook Data File Settings" button & then click on "Compact Now".
  • Wait for the tool to finish repairing the OST file.

Conclusion

Correcting registry errors is one of the most common ways to repair OST errors. If the above steps do not work, you can try using a third-party OST repair tool to fix the errors. It is important to always keep a backup of your OST files to avoid data loss in case of corruption. You can also use a third-party application like GainTools OST Converter to resolve the recovery issues without any hassle.