Microsoft Outlook PST is a database that can corrupt due to various reasons. A corrupt PST is usually unreadable to Outlook. In such situations, you need to repair the file using Outlook built-in or a third-party PST Recovery tool.

Further is a practical instance that depicts a similar kind of problem with Outlook PST files. Consider a user that mistakenly opens a Microsoft Outlook PST file in Microsoft Word and saves the file in its format. As a result, the user observes the usual Outlook icon changed to MS Word icon. Next, when it tries to open the file contents, the file doesn’t open. Additionally, an error pops up that reads as below:

‘An error has occurred in the script on this page’

The user cannot access the e-mail store of Outlook PST file.

Cause

The possible causes for the above error to occur are:

  1. PST file extension has changed and hence Outlook cannot recognize it as a valid file to open

  2. PST file has got corrupted due to file signature conflicts of two different applications: MS Outlook and MS Word

Solution

To solve the issues such as discussed above, you should try the following sequence of steps:

A) Try changing the file extension to ‘.pst’. For this, follow the below procedure:

  1. Open your file in Windows Explorer (or My Computer)

  2. Click ‘Tools’ and then ‘Folder Options’

  3. Click the ‘View’ tab

  4. Uncheck the option named as ‘Hide extensions for known file types’ and click ‘OK’

  5. Right-click the file icon and click ‘Rename’

  6. Type the file extension as .pst instead of existing

Next, try to open the file in Outlook. If it still shows the same symptoms, your PST is most likely corrupted.

B) Run Outlook ‘Inbox Repair Tool’ to repair the corrupted file. To do so, enable the view of hidden files and locate ‘Scanpst.exe’ file. Double-click the file to start the tool and proceed as the tool prompts.

In case the tool fails to repair the file, use a third-party PST File Recovery software. A Recover PST Tool can use intensive scanning algorithms to effectively repair a corrupted PST and restore the data.

PST Recovery Software is a reliable utility that recover PST file affected due to any sort of corruption reason. The PST File Recovery tool supports MS Outlook 2007, 2003, 2000, and 2000. The software features an Outlook resembling interface that makes it easily operable.