Hi guys I’ve got a strange problem with pst file in outlook 2003. When I link this file (dimension 1 Gb) appears a windows that said “the files ….. are not pst files”. I’ve tried to link the same pst file, but of 1 years ago (Dimension 250 Mb) and outlook recognizes it. After that I’ve begin to try some software that recovery the pst file (Scanpst.exe, Stellar Phoenix Outlook Pst Repair, R-Mail for Outlook, RecoveryToolboxForOutlook, Ontrack® Data Recovery, ecc...) but doesn’t work because they can’t recognize it as a pst file. Have you got any idea about the recovery of this file? You know some particular procedures to try? Or programs more powerful that those I used? Thanks in advance.

What do you mean by "link?" Are you trying to add that pst to your data files list? That's how you should view the contents. How large is the file? Did you make a copy of it before you started using all those programs to manipulate it? "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

<quote> What do you mean by "link?" Are you trying to add that pst to your data files list? That's how you should view the contents. </quote> Yes, with the term "link" i wanted to say "add in my data files list". I explained evil (I'm Italian and not good with English :-( ) <quote>How large is the file?</quote> 1 Gigabytes <quote>Did you make a copy of it before you started using all those programs to manipulate it?</quote> Yes, the dimension of this copy is 250 Megabytes and Outlook recognizes and opens the archive.

So you have an older archive.pst that is 250 MB (in size not dimension) and a newer archive that is 1 Gig, and that's the one that won't open? If using all those programs fails to correct the issue, I would say the file is corrupt and unrecoverable. "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

<quote>So you have an older archive.pst that is 250 MB (in size not dimension) and a newer archive that is 1 Gig, and that's the one that won't open?</quote> Yes, outlook won't open the archive of 1 Gig <quote>If using all those programs fails to correct the issue, I would say the file is corrupt and unrecoverable.</quote> I don't know. Is too strange that an old version of the same archive is opened but the most recent no (also is not recognized as a pst file).

Exactly, but that can happen if the file is corrupt. To help alleviate future problems, download and install pfbackup from Microsoft's Website. It's a program that allows you to schedule and run pst file backups. "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

Ok, Thanks a lot Jennifer for the support and for the suggestion.