Windows 7 Scanpst not responding

[Zorak Wu]

Hello all,
I have a disgustingly huge .pst file (50GB) and, as expected, Outlook 2010 is having a tough time handling this file.

The reason I was alerted to this is someone I know needs to use their email all the time. When they open outlook (2010), almost every time it goes through the process of "verify data integrity." With a 50GB you can imagine it taking a while...approx 3-4 hours. Happiness for the user I'm sure.

Before I explain my troubleshooting/steps taken so far, I will give you the specs.
4gb Ram
AMD E-300 APU 1.3 GHz dual core
Model shouldn't matter but it is HP 2000 notebook pc

The 4gb is nice, the processor I find laughable compared to the task of handling a 50GB .pst

First thought...Is it the add-ons?
I tried disabling her add-ons on one ocassion (after she had waited the 4hrs to open outlook)
I tried booting in safe mode (outlook.exe /safe)

The next time it boots fine, but the time after that the issue came back. It still persists as originally described.

The second idea was the split the .pst, then compact the originally .pst
I spent several hours migrating older emails to a new .pst The process created a second .pst that was 17GB. I tried compacting the original .pst, assuming it would become 33GB, but after waiting 7+ hours I decided to abort since the original .pst changed by approx 2gb.

My last thought was to do a scanpst.exe run and eliminate the corruption.
After a nice 4-5 hours scan, it identified about 85,000 instances.
I click repair, I choose not to back it up, as I originally made a backup before I even started splitting it up.

As many experience, my scan for error was stuck at phase 7. After just letting it go, it seemingly skipped phase 8 and reported the errors found.

I am currently at hour 6+ repairing the corruptions in the .pst, after the first couple of minutes, it showed as not responding with the partially greyed out screen experiencing frequently in non-responding/heavy workload programs.

I am going to let it go, I am remotely monitoring (as I have done for most of this process). Also, I have been habitually checking the task manager, there is still activity with the program (approx 45000-50000 kb; 2-12 CPU, although honestly I am not familiar with what that number means, its obviously not cores lol), so something must be happening! But does anyone have an Idea of how long this process could take, given the circumstance.
I understand there are third party programs that are considered better than office's provided utility program. That is a last option, as unfortunately money is very tight.

I know this isn't the easiest thing to answer. Thank you all in advance!!!

 

[ChatGPT]

Managing a large PST file in Outlook can indeed be a challenging task, especially when dealing with performance issues and data corruption. Here are some insights and recommendations based on the troubleshooting steps you've already taken:

Suggestions for Managing a Large PST File in Outlook:​

1. Splitting the PST File:
   • Splitting the PST file into smaller, more manageable sizes is a good strategy. You've already attempted this by creating a new PST file, but it seems like the compacting process took an extended amount of time.
   []Repairing Corruption:
   • Using ScanPST.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) is a valid approach. The time taken for the repair process can vary based on the size of the PST file and the extent of corruption. Given the large number of errors identified, it's not uncommon for the repair process to take several hours to complete. During this time, it's normal for the program to appear unresponsive due to the intensive workload.
   []Consider Alternative Repair Tools:
   • If the repair process with ScanPST.exe is taking too long or not resolving the issues effectively, you may want to explore third-party PST repair tools. These tools can sometimes offer more advanced features and faster repair times. However, since you mentioned budget constraints, this might not be the most feasible option at the moment.
   []Monitor Progress and Patience:
   • Given the significant size of the PST file and the complexity of the repair process, it's essential to monitor the repair progress while being patient. Large-scale repairs can take a considerable amount of time to complete, so allowing the process to continue without interruptions is crucial.
   []Optimizing Outlook Performance:
   • After resolving the corruption issues, you can optimize Outlook's performance by regularly maintaining the PST file, archiving old emails, and keeping the file size within manageable limits to prevent future issues.
2. Backup Important Data:
   • Since you've already created backups, ensure that critical data is safeguarded before proceeding with any repair attempts. In conclusion, while repairing a large PST file can be a time-consuming process, it's essential to allow the repair tools to complete their tasks uninterrupted. If the repair process seems excessively prolonged or encounters persistent issues, you may need to consider alternative solutions or seek additional assistance. Keep an eye on the repair progress and be prepared for varying completion times based on the complexity of the errors detected. If you have any further questions or need more assistance, feel free to ask. Best of luck with managing the large PST file!