So, master of disaster, Mr. JSNYDCSA Snr. has somehow gone and broke MS Outlook (running on Windows 11) again. You may recall that his ability to do so is legendary
Outlook 2007 .pst File at 2GB, Uh Oh! AutoArchive the fix? Caveats?
and likely significantly holding up the bottom line of Pernod Ricard makers of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

I've gone through a LOT of googling to try and fix Outlook's broken .pst (or .ost, whatever) file that has now somehow become corrupted. Windows own Outlook PST fix runs but then hangs while trying to fix/repair.

I've got two ideas to try and (a) bring money to the problem and (b) possibly split off a significant portion of Mr. JSNYDCSA Snr's large .pst file to bring the size of the day-to-day file into a more manageable size. Of course, doing this remotely adds to the fun.

Any ideas about the following programs
DataNumen Outlook Repair. ( https://www.datanumen.com/outlook-repair/ )
Stellar Repair for Outlook ( https://www.stellardata-recovery.com...pst-repair.php )
Kernel Recovery for Outlook PST Repair ( https://www.nucleustechnologies.com/...st-repair.html )
SysTools Outlook Repair ( https://www.systoolsgroup.com/buy/?id=SYS0O0R8S )
Particularly interested in the latter b/c it offers SysTools PST Splitter Tool "Proficient solution to split oversized Microsoft Outlook PST file and save them into multiple smaller parts with complete data." (See https://www.systoolsgroup.com/split-pst.html ). As mentioned above, thought would be to fix, then split off old stuff into an archived file of some sort.

But for now, baby steps. Get it fixed.

Thanks.

Out of curiosity, how big is the PST file? I haven't used any of those tools, but the PST file would have to be huge for it to not fix (also could take a long time.... I'd probably trigger the repair job and then go to sleep).

Also, make sure you copy the original PST file as a backup before doing any further recovery.... I've seen cases where the tools say they don't touch the original file but they do and oops...

I didn't notice during my remote session. And, to be honest, I don't think jsnydcsa Snr.'s only problem is the size of the file . He just manages to break things when it comes to PCs. Things that - at least to the amateur IT support person in me - consistently amaze as to how he can break something. I've had to fix so many things over the years, I've just become numb to it. This forum is riven with my posts about "fixing" something that he's gotten himself into. It's just always a mess.

I will. I mostly want to "rescue" the PST file then archive it and start him with a "new" clean Outlook. While I work on this, he's been using gMail on the web via Firefox and hasn't been complaining too much. But that has a learning curve too due a different interface from Outlook, how to do things (upload/attach a file to an outgoing email), etc. I'm kind of hoping that he just starts using gMail on the web via Firefox. Hard to break that! (And, yes, I've heard ... get him a Chromebook).

He saves WAY too many (and entirely irrelevant in the future) emails. E.g. every single update email from a shipping company (FedEx, UPS, USPS) as an item moves through its system. If he knew all those emails were somehow "fixed" and now "saved" or backed up/archived, he would (and I would) be a lot less cantankerous about the issue.

Part of the reason I ask is that there is a file size limit depending on the version of Outlook. For those that archive emails, I generally encourage them to close off PST files on a yearly basis. Even if it's not through usage, it's just data retention... A disconnected PST file does no harm.

Is it a gmail address he uses? You could always use Outlook.com which would be closer to an Outlook experience. I dislike gmail as they don't really encourage users to do proper email housekeeping. Most users just mark their emails as read and move on... few delete the emails and it's never really sorted. Sure you can apply tags and whatnot, but how many people actually take the time to even archive the emails in there? I know a few people who have over 100k emails

One thing you could do is potentially take say an hour or so a month or couple of months just doing a cleanup of his mailbox.... maybe keep the "delivered" emails and delete the others. I generally keep my emails, but I also have them sorted automatically so work is very minimal on my end. Once you spot the patterns, it's relatively easy.

Thanks for all the tips. I appreciate it.

So, we're working this through with a 10MB sized outlook file and a bottle of Jamesons. Gotta say the systools site is terrible with providing and actual link to the software after you pay for it. SysTools Outlook Recovery https://www.systoolsgroup.com/outlook-recovery.html https://www.systoolsgroup.com/buy/?id=SYS0O0R8S Absolutely terrible UI once you (finally) download it. Online chat help appears to be offshored. :Lots of "may" "Just let it" "if this file" etc comments from chat/help that don't indicate care or knowledge of software and problems. much less assist with UI and software. Would not recommend. But, as typing this - Jamesons in hand - will see what happens. Honestly am not optimistic. Software is SLOW. Started this on afternoon of 22 Dec at about 2-3pm ET and it's been running ALL night until now approx 8:00am ET on 23 Dec wth no signof progress other than a spinning circle and ever changing "Folder" [name that is purportedly being fixed] and a "Count" [with no tally of progress such as X of Y]. Is it working? No idea. Tho I'll save this thread for now. I'll come back later and update. Frankly, even if the software "works" I would not recommend.

2025-12-24 12:45pm ET update. Program is still running - been running for nearly 48hrs approx. In approx. 24 hours gone from approx 7,500,000 Kbytes to approx. 10,120,000 Kbytes (approx. 9.65 GB per Windows Properties). #maddening

I suppose in a promising way, it's at least still running. #doublejamesons

Merry I.T. Christmas! This is the way unfortunately to go and it will take a transition time for him to get used to gMail but probably for the best. If he gets email newsletters on a daily/weekly basis try and subscribe to them for him on his new email address and slowly over time he might depend less on .pst Outlook.

p.s. checked out the prior (2010 (!!)) .pst thread - great stuff!

So, I'm back.

OK. So, I have now spent the better part of my life which I will not get back and several bottles of Jamesons on "teaching" jsnydcsa Snr. how to use gMail. He's got the basics.

In the meantime, this systools thing APPEARS (emphasis on ... APPEARS) to have "worked" at least in the short term. That is to say he's now able to open and run Outlook and things appear to run normally. I've completed a few tasks to potentially move things forward. (1) I copied the "fixed" file over to an offline device so that at least there MAY be a fixed/clean file for future use. (2) he's sworn to me that he's just going to start wholesale deletion in Outlook of various "Newsletter" type folders of 10+ years worth of "Click here for the latest weekly news on X, Y, Z". I'm hoping that helps. He's a digital hoarder. This is tough.

Still, I would NOT recommend systools. Yes, it "worked". But I don't know how or why it worked or what it did. That makes (a) understanding the problem and (b) how to fix the problem the inevitable next time impossible. Add in bad CS/online help. So, not recommending systools.

Personally when I set someone up with a new email, I recommend web based emails with one proviso... I make sure they know to delete email based MFA on a regular business (preferably after every use). Otherwise I have to constantly remind them to do it...

A while ago I, for various technical reasons, wanted to get away from MS Outlook as an email client - Have you considered eMClient? I actually purchased a license for it, but it is free if you wish. (Plus it has a free mobile version to go with it.) It will handle most email services and the rule automation is quite nice - similar to outlook so setting up a few rules can help tame all those emails / perform an auto archive based upon your needs. Give it a look, I think you'll like it. I set it up for my dad (89 and still chugging!) and so far, no complaints..

99.4% of my mother in law's IT issues went away when we got rid of her PC and gave her an iPad. I went the additional couple steps of enrolling it in MDM so I could enforce auto updates and a passcode. And so I could remotely add wifi networks it would connect to, since she just says, "I wouldn't know how to do that!" when she wants to do anything besides scroll Facebook or read emails.

I actually think that could be a solution. Perhaps "mirroring" the apps on his phone might prove worthwhile. But, biggest problem for jsnydcsa Snr. is the 0.6% part. He is quite "old school" writing letters, creating envelopes (I think he still uses Crane's letterhead!) etc and is used to (from nearly 40-50 years of very white collar executive work) doing it "that way" - granted he had a secretary, underlings and a typing pool at his disposal at work but its just the way he does it. Having a computer, with a keyboard and a screen (I know an iPad would be rigged that way) is just "his way." In addition, he still works and has to file online reports through a couple of company "portals" - I don't know if he uploads a scanned PDF of what he's written/typed or if he's filling in blanks on said portal(s) to complete the report. I have my limits, I don't think I'd be able to teach him how to do same via an iPad (scan to PDF, save, log in to portal, upload PDF, type in portal, etc.). I'll grant you that an iPad solves the big email - Outlook problem as he's familiar with the Apple Mail interface on his iPhone and the gMail for iOS app is somewhat similar to Apple's mail app and similarly intuitive to gMail on the web.

But you're 100% right. Most of the stuff he does - on his iPhone - is just scroll/scroll/scroll and mash out Apple messages that inevitably include various effects b/c he pushes and holds the send arrow to long. Nothing like a text "Guess what? The guys are here to mow the lawn." with the Slam/Fireworks/etc. effect. Thanks for letting me know Dad!

Someday, I'll be that old. And, my kids will no doubt have to provide IT support for my Microsoft pacemaker or something and I'll try and be more understanding.

They do make keyboards for iPads, too, if that helps.

He could handle that given that he knows how to use Bluetooth - for his hearing aids which are somehow controlled by his iPhone. I've completely outsourced that entire process to the folks at Costco's hearing aids department. They seem patient enough to talk him through it and he's "learned" how to do it.