You'll want to remove a few characters from the middle of the file, then save it and try to run the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe) to repair the damage you did with the hex editor. Make a backup of your PST or OST, then open the original file with the hex editor (available for download from any Windows shareware site). Eugene McCarthy of FAO Headquarters in Rome recommends the free iHex editor, which loads only 64kb of the file at a time, making it ideal for tinkering with extremely large PST files. Every Windows shareware site has a selection of hex editors. If you want to attempt repairs yourself, use a tool called a hex editor to edit the data in the file directly. The remaining data under 2GB should be restored. Note, however, that the utility truncates the data from between 25 and 50mb and the truncated data is not recoverable. However, Microsoft provides a tool, PST2GB, which you can download to restore the file to operability. Outlook has no built-in way to reduce a PST or OST file that has gone over the limit. If the data file is labeled Outlook Data File (97-2002) its an older ANSI format and is limited to no more than 1.9 GB in size and no more than 65,000 items per folder (often less).If the data file is listed as Outlook Data File and you are using Outlook 2003 and up, its a Unicode data file.Click Advanced to open the data file dialog.

Right click on the top level folder and choose Properties ( Data File Properties in Outlook 2010 and newer).Other Tools | More information How to check the data file (pst) format Shrinking a file that's over the limit | Preventing files from growing too large If the old PST won't open in Outlook you will need to repair it before you can convert it. However, if you upgrade from an older version you need to create a new PST, the older PST format is not automatically converted or upgraded. In Outlook 2003 and newer, an ANSI pst is identified as Outlook Data File (97-2002).īeginning with Outlook 2003, larger PST files are supported. pst file in Outlook 2013, 2016, or newer and plan to leave it in the profile, it is recommended you import the pst to a new pst file.

Microsoft outlook personal folders