OST Inaccessible while Exchange Database Issues
John Peter
February 02, 2010
Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server together can combine a number of factors that create situations of losing mailbox data. The database administrator might delete a mailbox accidentally or replace it to fix corruption. Though not intended originally, an offline folder (.ost), which is the local copy of your mailbox, does serve the purpose of the mailbox backup. However, in worst scenarios, the .ost file doesn't work and is left orphaned with data unrecoverable unless operated by a third-party Convert OST to PST tool.
The following senario supports such possible issues:
1-The Exchange Server database crashes or gets damaged
2-The administrator, consequently, restores from the last online backup
3-Later, one or more client users complain that their OST cannot synchronize with Exchange Server anymore
4-The client users cannot access the data in their respective OST files
Cause
Microsoft Outlook using an Exchange Server account encrypts the OST file it uses with a key that binds it firmly to a specific mailbox. If the mailbox is unavailable or is present with corrupt information, Outlook fails to synchronize the data with Exchange Server.
The reason in this case for synchronization to fail can be that the database has not been restored properly to an earlier state. The associated mailbox(es) have either not been restored or are corrupted/absent in backup itself.
Solution
You can implement these solutions to overcome the existing issue:
1-Check for another database backup that contains the specific mailboxes.
2-Create new mailboxes for the affected users. Outlook automatically creates a new OST file when synchronizes with a new mailbox, while the old .ost data still is inaccessible.
3-The client users can restore the lost data from their respective backups.
4-Use a third-party Convert OST PST utility
A commercial Convert OST to PST tool implements exclusive set of algorithms that aid converting an orphaned and inaccessible Outlook offline folder to directly-usable personal storage file. Designed with interactive interface and easygoing procedure, these utilities do not demand any prior technical skills to operate such software. These software are effective to use in all logical scenarios.
The following senario supports such possible issues:
1-The Exchange Server database crashes or gets damaged
2-The administrator, consequently, restores from the last online backup
3-Later, one or more client users complain that their OST cannot synchronize with Exchange Server anymore
4-The client users cannot access the data in their respective OST files
Cause
Microsoft Outlook using an Exchange Server account encrypts the OST file it uses with a key that binds it firmly to a specific mailbox. If the mailbox is unavailable or is present with corrupt information, Outlook fails to synchronize the data with Exchange Server.
The reason in this case for synchronization to fail can be that the database has not been restored properly to an earlier state. The associated mailbox(es) have either not been restored or are corrupted/absent in backup itself.
Solution
You can implement these solutions to overcome the existing issue:
1-Check for another database backup that contains the specific mailboxes.
2-Create new mailboxes for the affected users. Outlook automatically creates a new OST file when synchronizes with a new mailbox, while the old .ost data still is inaccessible.
3-The client users can restore the lost data from their respective backups.
4-Use a third-party Convert OST PST utility
A commercial Convert OST to PST tool implements exclusive set of algorithms that aid converting an orphaned and inaccessible Outlook offline folder to directly-usable personal storage file. Designed with interactive interface and easygoing procedure, these utilities do not demand any prior technical skills to operate such software. These software are effective to use in all logical scenarios.
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