Outlook 2007 with a 20gb PST

[DonS]

Hello all

I have a client with a Outlook 2007 and a 20gb pst file, which is the max file size limit for 2007. Outlook currently attempts to open, but hangs hard. ScanPST shows errors in this giant file.

I am looking for someone who would have a suggestion on how to proceed with this issue. My current thought process is as follows:

1) Run scanpst until no more errors
2) See if outlook 2007 can run correctly enough to attempt to compact pst file
3) Failing option 2, or perhaps instead of option 2, upgrade the client to Outlook 2010, which has a 50gb file limit.

As always, any suggestions or thoughts are most appreciated. Thanks!

 

[smashedbotatos]

Hello all

I have a client with a Outlook 2007 and a 20gb pst file, which is the max file size limit for 2007. Outlook currently attempts to open, but hangs hard. ScanPST shows errors in this giant file.

I am looking for someone who would have a suggestion on how to proceed with this issue. My current thought process is as follows:

1) Run scanpst until no more errors
2) See if outlook 2007 can run correctly enough to attempt to compact pst file
3) Failing option 2, or perhaps instead of option 2, upgrade the client to Outlook 2010, which has a 50gb file limit.

As always, any suggestions or thoughts are most appreciated. Thanks!

I had a client with this problem once before. It was Office 2003 and 2 GB PST if I remember right.

I can't remember if I compacted it, but I think I did. I think there was an option for archiving that removed some of the bulk.

I remember it was also causing an issue with his defrag.

 

[FremontPC]

I think you're on the right track (scanpst, etc). Might want to put everything older than 1 year in another pst file, or break it down even further.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Can try scanpst....sometimes that sorta..almost...works...a little bit.

I often pull the PST from Outlook, create a fresh new <blank> PST....(different name of course)...and then import from the old PST. That trick tends to leave a lot of "crap" behind...get a nice shiny new PST to work with.

 

[DonS]

Hey Stonecat

I am curious on your idea. So you create a new pst file; then you import from the old one? Any more details on this procedure and how or what you are importing and what it leaves behind (or what you are choosing to leave behind?)

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

A few steps here..
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/o...-or-close-outlook-data-files-HA001232805.aspx

But basically first you find the location of the current PST. With Outlook closed....copy and paste it to another location (or just remember it's name and where it was..either way works).
Remove that personal folder from the Outlook profile.
Now add a personal folder..the dialogue will ask where, and what to name it. Just name it so it's clear and won't conflict with the old PST (if you left the old PST there) Usually it will start in the default location for that version of Outlook and that operating system. The new fresh PST will be blank, empty, virgin.

Now go through the file..import...from PST...process.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/o...-a-personal-folders-file-pst-HA102538008.aspx

Browse to the old PST...and make your selections. Importing all of it is fine. With most programs, an export process, or an import process...usually leaves behind "the chaff"...unwanted corrupted stuff. I just do the default settings..bringing it all over, including sub folders (make sure a check mark in that). Or you can cherry pick...and just highlight...drag 'n drop...what you want.

One thing you may want to do...check with the end user first, but you can really do a better job with this if you can clean out the "sent items" folder...(select some date in the past...and kill everything prior to that)...and after that, empty the deleted items folder. You do this BEFORE you do the import process. A lot of people like to keep some history in their sent items folder..but really...often they've had that e-mail for decades and sometimes you'll see sent items folders going back to the pre year 2000 days. Most don't mind killing the history past 1 year ago.


So killing some of the sent items, and the trash...doing a fresh import, you'll likely end up with a considerably smaller PST too.

 

[eric76]

You have to compact the file before it will open. Scanning the file will take a long time but the real reason it's not opening is because it's too big.

Follow this and you'll be good. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289987

Make a copy of the PST before you compact it just in case there's a problem.

 

[johnrobert]

I do this the easy way start them with a new pst
then open old as a data file

This way old pst does not get any bigger and they still have access to it
drag anything important to new pst.
job done in 5 minutes
I do all on site work so everything has to be quick

Of course I import contacts, cal, notes etc but these are small and then there good to go, their old pst is archived



I got fired from a virus job yesterday
She put password in then computer did nothing and I said how long does it take to fully load windows she said about 2 hours so I immediately proceeded to safe mode then she said if you don’t go to normal mode you won’t know witch virus I told her I don’t have 2 hours to wait so she fired me it was a $50 Craig’s List job so I was glad it happened sooner than later, no more CL

 

[FremontPC]

" no more CL"

Good lad. As the saying goes, "It's a good place to be from."

 

[DonS]

Just as a follow up to this thread.

After repairing the PST file I then ran the Compact routine - which took, seriously, about 16 hours. After it had completed it got the file down from 20gb to 17gb. Which made Outlook 2007 usable again. Then updated to Outlook 2013 to take advantage of the 50gb data limit.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and feedback.

 

[Mokester]

Just my .02

I've seen tons of issues when PST files get large...sometimes even when they are as small as 10GB or less. Slow response times when accessing mail, searching, navigating folders, etc.

Yes compacting is ridiculously long process...but be prepared to do it again soon as large PST files get corrupted on a regular basis. A better solution would have been to move the mail to a fresh PST...or just get rid of/archive it permanently.

 

[DonS]

Personally, I think the best solution be far would be to transition away from Outlook and to Gmail or Outlook.com. But some of these end users have been using God forsaken Outlook for so long they are just melded to it.

Outlook is a constant stream of problems. But also a constant stream of revenue.

 

[callthatgirl]

Outlook is a constant stream of problems. But also a constant stream of revenue.

Yes and yes!

My clients would never allow a move off of Outlook to gmail, most want to get off gmail and back to outlook. Many web designers put people on google apps and they hate it.

 

[DonS]

Personally I hate Outlook. It is such a bug ridden piece of software and a pending disaster for most users. I am not much of a fan of Google Apps either. Though I will champion the use of or transition to Gmail or Outlook.com all day long. I feel that users that are not using a web based email client at this point are really behind the curve.

 

[twincountycomputers]

if you can convince them, and they aren't on exchange obviously, then thunderbird is a great solution, it has a file size limit on each folder and not on the entire "set of files" as it doesn't use a single .pst for everything.

 

[grossman]

compress PST file

20 GB is the file size limit for Unicode PST files. Your PST file can get corrupted if it exceeds this size limit. Run PST compress software to reduce the size of large .pst file. Its data will remain intact.

The solution is given in this post:
www . sysinfotools . com/recovery/pst-compress.html

 

[unclemarv]

FYI... there's also a PST file splittler program like the one from Stellar. I know it's a paid option, but if the client wants me to spend as little time as possible, it's easier to buy this at $29 and let it do the work.

 

[austrius]

Outlook 2007 with a 20 GB PST

I have a client with a Outlook 2007 and a 20gb pst file, which is the max file size limit for 2007. Outlook currently attempts to open, but hangs hard. ScanPST shows errors in this giant file.

I am looking for someone who would have a suggestion on how to proceed with this issue.

A Unicode PST file of 20 GB is really large as it's on its maximum size. Large-sized PST file may create a lot of issues, such as: corruption, poor performance, etc. You would have two options: either you can reduce the file size or you can break it into multiple smaller parts. There are few manual tricks on the Internet by using which you can easily perform any of these actions. Search them on Google or any other search engine.

Regards.

 

[austrius]

There is a blog on WordPress in which you'll find a good manual solution to reduce the PST file size. And you'll get a solution for breaking the large sized PST file into multiple parts. Just search "How to Safely Compress an Oversized PST File? | N.Sem's Blog" on Google and you'll get that blog. Read that.

Thanks.

 

[austrius]

Or you may also try some third-party PST compressor tools. You can search many on Google or other search engines. I just read about SysInfoTools PST Compress and Compact tool. You can also read about it.

Regards.