Microsoft Outlook does not provide an inbuilt solution to convert OST files into PST. OST files store all the Exchange data and also allow the users to work offline i.e. in the absence of Exchange Server and then synchronize the changes later when they connect with the Exchange Server. Personal Storage Table (PST) is an open proprietary file format used to store copies of messages, calendar events, and other items locally on the user’s hard disk. What you access on your Outlook interface, is the PST data through various Outlook folders. The need to convert OST file to PST file may arise in situations when Exchange Server gets damaged, user Outlook profile gets corrupted leaving the OST file helpless and unreadable to MS Outlook, mailbox deletion or mailbox data corruption from server.
During these unwanted situations, Outlook will stop responding as it cannot receive data Exchange server. Meanwhile you have the OST file which stores all your Exchange data. OST will have all the data since the last synchronization with Exchange server. But, in order to read an OST file offline you need it to convert it into a PST file. Also, damage of PST files may let you lose all your data. You can use the OST file as a backup and restore all the data from them. However, in the absence of inbuilt tools, you need third party software to convert OST file to PST file successfully.
You can find a lot of tools to convert OST to PST. But before paying anything, you must look for an OST to PST converter freeware to evaluate the product. These free versions help you to assess the tool and watch its features. A typical OST to PST converter must have these features:
- Should recover emails with attachments, contacts, calendar, journals, notes, tasks etc.
- Should restore email fields such as sender’s name, recipient’s name, subject, message flags, creation date/time etc.
- It’s better if it can convert password protected OST files.
- Should repair minor errors in OST files while converting to PST.
- Should support OST files created with any version of MS Outlook and Exchange Server.
The OST to PST converter freeware provides you a better idea to choose the best suitable tool. OST files once converted to PST can be viewed with any version of Outlook. Orphan OST files where original Outlook profile has been lost can also be readily used to get it converted into new PST files. Therefore, OST to PST conversions helps in several cases.
Kernel for OST to PST Conversion is a highly recognized product with all these above mentioned features. Additionally, you can save converted OST items to PST, DBX, MSG, or EML format. It can recover emails in Plain Text, RTF, and HTML format. It supports all the versions of Microsoft Exchange server 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000, 5.5 and 5.0 and MS Outlook – 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2000, 98 and 97. The advanced saving options and easy GUI make it a better choice than the rest. The OST to PST converter freeware version can be downloaded and immediately used, to convert OST, and preview the PST file before actually saving them with the full version.