Why Outlook is not Working Properly

Outlook is an email client introduced by Microsoft. It enables users to send and receive emails and also acts as a personal information manager. Many users have faced various issues while working with Outlook. They also said that it hangs, stops connecting, stucks and freezes while performing operations. There is a reason for everything, similarly, Outlook also has some reasons for why it is not working properly. It is important to know the cause behind the occurrence of the issue. Therefore, in this blog, we are going to discuss the different reasons that lead to improper working of Outlook. In addition to this, we are also going to explain why Microsoft Outlook is not working after updating Windows and how to resolve this issue.

Possible Reasons Behind Outlook is Not Working Properly Issue

There are many reasons for Microsoft has stopped working. The various reasons for this are:

• Using an old version of Outlook.
• Using Outlook to process a large number of data.
• Bug in your Outlook.
• Error in your office program is also a reason for this.
• Outlook data file can be corrupted.
• Outlook is working for too long on a single process.
• Too much of Outlook add-ins are executing.

Methods to Resolve Microsoft Outlook has Stopped Working Issue

Now we know all the possible reasons behind this problem, let us find out the appropriate solution to eliminate this issue. There are various methods to solve this problem. All of them are discussed in the section given below:

#1 Remove Hanging Outlook process

While working with Outlook, many users have experienced the hanging issues, even if they attempts to shut it down. Basically, in it one process remains in the memory preventing Outlook from shutting down.To resolve this issue, you have to quit unwanted task from the Task Manger. For this, right-click on Task bar and then select Task Manger. After that, select the unwanted task and click on the End Process

#2 Start Outlook in safe mode

Every time something wrong happens with Outlook, Microsoft recommends you to start Outlook in safe mode. To launch Outlook in safe mode:

• First of all go to Start Button.
• Then search for Outlook.exe/safe in cmd.
• Now it will ask for your approval to launch the application in safe mode by displaying this message.

• Click Yes and the program will be launched.

#3 Update your Window

May be your Windows is not updated and Outlook may not function if your Windows is not upto date.

Steps to Update Windows

1. To begin, click on Start menu and type update.
2. Click Windows Update
3. Wait till the updating process completes.
4. Now, click on the Install Updates.
5. After the updates are installed, restart your windows.
6. Then open your Outlook and click on the File option.
7. Click on the Update option >> Update Now button.
8. After the updating process is completed, reopen the Outlook and it will run properly.

#4 Make Sure Your Outlook is Not Working On Large Processes

Outlook stores thousands of messages and allows to read them any time. Whenever a user tries to delete large amount of data at once, Outlook starts hanging. See the status bar you will know that the process is still in progress. In that case, give Outlook some time to complete all the process and afterwards, it will work normally.

#5 Repair your Office Program

Sometimes just by repairing your office program, ‘Outlook is not responding’ issue and other issues related to Outlook can be resolved.

Steps to repair Office Program

1. To begin the process, quit all Office programs that are running in the background.
2. Go to Control Panel >> Program and Features.
3. Right-click on the Microsoft Office located in the list of installed program.
4. Select Change >> Repair.
5. After that click on Continue button.

#6 Repair Your Outlook Data File

Outlook may not work properly if there is an error in Outlook data files you are using. So, to repair corrupt PST file, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. First of all, open Windows Explorer.
2. Then, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16.
3. Open SCANPST.EXE.
4. Now click on Browse and select a PST file to repair.

5. Then, click on the Start button.
6. Check the Make backup of scanned file before repairing box.

7. Now click OK to finish the repair.

#7 Create New User Profile

In Outlook you can create multiple profiles and can add a new email to a profile.

Steps to create a new Outlook Profile

• Close Outlook.
• Now, go to Start >> Control Panel >> Mail >> Show Profiles.
• Choose Add, type a profile name in the Profile Name box and click OK.
• Fill the information required.
• After creating the Outlook Profile, on the Show Profiles dialog, choose Prompt for a profile to be used.
• Open Outlook and choose your new profile

NOTE: If by creating a new profile solves the issue, then delete the old profile.

Final Words

Any small error in Outlook can break the continuity of work and there can be loss of data also. To overcome this situation, it is important to fix the issue as soon as possible. Thus, to fix the Outlook is not working problem, a user can try various solutions given above. These solutions will definitely resolve your problem in an efficient way.

Inbox Repair Tool or scanpst.exe is an inbuilt tool in Outlook developed by Microsoft. In order to repair any corrupted or damaged PST file, the tool is used. When working on Outlook we face so many issues regarding corruption in Outlook items like Email, Calendar, Tasks, Contacts etc. To fix the issues or the errors we use Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe).

Where Can We Find SCANPST Utility?

SCANPST tool’s location may vary in different Microsoft Outlook versions. To find its location you can follow these steps (regardless of any Outlook versions):

Why Do We Need Inbox Repair Utility?

We might encounter another error i.e., 0x800CCC0F Outlook error.

How to Find and Run Inbox Repair Tool?

These steps are to be followed:

• At first, close your "MS Outlook".
• Go to (C :) Drive >> Select "Program Files" >> "Microsoft Office" >> "Office14" >> click on "SCANPST".

• Now, you will see a pop-up window, choose "Browse" button to select the PST Outlook File & click "Start" button.

Location to find PST File: C:\Users\admin\Documents\Outlook Files:

• Click on "Start" button, and the tool will analyse the file.

• Now, you’ll see a new window, where the location of PST file will be shown, along with the number of folders found and total items found in this PST file. Make sure to check the option: "Make backup of scanned file before repairing". And then, hit "Repair" button in order to repair the corrupt Outlook PST file.

• The Inbox tool repair utility will display a "Repair complete" message. Hit "OK" button.

Points to Remember:

• Create a backup of PST File before performing the SCANPST operation.
• The all above steps are for MS Outlook 2010, however, these can be performed on any version.

What to do if SCANPST not found?

There can be a scenario where you won’t be able to find SCANPST on its default location. You have to make sure that you haven’t disabled this option:"Show hidden files and folders"

To Check (Window 10 OS):

• Go to "Ask me anything" and then type "Folder Options" >> Go to "File Explorer Options".

• You will see a new window with the name "File Explorer Options" . Visit the "View" tab inside the "Advance settings", enable this option- "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" and Hit "OK".

What if Inbox Repair Tool doesn’t work?

If Inbox Repair Tool fails to repair corrupted PST file, then it only happens when your PST file is severely damaged. This tool is capable to repair only minor level corruption in Outlook PST files. If you need a utility to repair major level corruption of PST files, you won’t find any such tool in web. In that condition, you can switch to any third party source which is capable to repair corrupted PST File in Outlook.

Microsoft Office 365 is the most discussed topic in both technology and business worlds. With the help of Office 365, users can work online, share files and spreadsheets. It is the perfect business cloud which allows users to work anywhere, anytime & on any device. But, due to its flexibility, the chances of data corruption or loss in the Office 365 is more. So, for recovery of lost or corrupted data, backup of Office 365 is necessary. Here, we will also discuss that why Office 365 backup plays an important role with top 5 reasons.

Why do I Need to Backup Office 365?

There are many reasons behind creating backup of Office 365 data. But, in this section, you will come to know the top 5 reasons to backup Office 365.

1. Office 365 is an Ecosystem in the Cloud

Office 365 is a complete ecosystem of many applications & data structures that are stored in the cloud. So, users don’t know exactly where is their data. Thus, If they didn’t have back up of data, then it is very difficult to find any data from the Office 365 ecosystem in the cloud. However, the backup is the only way to restore and find all of Office 365 data. Backing up Office 365 data is not an easy task and sometimes it is nearly impossible to do with the native Office 365 backup tools.

2. MS Outlook Doesn’t Backup After 30 days

Microsoft Outlook does not allow to take backup data older than 30 days that have been deleted from the recycle bin. Also, Outlook has limited email storage, so, sometimes users forced to delete some old emails. If end-users delete their old message to free the space, then it may possible the potentially destroying records that may be needed for legal or regulatory compliance. In such case, the backup should be necessary.

3. Data Loss due to Ransomware Attack

In this new world of hackers and data hostage viruses, data loss or corruption is a very common issue. There are many organizations that have faced the ransomware attack that literally took down their business. According to a recent research in 2017, there are more than 300,000 systems were taken down by Wanna Cry ransomware only. The only way to protect the firms from a ransomware attack is having a full and complete backup of Office 365 data.

4. Business Continuity doesn’t Keep Safe the Data

You should ensure that your business continuity is having full and accurate records of your data. The organization cannot exist large amounts of data that are creating, capturing, storing, and using every day. Therefore, data backup and archiving process are the good insurance policy against the risk of business data loss. Because the out-of-the-box tools of Office 365 cannot provide full and complete records in case of data loss.

5. Regulated Industries have Stricter Backup Regulations

If an organization comes under the regulated industry like Finance, Healthcare or Legal. Then, users may have regulations & requirements for access the information that goes well beyond regular backup methods. There are some regulations like HIPPA, GDPR, Can-Spam often require to maintain complete & accurate records of email, attachments, files etc from several years. However, Office 365 backup process is limited time backup, so it doesn’t provide a guarantee to complete backup with the out-of-the-box tools that come with Office 365.

Summing Up

In this write-up, we have discussed that why Office 365 backup plays an important role nowadays with top 5 reasons. However, it is known that data is not safe in the cloud. But, protection and security of Office 365 data are necessary and it is your responsibility to secure the corporate data. So, a user needs the same level of protection, administration, and security for MS Office 365 that is on the premises. In such scenario, the Office 365 Export tool is the best solution is to create Office 365 backup. It is a quick, simple and effective remedy to create backup of Office 365 data.

A few days ago, one of my clients send me an oversized PST file of Microsoft Outlook via email. Now, I am unable to open it in Outlook. I tried many manual tricks as a solution such as disabling the add-ins, opening Outlook in safe mode, or by running scanpst.exe but did not get satisfactory results. Therefore, I just want to know is there any way through which I can repair corrupt PST file- Outlook 2013? It is really important for me, please suggest me a solution.

Microsoft Outlook is used by most of the business organizations for email communication and exchange of information. As it is a pretty much popular email application so, users must be aware of the PST file format supported by Outlook to store mailbox data. All data items like emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, etc., are stored in it. But at the end, it is like other file formats and very much prone to corruption. PST file can also become damaged or corrupted due to many reasons like large size PST file, virus or malware infection, sudden shutdown, etc. However, if Outlook data file (.pst) gets corrupted, it becomes inaccessible and slows down the performance of Outlook. Thus, to get access back to the PST file data, it is really important to repair damaged PST file as soon as possible.

How Does a PST File get Corrupted?

There are multiple reasons that result corruption in PST file. At this point, the Outlook data file stops working normally and a user is unable to access the data inside it. Here, are some of the major reasons behind corrupt PST file:

• Oversized Outlook PST File
  Every version of Microsoft Outlook has different PST file size limitation. For example, Outlook 2002 and below versions has to file size limit of 2 GB only. But, as the time passes, the need of space will increase because of large data communications. In this case, the size of PST file will exceed and results in file corruption.
• Hardware Related Damage
  Any type of physical damage to the sectors where PST file is stored can cause also damage PST file badly.
• Abnormal Termination of Outlook
  Another possible reason can be an abrupt shutdown of Microsoft Outlook application. If a user is working on Outlook and in between, it terminates due to some reason, then it is possible that PST file is not saved properly. So, when a user tries to open PST file next time, then it may display some errors.
• Virus & Malware Attack
  As everybody knows, no device in the world is totally free from virus or malware so is the PST file. It might be possible that a user has opened an email containing virus-infected attachment. After that, virus or malware enters the Outlook application, corrupt the PST file and make it inaccessible.

How to Repair Corrupt Outlook PST File?

When it comes to recover severely damaged PST file, there are various solutions available. Here, we have discussed both manual and professional solution for the same:

Solution #1: Using Inbox Repair Tool

If a user is looking for some manual solutions to repair corrupt PST file, then Microsoft provides an inbuilt utility named as Inbox Repair tool. It is a free utility that is designed to repair all common issues like corruption faced by the Outlook users. Now, to run this scanpst.exe in a proper way, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. To start the process, you need to locate scanpst.exe application in the Microsoft Outlook. Now, to find scanpst.exe location within the system, follow the steps mentioned below:

• First of all, right-click on the TaskBar and then, click on the Task Manager
• After that, click on the Processes tab
• Next, simply right-click on the Outlook and choose Open File Location. It will open the window containing the scanpst.exe file

Now, you have to double-click on the scanpst.exe file

Then, click on the Browse button to locate and add corrupt PST file, which needs to repair

At last, click on the Start button in order to begin the repair process.

Limitations: The scanpst.exe can be used only to repair minor level of corruption from PST file. However, in the case of severely damaged PST file, this manual procedure fail badly. Thus, in the case of badly corrupt Outlook data file, look for some alternative solution.

Solution #2: Professional Solution to Repair Severely Damaged PST File

There is no manual solution available that a user can try to have a guaranteed solution while repairing a PST file. Thus, in the case of badly damaged PST file, a user is suggested to use a third-party tool. Outlook PST Repair software is one of the popularly used tools across the world to repair corrupted PST file. It is a simple, quick, and reliable application to recover PST file of Microsoft Outlook. Using this application, one can repair all data items like emails, contacts, calendars, etc. stored inside the PST file. Moreover, the software is also capable to repair both minor and major level of corruption from PST file.

Conclusion

Corruption in PST file is one of the frequently encountered problems by any Outlook user. As PST file stores a large amount of important information which no wants to lose at any cost. So, if Outlook PST file gets corrupted because of any reason, then it is really important for the user to repair it as soon as possible. Therefore, this blog will let users know how to repair highly corrupted or damaged PST file of Microsoft Outlook. If the manual solution does not work according to the requirement, then the third-party tool suggested above will be a savior.