OST to PST or Other Options

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-27T21:39:03.000Z

When an employee left, I copied his OST file to archive backup but what I forgot to do was archive the entire OST to get a PST.

Then, I deleted his Exchange account and his AD accounts and assigned his computer to someone else.

Naturally, someone has asked to have access to his old mail file and I see that OST files can’t simply be opened in Outlook as can PST files.

What’s the best way to fix this mess? Buy a converter? Setup an Exchange account again swap out the created OST file for the archived one, then archive/export?

TIA

DragonsRule · 2016-12-27T21:45:36.000Z

Some other posts about this:

OST to PST Converter Collaboration

Are there any completely free OST to PST converters out there to download. I don’t foresee having to use it more than a handful of times and paying for one right now wouldn’t be cost effective.

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/190047-is-there-a-freeware-tool-to-convert-ost-to-pst

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/465862-how-to-convert-ost-file-to-pst-format-steps

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1932113-is-there-any-good-ost-to-pst-converting-tools-available

DragonsRule · 2016-12-27T21:47:57.000Z

Forgot this one, from 3 days ago:

OST to PST Collaboration

Appreciate a suggestion for a free and good OST to PST converter. Hammad

sactownchad · 2016-12-27T21:50:03.000Z

Along with the above, recently removed Exchange mailboxes can be recovered. This is better than messing with .PST files. Recover the mailbox, give the requesting user full permissions.

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-27T22:57:59.000Z

Chad.w:

Along with the above, recently removed Exchange mailboxes can be recovered. This is better than messing with .PST files. Recover the mailbox, give the requesting user full permissions.

My problem is that even though it is Exchange, I must operate through Intermedia’s web portal since we are hosted.

However, I realized that I still have the employee’s profile on the PC, along with Outlook. If I copy the OST file back into his profile and fire up Outlook offline, I should be able to do a archive/export to get the PST I want, yes?

sactownchad · 2016-12-27T23:07:55.000Z

You could try that but getting the account re-activated would be the best option assuming it is not too much of a hassle.

dbeato · 2016-12-27T23:15:13.000Z

wayneherbert2:

Chad.w:

Along with the above, recently removed Exchange mailboxes can be recovered. This is better than messing with .PST files. Recover the mailbox, give the requesting user full permissions.

My problem is that even though it is Exchange, I must operate through Intermedia’s web portal since we are hosted. However, I realized that I still have the employee’s profile on the PC, along with Outlook. If I copy the OST file back into his profile and fire up Outlook offline, I should be able to do a archive/export to get the PST I want, yes?

You could restore the Intermedia Mailbox which they do but it cost about $165 as far as I remember.

dbeato · 2016-12-28T00:20:46.000Z

GrammarPolice:

Some other posts about this:

OST to PST Converter

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/190047-is-there-a-freeware-tool-to-convert-ost-to-pst

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/465862-how-to-convert-ost-file-to-pst-format-steps

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1932113-is-there-any-good-ost-to-pst-converting-tools-available

Well said

rupesh-lepide · 2016-12-28T05:44:09.000Z

It seems like, above reference should help you to get your job done without any problem.
Otherwise, you can also try using Lepide OST to PST converter tool which should be an ideal solution to work around your situation.

priyakumari · 2016-12-28T17:13:54.000Z

I am sharing some useful information:

Petri IT Knowledgebase – 15 Jun 23

Homepage - Petri IT Knowledgebase

Welcome to the Petri IT Knowledgebase, the trusted resource for IT Professionals for more than 20 years.

Good Luck!

@gh29416

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-28T17:16:32.000Z

Here is what I learned and what I ended up doing.

Background: User profiles still present on user’s PC. Exchange email account deleted and gone at Intermedia.

I fired up Outlook for the user with no network connection.

I created a new PST datafile, Archive.pst. I first attempted to copy folders from the OST file in Outlook to the PST file. Outlook would not let me do this, saying it could not make a connection to the Exchange server.

I then used the export facility in Outlook and that worked. Only hassle with the export facility is you can only do one folder at a time.

I’ve updated my terminated employee documentation to add, “Copy contents to OST to PST” before deleting the user.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-28T17:28:58.000Z

I take back my previous comments. Although the exported PST file and its items appear to be OK in Outlook, they cannot be searched. Instead, a message pops up saying that Outlook needs to connect to the server in order to search.

Time to buy something to convert.

dbeato · 2016-12-28T17:44:14.000Z

wayneherbert2:

I take back my previous comments. Although the exported PST file and its items appear to be OK in Outlook, they cannot be searched. Instead, a message pops up saying that Outlook needs to connect to the server in order to search.

Time to buy something to convert.

You can export to PST all the email folders see below:

http://support.sherweb.com/Faqs/Show/how-to-export-an-outlook-2010-pst-file-exchange-2010

You just need to select the mailbox and include the subfolders option.

Also create a new Outlook profile and open that PST, then it will index the contents and then you can search the PST.

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-28T17:50:05.000Z

dbeato:

wayneherbert2:

I take back my previous comments. Although the exported PST file and its items appear to be OK in Outlook, they cannot be searched. Instead, a message pops up saying that Outlook needs to connect to the server in order to search.

Time to buy something to convert.

You can export to PST all the email folders see below:

http://support.sherweb.com/Faqs/Show/how-to-export-an-outlook-2010-pst-file-exchange-2010

You just need to select the mailbox and include the subfolders option.

Also create a new Outlook profile and open that PST, then it will index the contents and then you can search the PST.

I’m missing something here. I include subfolders, that is not an issue. But, I can only choose Inbox, Sent, Drafts, etc (high level folders) one at a time.

What do you mean 'create a new outlook profile? I’m trying to open this ex employee’s PST under my Outlook profile… it won’t permit a search without a connection to the server.

search.png333×593 7.02 KB

dbeato · 2016-12-28T17:53:12.000Z

What is your Indexing Status on Outlook?

support.microsoft.com

Troubleshooting Outlook search issues - Microsoft Support

How to troubleshoot Outlook when search isn’t working (returning no results, incomplete results, can’t find older emails, and more).

if you are running this on your profile, it has nothing to do with the PST file, rather your computer cannot find the item through the PST as it has not been completely indexed and is trying to search through your Exchange mailbox instead.

wayneherbert2 · 2016-12-28T18:10:54.000Z

dbeato - you are spot on… took a while to index quite a large file but seems to be searching fine now. Thank you.