The Microsoft email application like emails, calendars, tasks and other Mail items are stored in the Mail server or on your computer. The file format in the Outlook email application is the .ost and .pst files. OST is the Offline Storage Table and the PST is the Personal Storage Table. The OST files are used when you have n Exchange Server account which will help you to work without the Internet Access.
However, .ost is an Offline storage file at certain cases we could see the error like “Outlook .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost)” or “default Outlook profile .ost error”. This errors are shown when users try to import OST files into the Outlook application. Also, when theses kind of error encounters the users can’t identify the cause of occurrence. Therefore, to avoid this issue the best Outlook recovery option is discussed below.
Users Query on Default Outlook Profile .ost Error
“Hi, I was importing Outlook OST from one system to another but in between a pop up window appeared on my screen which encounters an error message. I was really upset while seeing this error: “Outlook profile .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost) “. Can anyone please help to resolve this.
Resolve Outlook .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost) – Manually
To avoid this “default Outlook profile .ost error” there are different manual procedures and that are described in the below section. By the use of those methods the users could eliminate this error.
Method#1: Verify OST File Attribute and Open File
Normally this error will be occurred if the users try to move the file that are not stored in their system. Also, this can be caused when this imported file is of really small sized. The other case is that when the file is stored in the external device which is in read only mode status. To check the file is in read only mode, do follow the below steps:
- Select the file >> Right click File >> a list will be seen, select “Properties”
- See the general tab and verify Read-only attribute is blank or not selected.
- If it is marked un-check and run Outlook >> “File Menu”
- Now Open >> after that “Open Outlook Data File”.
- From the newly opened window, browse to the destination folder where the .ost file is placed, then click and open it.
Method#2: Fix Outlook .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost) Using Scanpst.exe
Not only the read-only factor but also the file corruption is another case for occurring default Outlook profile .ost error. If the case is the file corruption then there is Inbuilt repair tool to resolve this issue. Here the tool is the Scanost.exe repair option. This free utility will help the users to scan and repair .ost file. To perform follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Search and find Scanost.exe file directory
- After that find the run the tool.
- Search and find OST file and hit the start button to scan it.
- After the process, users will be directed to new screen and from their hit “Repair” option to start the process.
- When the process gets completed a pop-up box will be appeared.
Automated Solution
The manual method that was described above will not be a suitable case if the file corruption was in its higher stage. It is mandatory to opt for a professional tool to repair and recover corrupt PST files minor and major both. To it is mandatory to opt a professional tool and to repair the minor and major corrupted file. Here comes the use of one of the best tool available in the market that is SysTools OST to PST Converter. This will eliminate Outlook .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost) error when errors have been detected in default Outlook profile .ost.
Conclusion
The above article says about the occurrence of Outlook .ost is not an Outlook data file (.ost) error. The major reason was the cause of read-only factor and also with the higher level Outlook file corruption. Also, the other case is when errors have been detected in default Outlook profile .ost. Therefore, the different method to resolve this is also discussed by using manual and automated ways.