If you can open the original Outlook Data File, you might be able to recover additional items. The Inbox Repair tool creates a backup file with the same name as the original, but with a .bak extension, and saves it in the same folder. There may be items in the backup file that you might be able to recover that the Inbox Repair tool couldn't.

  1. Browse to the folder where the .pst file is stored and you'll find the .bak file (for example, [email protected]) created by the Inbox Repair tool.
  2. Make a copy of the .bak file and rename it with a bak.pst extension. For example, [email protected].
  3. Import the bak.pst file into Outlook, and use the Import and Export Wizard to import any additional recovered items into the newly created .pst file.
    Note: Learn how to import a .pst file by reading Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file.

Locating the Outlook Data Files

You can check the location of your Outlook Data Files in Outlook.

  1. Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  2. Select the Data Files tab.
  3. All Outlook Data Files (.pst) and Offline Data Files (.ost) are listed along with the name of the account the files are associated with.
I’m trying to locate the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) for Outlook 2010 but when I look in the correct location, I don’t see it there.
In fact, I only see a couple of files listed in the Office14 folder and even OUTLOOK.EXE isn’t listed there.

Outlook Free Download

Why isn’t SCANPST.EXE or even OUTLOOK.EXE found on my computer?
Or even more important; How am I supposed to repair my pst-file now?
It sounds like are using a Click-to-Run version of Outlook/Office 2010 on your computer. With a Click-to-Run version, Office 2010 is only “virtually installed” on your computer which is why you can’t see any of the Office application files.
With a workaround and a detour via another Office Click-to-Run application, you can still start scanpst.exe and scan your pst-file for issues.

Starting the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)

If you are using a Click-to-Run version of Office (see section below if you do not know), you can start the Inbox Repair tool in the following way;
  1. Open the Click-to-Run version of Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
  2. Choose File-> Open
  3. Browse to the following location;
    Q:<14####.lan>Office14
  4. Set the “All Word Documents” drop down list list to “All Files”.
  5. Right click on scanpst.exe and choose Open.
Note 1: The folder <14####.lan> is a variable that depends on the version and language of your Click-to-Run installation. For instance; 140062.enu

Scanpst Location Outlook 2010

Note 2: For full instructions about the scanning process see the guide;
Using the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)

Opening scanpst.exe via Word 2010 Click-to-Run (click on image to enlarge).

Microsoft Scanpst Outlook 2010 Download

Determine if Click-to-Run in installed

Outlook Download

There are a couple of ways to determine if you are indeed using a Click-to-Run version of Office;

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Note: If you do not want to use the Click-to-Run version of Office 2010 but a full installation instead, see the bottom section of Outlook 2010 doesn’t sync about how to switch.