How to Fix OST Errors that Occurred Due to ILL-Configured Registries

An OST (Offline Storage Table) file is intended to access the Outlook data in offline mode. Sometimes it creates errors when it’s size increased beyond the set limit. That’s why it is necessary to manage the OST file size from time to time. Windows registries help to manage the OST file size. In this blog, we will discuss how to fix the OST errors that occurred due to ILL-configured registries.

Errors Due to ILL-Configured Outlook Registries

Few errors may have occurred which are as follows:

• Large-sized OST-files are more likely to be corrupt.
• Internal errors may occur and functions may stop.

Large-sized OST-files are more likely to be corrupt:

To manage the large-sized OST files it is required to splitting and compacting them, which may result in corruption. But some restrictions are implemented on Outlook registries which we can use as a solution. See the below:

1. To prevent corruption, the ‘MaxFileSize Registry entry’ value is ignored – The value gets ignored to limit the size 2GB to prevent corruption if the ‘MaxFileSize Registry entry’ exceeds the ANSI 2 GB limit.
2. Set the UNICODE limits beyond the value of registry entries – User can also choose to set the UNICODE limits of the Window Registry Entries beyond the values that are listed in the table below.

Note: This practice can slow-down the performance of your Outlook application.

Internal errors may occur and functions may stop:

If OST files reached the maximum size limit then internal errors may occur and functions may stop. Also, the data might not get copied or moved within the file and an error message appear like:
Can’t move the items. The file \ to reduce the amount of data in this file, select some items that you no longer need, and then permanently delete them.
Note: Make sure that the values between the ‘MaxLargeFileSize’ and the ‘WarnLargeFileSize’ registry entries have a difference of at least 5%.

Organize OST File Sizes by Using the Outlook Registries

There are four distinct Windows Registry entries to limit the size of OST files.

• The MaxFileSize registry entry
  The ‘MaxFileSize registry entry’ compose the maximum size to grow the Outlook data files.
• The WarnFileSize registry entry
  The ‘WarnFileSize registry entry’ compose the maximum data that the Outlook data file (.pst and .ost) can contain in an ANSI format.
• MaxLargeFileSize registry entry
  It works similar to the MaxFileSize registry entry, but it refers to a UNICODE formatted file.
• WarnLargeFileSize registry entry
  It works similar to the WarnFileSize, but it also refers to a UNICODE formatted (new large format) file.

Registry Entry	Type	Valid Data Range	Default Value
MaxLargeFileSize	REG_DWORD	0x00000001 – 0x0000C800	0x0000C800 51,200 (50 GB)
WarnLargeFileSize	REG_DWORD	0x00000000 – 0x0000BE00	0x0000BE00 48,640 (47.5 GB)
MaxFileSize	REG_DWORD	0x001F4400 – 0x7C004400	0x7BB04400 2,075,149,312 (1.933 GB)
WarnFileSize	REG_DWORD	0x00042400 – 0x7C004400	0x74404400 1,950,368,768 (1.816 GB)

This table represents the registry keys that control OST file sizes (For Outlook 2016, 2013 and 2010)

These Outlook registry entries can help to limit the Outlook data files size, For example, when the maximum data limit of the ‘WarnFileSize registry entry’ is reached, Outlook data files are not permitted to add any more data. But, this permission is limited to incoming and outgoing mail items to external resources only. Changes due to internal processes may still result in increased physical file size.

Warning: Please implement a full-system backup before editing the registry because modifying the registry incorrectly can make Window unstable.

The Solution to Fix the OST Errors

OST files are very helpful for those users who worked offline, but sometimes it causes problems. So, to prevent the OST files size from exceeding the set limit OST to PST Converter by Aryson is the best solution. This utility repairs the offline Exchange OST files and open offline Exchange OST mailbox in Outlook as well as convert OST into PST. Export all mailbox items into MS Outlook PST, EML, MSG, MBOX or Archive mailbox. The smart preview feature will help to get a detailed preview of mailbox content before saving them into a new PST file. Being a non-destructive tool, it keeps the original OST data intact during conversion. If you’re a complete novice user having no prior technical expertise, even then you can exploit this software with ease. It comes with an easy and interactive graphical user interface and compatible with all the Windows OS.

Conclusion

I have described “how to fix the OST errors that occurred due to ILL-Configured registries”, what are the possible errors and what it’s solutions. Follow them carefully and apply the above-mentioned methods to repair OST file issue.

Realted Post