Outlook ost files

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OST
OST, a Microsoft Windows file type associated with Microsoft Outlook, part of the Microsoft Office product suite. This file is generated by the application for the purpose of storing the content of the user's mailbox on the local hard drive for offline use. In Office XP and earlier versions, the OST file will become corrupt if its size grows to over 2 gigabytes, generally causing Outlook to freeze up in use or while starting up. Reducing the size of the mailbox and manually deleting the file is the solution for this condition (a new file is created automatically the next time the program is started). Office 2003 features a new format for the file with support for a 20-gigabyte working file size.
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http://www.fileinfo.net/extension/ost
Stores e-mail messages and other data saved by Microsoft Outlook from an Exchange server; similar to a Personal Folder (.PST) File, but supports larger file sizes.

OST files are created when the "Use Offline Folders" option is selected in Outlook and are stored on the local hard drive instead of mail server.
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The only way to open them is with Microsoft Outlook. :) But you can copy that OST (or PST file) to another computer and open it in that version of Outlook. OST only opens with Outlook 2003 & 2007. PST opens with previous versions of Outlook and 2007.
 
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Thanks Gary, I know exactly what they are and what they're for just need to get data out of one from a profile that was backed up and now needs to be extracted.
 
JUGGY said:
Thanks Gary, I know exactly what they are and what they're for just need to get data out of one from a profile that was backed up and now needs to be extracted.
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ok... I think there might be a few commercial programs out there which can extract the info... but be prepared to pay through your nose.

I would just open it on another computer, find what I need there and convert (cut and paste) it to text or DOC.
 
Garyvdh said:
ok... I think there might be a few commercial programs out there which can extract the info... but be prepared to pay through your nose.

I would just open it on another computer, find what I need there and convert (cut and paste) it to text or DOC.
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Opening it on another computer isn't going to be easy considering it's an Exchange Cache file and we can't create an Exchange profile as there isn't an exchange server anymore.
 
JUGGY said:
It isn't enough unfortunately.

I'm quite surprised there is no tool in Exchange or Office to do this:(
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The Microsoft Proprietary Money Making scheme kicks in again! :(

sorry man... your next best bet is to see if any of those tools are available on the torrent or warez sites.
 
Garyvdh said:
The Microsoft Proprietary Money Making scheme kicks in again! :(

sorry man... your next best bet is to see if any of those tools are available on the torrent or warez sites.
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No need for that, before I tore down the exchange environment I exmerged all the mailboxes;)

All I had to do was FTP a 1.8GB pst file off the old exchange server in Guernsey.

Job done, thanks for your help all the same.
 
JUGGY said:
No need for that, before I tore down the exchange environment I exmerged all the mailboxes;)

All I had to do was FTP a 1.8GB pst file off the old exchange server in Guernsey.

Job done, thanks for your help all the same.
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Ouch! But lucky for you! :)
 
Try this

Do you know a very nice application Advanced Outlook Repair. It is a powerful tool to recover messages, folders and other objects from corrupt or damaged Microsoft Outlook PST files.
 
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