What is PST File?

Personal Storage Table, commonly known as PST (.pst) file stores a user’s Outlook data. This PST file is created in Microsoft Outlook email client application and stores the data for POP3, IMAP and web – based mail accounts.

PST files also known as Personal Address Book (.pab) store copies of email messages, calendar events, journals, etc. PST files are available and used by all the versions of Microsoft Outlook email client application. There are two types of PST files: -

• ANSI format: - These files had a maximum size of 2 GB. They were used by Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2002. 

• Unicode format: - These PST files have either maximum size of 20 GB that are used by Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 or 50 GB that are used by Outlook 2010.

Purpose of PST files: -

PST files help the end users to in expanding their email storage by creating one or more local archives. These files are helpful as they help in overcoming the issue of any kind of restriction in the storage space. The premium storage available at the servers restricts the users in making use of the available storage space.

Advantages of PST Files: -

PST files help the end users by expanding the amount of storage space as per the need of the user to store data as well as give them an offline access to the data.

Problems with the PST files: -

Though PST files are remarkably, very useful but after all they are mere file formats. PST files often get corrupted due to application malfunction, viruses, Trojans, etc. There also may be cases such as user might have uninstalled the Outlook but now is in the need to view the PST file. In such cases it becomes very tough and hectic task to deal with such PST files.

Every Problem has a solution: - 

To deal with the orphan PST files that are either corrupted or password protected, the organization Free File Viewers came up with a solution that is known as PST File Reader. PST File Reader is a powerful free utility tool that fetches the data from PST files of any size. PST File Reader can repair and recover data from both damaged PST files as well as password protected PST files.