I have an intermittent with Outlook 2013. Every now and then, it freezes trying to access data from the server. The only way out is to cancel out. Past experience tells me that the only solution is to create a new OST file. This works fine as far as mail is concerned, but I have lost all my calendar, people and tasks data. When I try to open the old OST file where all this data resides, it cannot be opened. Any suggestions as to how I can retrieve this data?

Hi Martin,

We have higher changes that all your data is intact.

Access your mailbox using OWA URL https://mail.companyname.com/owa, it should show you the current data available on the server.

OST is nothing but a insync replica of the server side data, if its corrupted you might loose current local unsynced data, however all your old data stays intact.

We you reconfigure your outlook profile, a new OST is created and it will gradually sync back all your existing data from the server. Right now what might be happening is its still updating hence, you might feel like all your data is lost.

Does outlook say "All folders are up to date." at the bottom line.

You might also want to set it on Online Mode, which would directly connect you to the server, however as you have said it is a intermittent connectivity, experience would be even worse it appears.

To retrieve your ost file data you need to use an effective ost recovery tool. Go to http://www.ostfile.com/question/response-required-to-recover-data-from-corrupt-ost-file.html to know how to repair damaged ost file and extract its data to new ost file and get access to Calendar, Contacts and any of Outlook data successfully.

I don't think this has helped. I know that the OST file will rebuild itself from the server, and it has done as far as mail items are concerned, but as far as I am aware, my contacts, calendar and tasks were just held locally. I can still see the old OST file in my Outlook folders pane, but when I click on the original file, I get the message "The set of folders could not be opened ...etc.". I have tried downloading a couple of the fix tools that others have told me about, but to no avail. These see the original file, but when I try to extract, nothing happens.

Hi,

Are you using an IMAP account? As far as I know, Outlook 2013 uses an *.OST file for IMAP accounts, with Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks stored in the *.OST file. For earlier version of Outlook, you'll have email in one PST file and a separate *.PST file for Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Notes. So, I'd like to ask if the "past experience" happened with an older version of Outlook. I understand your concern, but in Outlook 2013, it's no need to worry about losing data when recreating OST-file for IMAP accounts.

If I've misunderstood something, please feel free to let me know.

Regards,

Steve Fan
TechNet Community Support

Hi.

Thanks for the response. I can confirm that I am using an IMAP account. What actually happens is, on very rare occasions, when trying to delete a junk email message, I get a message saying something like "contacting server for details". Outlook then hangs and the only way out is to cancel out the program. When trying to next open Outlook, this is when the "Unable to open ...etc." message appears.

I have recreated the OST file with no problems and my emails have synced with the OST file, but I can find no way of opening the old OST file to retrieve my contacts, calendar and tasks data.

Regards, Martin

Hi Martin,

Sorry, I was assuming its Exchange Server account. There is no direct supported method from Microsoft for recovering OST data. You need to use some 3rd party tools as suggested by Kenny.

Once you are done, below article is something that might help you keep available\Working next time.

What you need to know about IMAP accounts in Outlook 2013

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/2013/imap-accounts-outlook-2013/

Hi Martin,

I would suggest you to give a try to Stellar OST to PST Converter as it efficiently extracts every mail component of OST file including Emails, contacts, Calendar entries, notes etc   and restores them into a new PST file, which you can import into Outlook to regain access to your valuable data.  You will get back all the inaccessible data in the same format as it was in OST file. For more info, visit http://www.stellarinfo.com/exchange-ost-recovery.htm