Turn off the computer and stop using the failing drive. Attach the drive to a healthy PC with a USB-to-SATA adapter or external enclosure, find the .pst file, and copy it to a different, healthy drive. Then scan the copy with Amrev Outlook Email Recovery (Normal Scan first, then Intensive Scan if the file is severely damaged), preview the results, and open or import the recovered PST in classic Outlook. If the drive is physically damaged, you will need a professional recovery laboratory.
Warning Signs of Hard Drive Failure
Your hard drive might give you these signs it's about to fail:
- Windows won't start or displays "disk not found" errors
- Making clicking, buzzing or grinding noises
- Files and folders disappearing or refusing to open
- Outlook reporting that it can't access data file
- Frequent freezing and blue screens
If you're seeing any of these, turn off the computer and stop using the drive. Continued use could overwrite the sectors containing your mailbox data.
Types of Hard Drive Failure
When recovering outlook data from a failed hard drive, not all failures are created equal.
- Logical damage refers to file system corruption, accidental formatting, deleted partitions and Windows failures.
- Physically failed drives have broken read heads, seized motors or been exposed to water or fire.
A physically damaged drive requires a professional laboratory with clean room tools to recover outlook data from failed hard drive recovery, while a logical failure can be fixed by most people.
Hard Drive Recovery: Step by Step
Step 1: Attach the Hard Drive to a Healthy PC
Remove the drive and attach it to a healthy PC with a USB-to-SATA adapter or external enclosure. If a dialog box appears asking if you want to scan or format the drive, choose Cancel.
Step 2: Find the PST File
If you can see the files on the drive, look in these standard locations:
Documents\Outlook Files (Outlook 2013 and later)
AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook (older versions and OST files)
Make sure to check the View > Hidden items box, then copy any .pst file you find to a different, healthy drive.
If you're using Microsoft 365 or Exchange, your mailbox is likely stored on the server as well. Sign in on a new PC and Outlook will synchronize it, making local copies less important for regular mailboxes, but still useful for archives or POP accounts.
Step 3: Scan and Repair the PST File With Amrev Outlook Email Recovery
PST files recovered from a failing hard drive are frequently corrupted, and invisible after a crash or format in some cases. The difference a reliable Outlook data recovery software makes is huge, especially in these situations.
Amrev Outlook Email Recovery is designed specifically for repairing such files:
- Download the free trial and install it on the healthy PC, not the failed drive.
- Launch the software and select your PST file, or use Find PST to locate it on the connected drive if you're unsure where it is.
- Run a Normal Scan first, then Intensive Scan on the severely damaged PST file.
- Preview the recovered emails, attachments, contacts, calendar, tasks and notes.
- Activate your license to save the recovered data to a new location.
Since this is all a read-only process, your original PST file remains intact, and all processing happens locally on your computer. Amrev Outlook Email Recovery can also search internal and removable drives to recover deleted PST files from a hard drive, making PST file recovery possible after a formatted drive or Windows re-installation.
Scan your PST before you buy
Scan a copy of the PST and preview the recovered items first.
Step 4: Import the Recovered PST File Into Outlook
Launch classic Outlook, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File and select the recovered PST file. You can also Import/Export the items to your current mailbox.
Prevent Future Loss of Outlook Data
- Set up regular backups of your PST files to external or cloud storage
- Keep PST files at a reasonable size by archiving old emails
- Monitor the health of your hard drive with SMART tools
- Replace older drives before they fail
Doing these things will almost certainly be less expensive than paying for hard drive data recovery services if the worst happens.
Recover Outlook Data from Failed Hard Drive Today
A failed hard drive doesn't have to mean losing your mailbox, but you will need to act quickly to copy what you can and repair the rest with a trusted Outlook data recovery tool. If your recovered PST file is corrupted, follow our guide on how to repair a corrupt PST file before importing it into Outlook. Download the free trial and scan your PST file to preview the results before you buy, or contact our support team for help.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when my hard drive starts failing?+
Turn off the computer and stop using the drive. Continued use could overwrite the sectors containing your mailbox data.
Where does Outlook store the PST file?+
Look in Documents\Outlook Files (Outlook 2013 and later) and AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook (older versions and OST files). Check View > Hidden items if you cannot see the folder.
Can I recover Outlook data from a physically damaged drive myself?+
A physically damaged drive requires a professional laboratory with clean room tools. A logical failure can be fixed by most people.
Does Amrev Outlook Email Recovery change the original PST file?+
No. The process is read-only, so your original PST file remains intact, and all processing happens locally on your computer.
Do I need the PST file if I use Microsoft 365 or Exchange003F+
Your mailbox is likely stored on the server as well, so sign in on a new PC and Outlook will synchronize it. Local copies are still useful for archives or POP accounts.