Microsoft Outlook is a popular personal management software not merely because of its user-friendly interface. It offers a wide range of powerful features and is flexible enough to allow you to interact with many other communication devices and applications. One such feature that sets Outlook apart from other software is the Import and Export wizard that makes importing data so simple. Microsoft stores all important data such as email messages, appointments, journals, notes, tasks, calendars, address book, etc. in Personal Storage Tables (PST files). Obviously, crucial personal and professional information is stored in these PST files. The ability to import this data into another Outlook version that you may be using allows you to have easy access to this data at all times. On the other hand, problems with the PST file may not only mean that you will be unable to use the PST file but also that you may have to carry out an Outlook recovery to restore vital data.

 

Many Outlook users prefer to keep backup copes of their PST files. This not only helps them restore data quickly in case of any problems with their PST files but also allows them to easily import this file into an Outlook application on another machine that they may working on. This way, users do not have to worry about what machine they are working on and whether they will have access to their Outlook data. By using the Import option, they can always have ready access to the PST file. The only problem is, many users tend to keep Outlook open while backing up their PST. When they try the Import and Export option, they find to their dismay that the PST fie has become corrupted. Usually, this means using special restoration tools to carry out an Outlook recovery.

 

For example, consider a situation where you have noticed a gradual degradation in the performance of your operating system and wish to carry out a complete reformat of the hard drive. You take all the necessary backups, including a backup of your Outlook PST file on to a CD or DVD. After the reformatting has been complete and you have reinstalled the operating system, you might wish to restore the PST file into Outlook.  For this purpose, you use the Outlook Import and Export wizard and try to import the PST file that you had previously backed up on the CD. When you select the PST file that you intend to import, you may be faced with the following error message: 'Properties for this information service must be defined prior to use.' If you click on 'OK', you might get a further error message saying 'File access is denied. You do not have permission required to access the file c:path_name.', where path_name is the location of the PST file.

 

This problem can be overcome by simply copying the PST file on to a hard disk or any other kind of media and then by removing the 'Read-only' property of the file. If this does not help, the PST file may be corrupted and you may need to carry out an Outlook recovery using a tool such as Advanced Outlook Repair from DataNumen. This tool can recover PST files from even damaged media and will ensure that there is no loss of vital Outlook data from your PST files.