At times while attempting to extract the contents of a corrupted PST file through the ScanPST tool, you might encounter an error message which mentions Fatal Error: 80040900. In this article, we try to dig down about possible causes behind this issue and look at four specific solutions to rectify the issue.
The MS Outlook application finds a prized place in most organizations where it is used. From managing all business communication to tracking all your meetings and client contacts in one place, there is hardly any other mail client which offers such versatility. Even small businesses and individual users rely on the multifaceted capabilities of this class-leading tool for their business needs. With relevant Add-ins like Teams and Salesforce etc., you can directly set meetings right of the Outlook application or turn it into a powerful CRM-driven marketing tool.
While the much-vaunted Outlook application has nearly everything going for it when it comes to features it does have a few visible chinks in its armor like the propensity of its underlying data files to get corrupted. Quite expectedly such issues have a history, with many users of Outlook iterations, over the years, suffering such incidents of data corruption. To tackle such incidents, Microsoft packs the ScanPST tool in the office package, and users can try to use this tool to repair corrupted PST files. Unfortunately, at times you may encounter the Fatal Error: 80040900 while you are running a recovery process with ScanPST.
Key Causes of Fatal Error: 80040900 Showing up While Running ScanPST
As opposed to the general belief amongst normal Outlook users that ScanPST can help them recover corrupted PST files effortlessly, the tool more often than not comes short on expectations. This specific fatal error can be thrown up if the tool encounters an extensive incident of PST corruption like say the data file getting malware due to malware. To help you deal with such a situation, we have listed below three effective solutions that you can try out.
#1. Use a Specialized PST Recovery Tool Designed to Handle Intricate Incidents of Data Corruption
Dealing with extensive incidents of PST corruption requires the need of a powerful recovery tool that can deal with several intricacies like large PST files, varied data types included in emails, and even the storage media where the files are located. The DataNumen Outlook Repair without a shred of doubt is the best PST recovery tool you are likely to come across in the market. The tool boasts of one of the highest recovery rates for any tool in its class and can deal with nearly every Outlook iteration in place. To run this tool and get back your Outlook contents, perform the steps listed below
- Launch the DataNumen Outlook Repair application
- In the Repair tab, use the Select PST file option to choose the source file you wish to recover
- While keeping the file format as Auto Determined, choose the Output file location and click on the Start Repair button to initiate the data recovery process.
The application will bring out all the content of the source file and save it in perfect order in the Output PST file which you can use to replace the current PST file used by Outlook. Once done, just launch Outlook in a normal fashion. Just in case you have multiple PST files to repair, the tool offers a Batch recovery mode which allows you to recover all of them together in a jiffy.
#2. Recover Outlook Data from the Drive/Disk where you have stored your PST file
If solution #1 fails, the Outlook data may still exist and be recoverable, not in your PST file, but in the drive or disk where you have stored your PST file in the past. So, the solution is, to use a tool that can scan the raw drive or disk and recover the Outlook data for you. DataNumen Outlook Drive Recovery is such a tool.
Below are the steps to use this tool:
- Start the DataNumen Outlook Drive Recovery application
- In the “Recovery” tab, in Drive or disk to be scanned combo box, choose the source drive or disk where you have stored your PST file in the past.
- Set the output file name.
- Click the “Start Recovery” button to start scanning the drive/disk and recover data from it.
#3. Consider Turning Back to a Previous State Using the System Restore Utility in Window
At times one of the most effective solutions to get back your Outlook application to work in a normal fashion involves running the System Restore utility and turning back the system to a previous date and state where it was working perfectly. Before running the System Restore feature, you need to be aware that it will remove any programs that you may have installed after the restore point date which you will revert the system back to. To run System Restore, perform the steps listed below
- From the desktop screen, key in System Restore into the Windows Search Bar (also referred to as the Run Box)
- Next, go ahead and bring up the Recovery Control Panel
- Further, go through the Advanced recovery tools options, click on the Open System Restore option.
- You will find a screen where you need to choose a Restore Point which is essentially a date when the Outlook program was working without a flutter and then revert back, the Windows system by going through the onscreen instructions
#4. Use a Previously Backed Up Outlook PST Data File
One of the quickest ways to get back your Outlook emails involves using a previously backed up copy of Outlook to effectively replace the current PST file in use. Most Outlook users tend to routinely back up their PST files and the practice of backing up is more regular and frequent in the case of small businesses. Now if you have a PST backup copy, just try out the steps listed below
- Launch the MS Outlook program and move to the File tab
- Next below the Info tab, you need to head to the Account Settings
- Further, select Account Settings from the provided options
- Next, go to the Data Files tab and dig out the location of the existing Outlook PST file
- Bring up the relevant folder in Windows and replace the current file with the backup data file you have
You can also find more detailed information on the Windows support site.
In a word, when scanpst fails on your Outlook PST file and report fatal error 80040900, don’t panic. You still have several solutions, including using a more advanced tool to repair your corrupt PST file, scan the drive/disk where you have stored your PST file, restore with Windows system backup, or restore with a backup of the Outlook PST file.
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