.pst file is in use and cannot be accessed

[RKinsey]

Exchange 5.0 user has a .pst file that is 900 megs in size. The service fails to open the file. I have not been able to open the file to repair it or break into smaller pieces. Is there a utility that might be able to handle the task?

 

[goal]

Stupid suggestion maybe, but the title of your post:

.pst file is in use and cannot be accessed

is usually solved by rebooting the client workstation and making sure no-one else on the network has this file open.

As for the 900mb, we have users with 700+mb files that work fine.

And a utility? sorry - I don't know of one myself.

HTH,
Andy.

 

[FT]

use the Inbox repair utility to repair the pst. file. Go to help and do a search for inbox. FYI- do not have pst file over 1.9 GB.

Francis T

 

[ukjane]

I had a similar problem with this and after using the inbox repair tool etc. I was left with creating a new .pst file and importing all of the folders and messages into the new .pst file. A bit drastic but works. The limit for a .pst file is 2GB. Personally I don't see how anyone needs a pst file bigger than 200MB, they should be using the Archive utility.

 

[RKinsey]

Thanks for the assist everyone. I nfound that the file was "in use: by a failed Veratas backup job. I was able to open the file with a hex editor and save it to a different drive and name. The new file, once opened in Exchange, was broken into smaller files and archiving set up.
Thanks Again,
Randy

 

[mccoubreyp]

If you want to split files. Use a free down loadable utility called 'Winsplit'. Just go to Google and do a search for winsplit. However, I have never split such a large file

Phil