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.OST Files

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  • Predict how large Outlook 2007 mailboxes will perform

    Despite Outlook improvements in Microsoft Office 2007 SP2, mailboxes that are larger than 5 GB can still experience performance problems. Use these recommendations and the WinSAT tool to accurately predict how large Outlook mailboxes will perform.  Tutorial

  • Pros and cons of Outlook 2007's storage engine redesign

    The release of Microsoft Office 2007 SP2 brought about a redesign of Outlook's internal storage engine. However, with the increase in performance comes bloating of your .ost and .pst files. Learn about the performance improvements this new file struc...  Tutorial

  • Avoid Outlook 2007 performance issues during repairs

    Premature shut downs of Microsoft Outlook 2007 can lead to performance problems. Educating your users and downloading patches can help smooth out the reconciliation process.  Tutorial

  • Group policy settings for Outlook 2007 in cached mode

    Using Outlook 2007 in cached mode allows mobile users to access mailboxes while not connected to Exchange Server. This tip explains some different .OST file group policy settings you can use to control how Outlook 2007 operates in cached mode.  Tutorial

  • 'Exchange is in recovery mode' errors

    "Exchange is in recovery mode" is an amibigous error that can be difficult to diagnose. It could indicate that Microsoft Outlook is detecting differences between cached data on the client machine and data stored on Exchange Server. But an "Exchange i...  Troubleshooting Guide

  • All about .OST files

    Offline store (.OST) files are a convenient feature for Microsoft Outlook users and a valuable disaster recovery option for Exchange Server administrators. Augment your .OST know-how with this compilation of tips, tools and expert advice on managing,...  Learning Center

  • Exchange Server Backup and Recovery Learning Guide

    In today's business world, e-mail is a mission-critical application for almost every company. With increased business continuance standards and compliance regulations, downtime or lost e-mail is no longer an option. This SearchExchange.com learning g...  Learning Guide

  • offline folder file

    An offline folder file is the location for offline folders (OST files) in Microsoft Outlook.  Definition

  • OST file (.ost)

    An OST file is an offline folder file in Microsoft Outlook.  Definition

About .OST Files

.OST files, also known as offline stores or offline personal folders, are created when email users employ cached Exchange mode so they can fully access Microsoft Outlook data when they're working offline and disconnected from the network. Any data changes on the client are synchronized with Exchange Server the next time the user connects. These tips and tutorials review how to use and recover .OST files, and explain their potential performance and security caveats.