If you don’t know what Outlook is, (then where have you been!?) It’s an application that lets you manage multiple email accounts. But that’s not all it's good for… It also works with Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Sharepoint Server for multiple users in an organization to share mailboxes and calendars, Exchange public Folders, etc… Once you start using the application you’ll find turning to the app more and more for tasks other than just viewing your mailbox.
Finding your Outlook app or folders not functioning properly is never a pleasant experience, that’s why Outlook comes with an Inbox Repair tool (scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in the file. Use Inbox Repair tool to recover corrupted files in Outlook’s Data File (.pst and .ost). It can help keep the integrity of that data file intact.
The location of inbox repair tool depends on the version of Microsoft Outlook the user has and whether he is using a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows.
There are many different versions of Microsoft Outlook and depending on that the location of the Scanpst.exe file may differ.
Outlook 2007-32 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
Outlook 2007-64 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
Outlook 2010-32 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2010-64 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2013-32 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2013-64 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2016-32 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
Outlook 2016-64 Bit Windows-> C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
Another method to locate the pst-file is through the Mail applet in Control Panel-> button Data Files.
The Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) with a file selected to scan
Analysing….
Errors were found and can be repaired.
Repair completed!
If the process goes correctly, a dialog box “Repair complete” will appear after some time.
Being developed by Microsoft Inbox Repair Tool is compatible with fixing problematic issues with Outlook data files, but still, it is a free tool and it has its limitations. When the problem becomes drastic it has a lesser success rate of repairing a corrupt file. For example, in cases where the PST file is deleted or emptied due to a virus attack, the free tool fails to recover. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the free tool will complete all phases of the repair process, it could halt in the midway. So for safety purposes, it is advisable for users to use Remo's alternative inbox repair tool- a more advanced PST Repair Tool rather than going for a free aid because using Scanpst.exe has some adverse effects too and for your good, try the best rather than regretting later.