When dealing with inaccessible OST (Offline Storage Table) files, finding the right tool is essential. I recently encountered a situation where I needed to recover important contacts and emails from Outlook 2016 (64-bit Office 365) OST file after a hard drive failure. After some research, I came across Stellar Converter for OST, and I decided to put it to the test.

Scenario: Rebuilding a PC and Recovering OST Files

A recent scenario I encountered where I faced a hard drive failure. After rebuilding the PC with a new SSD, I needed to recover contacts and emails from Outlook 2016 (64-bit Office 365) OST file. This is where the search for a reliable OST to PST converter began.

The Challenge

The search continued for a reliable and efficient OST to PST converter. Despite many offerings on the market, few had genuine reviews or seemed trustworthy. And this is where Stellar Converter for OST came into play.

Here's my experience with the tool:

The installation process for Stellar Converter for OST was smooth and straightforward. I downloaded the software from the official Stellar website and installed it on the rebuilt PC with the new SSD. The setup was clean, Once installed, the software opened with a simple, intuitive user interface. This is an essential feature when working under time constraints, as you don't want to waste time trying to figure out how the software works. Right from the start, it was clear that Stellar values user experience and ease of use.

Supported OST File Types and Features

Stellar Converter for OST supports a wide range of OST file types. This includes:

• Inaccessible OST Files: One of the standout features is the tool’s ability to recover data from corrupted or inaccessible OST files.
• Multiple Outlook Versions: The software supports OST files created in all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, and earlier versions, as well as support for both 32-bit and 64-bit Office installations.
• Multiple Account Types: Whether you're working with Office 365, Exchange, IMAP, or other types of accounts, Stellar Converter for OST can handle them all, which makes it versatile for various user needs.

Once I selected the OST file I wanted to convert, the scanning process began.

After the scan was complete, I was able to preview the data. This is one of the best features of the software. It allows you to preview everything within the OST file before performing the actual conversion. You can see your emails, contacts, calendar, and other Outlook data.

This feature is particularly useful for users who want to ensure the tool is converting the data they need without converting everything first.

Conversion Process

The actual conversion process was incredibly simple. After previewing the data and confirming that everything I needed was there, I selected the PST format as the output. Stellar Converter for OST supports multiple output formats, including:

• PST (for Outlook): The most common format for converting OST files.
• EML: For other email clients like Thunderbird.
• MSG: Useful for individual message conversion.
• RTF/HTML: For saving emails in rich-text or HTML format.

For my case, I opted for the PST format since I needed to import the data back into the same Outlook profile. Stellar Converter for OST maintained the original folder structure and preserved all emails, contacts, attachments, and calendar items intact, which is a critical feature for those dealing with important data.

Selective Data Conversion

One of the standout features of this software is the Selective Data Conversion feature. Stellar allows you to choose exactly which folders you want to convert.

• If you only need contacts or calendar items, you can select just those folders for conversion.
• If you want to exclude certain subfolders or attachments, you can customize your conversion in the settings. This saves time and ensures you're only converting the data you really need.

I found this feature particularly useful since, in my case, I only needed to recover contacts, 1-year emails and I was able to easily do so without having to go through unnecessary steps.

So I used Advanced Filter option & applied date filter.

I was worried that some of the contacts or email data might get corrupted during the conversion. However, I was impressed with how Stellar Converter for OST handled this.

• Every contact, email, and attachment was intact and fully accessible in the converted PST file.
• The original folder hierarchy was preserved. This means that even with multiple email accounts, all folders were properly mapped and accessible within Outlook after the conversion.

After completing the conversion, I opened the PST file in Outlook 2016. The data was imported without any issues, and emails were available exactly as they were in the original OST file. The conversion was seamless, and I could now use the recovered data in the newly built Outlook profile.

I ran into a small issue when I was unsure whether I had selected the output folder for my converted PST file. I hadn't noticed the file path and was unable to locate the converted file on my system. I reached out to Stellar’s customer support team via chat. The response time was fast, and the support agent was extremely helpful in resolving the issue.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface
• Fast and reliable conversion with minimal system resources
• Supports all versions of Outlook OST files
• Converted  emails, contacts, calendars, and other Outlook data
• Selective data conversion feature for greater control
• Data integrity & original folder hierarchy was preserved

Cons:

• The free version only allows previewing and doesn’t allow you to save some items

Verdict

After using Stellar Converter for OST in a real-world scenario, I can say that Stellar Converter for OST is user-friendly, reliable, and efficient in handling the conversion of OST files to PST format. It not only recovered my contacts and emails seamlessly, but it also preserved the folder structure and ensured the integrity of all data, including attachments and calendar items.

The ability to preview the data before conversion, along with the selective data conversion feature, makes it a standout product for users who need flexibility and control over what data is recovered. Additionally, the tool supports all versions of Outlook OST files and is capable of converting data from a variety of account types, which increases its versatility. Overall, Stellar Converter for OST is an excellent tool if you need to convert OST files to PST format. Whether you’re dealing with inaccessible OST files, migrating data to a new system, or simply need to convert essential email data, this tool delivers on its promises.