Member Avatar for philpense

Have what I believe is a PST folder of downloaded email from an Optimum Online account.

  • Within Outlook how can one confirm that this is PST file/folder
  • What is the proper way to get these emails to a DVD, then check if the transferred data is correct
  • 2 Contributors
  • 1 Reply
  • 284 Views
  • 5 Hours Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by gerbil

Dani AI

Generated

Brief practical checklist that answers and builds on 's verification point.

To confirm the file is a PST and view its contents

  • In Outlook: File > Account Settings > Data Files (or Control Panel > Mail > Data Files) to see paths and extensions. If you only have a loose file, use File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File to mount it temporarily and inspect folders and messages. Note the difference: PST is a personal data file; OST is an Exchange/IMAP cache. Always close Outlook before copying the file on disk (Outlook locks PSTs while running).

Prepare and verify before burning

  • Make an immediate copy of the PST to a safe folder. Run the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) on that copy to detect/repair corruption; keep a separate backup copy in case the tool changes the file. Create a checksum of the copy so you can verify the burned disc later. Example commands (run in an elevated prompt or PowerShell):
certutil -hashfile "C:\backup\mail.pst" SHA256

or

Get-FileHash -Path "C:\backup\mail.pst" -Algorithm SHA256

Burning and post-burn checks

  • Burn the PST as a data file (not as an audio/video project). Use a burn tool with a verify option, burn at a low speed, and include the checksum output as a small text file on the disc. After burning, copy the PST back from the DVD and re-run the same checksum command; the hashes must match. Finally, open that copied PST in Outlook on a different machine (or a VM) to confirm folders and messages are readable.

Notes and cautions

  • DVDs are fragile and not ideal for long-term archival; if the PST is larger than a single DVD (single-layer ~4.7 GB, dual-layer ~8.5 GB), export smaller date-ranged PSTs via Outlook's Export wizard or use external HDD/USB/cloud storage for safer long-term retention.
Member Avatar for gerbil

Simply, import it. You would wisely export your own data and clear the decks first to avoid confusion. Or, if it's not your .pst, then in a VM.
Any burner will handle the copy to dvd; decent burners allow for integrity checks on the burn (read/compare).

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.