Unknown Error” While Synchronizing Ost File

By Author: John Peter
Total Articles: 70
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Sometimes, when you try to synchronize your OST (Offline Storage Folder) with Microsoft Exchange Server, synchronization fails. In most of these situations, the user encounters an error message stating the cause of the synchronization issue. Since the synchronization process fails, OST file remains unusable and its data can not be accessed. To overcome such synchronization error messages and to access the data saved in the OST file, you will need to convert the file into PST file. To do so, you will need to search for an efficient third-party OST to PST conversion software.

To explain the above case in detail, consider a real-time scenario wherein you fail to synchronize your OST with Exchange Server. On viewing the synchronization log, you view the below information:

11:45:16 Synchronizer Version 12.0.6300
11:45:16 Synchronizing Mailbox 'USER'
11:45:16 Synchronizing Hierarchy
11:45:16 Synchronizing server changes in folder 'Inbox'
11:45:16 Downloading from server 'EXCHANGESERVER.local'
11:45:16 1 item(s) changed read-state in offline folder
11:45:17 Synchronizing server changes ...
... in folder 'Deleted Items'
11:45:17 Downloading from server 'EXCHANGESERVER.local'
11:45:18 Error synchronizing folder
11:45:18 [8004011D-526-80040115-0]
11:45:18 Microsoft Exchange  is not available. Either
there are network problems or the Exchange computer is down for maintenance.
11:45:18 Microsoft Exchange Information Store
11:45:18 For more information on this failure, click
the URL below:
...

Resolution:

To get past the synchronization issues, and to access the data saved in the OST file, you will need to take below mentioned steps:

1)Uninstall/disable the anti-virus software.
2)Ensure that the profile settings are correct and MS Exchange service and mailbox are the default delivery destinations.
3)Perform manual OST synchronization using below steps:
a)Click 'Tool' option
b)Select 'Synchronize'
c)Lastly, choose 'The Folder or All Folders'
4)Make sure all the network devices are functioning properly.

If the data saved in the OST file remains inaccessible even after following the above steps, then you will need to opt for a commercial tool to Convert OST to PST. Such OST to PST conversion tools use safe, yet advanced conversion methods to convert unreadable OST file to readable PST file.

Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Desktop ensures complete conversion of OST file to PST file, which can be directly opened in MS Outlook. The read only utility can Convert OST to PST in just a few simple steps. Supported by MS Outlook 2003, 2002, 2000, 98 and 97, the non-destructive software can be installed on Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, 2000, and NT4 (SP6).