I recently had an issue with Outlook that came close to trapping me out of all my critical emails. It was fine until one day I tried to open Outlook, and it simply would not open. I kept getting a message that there was a problem with the OST file, and it didn’t matter how many times I restarted the machine, it kept giving me the same message. I initially thought it was a simple temporary issue, but it soon became clear to me that I had a corrupted OST file, which left me without access to all of my emails, attachments, and folders.
Anyone who uses Outlook regularly will understand the panic that comes with such an error. The OST file is the lifeline of Outlook, and once it is corrupted and not readable, Outlook will not load anything that is related to the OST file. At this point, I started searching for a method to see my data or retrieve it, even if Outlook itself could not be opened.
How My OST File Got Corrupted
Before I searched for solutions, I tried to understand what actually damaged my OST file. In my case, my laptop froze while syncing emails and restarted on its own, and that sudden interruption was enough to corrupt the OST.
Mostly, OST files get damaged due to reasons like incomplete syncing, system crashes, Outlook freezing during email updates, large OST size, or even malware attacks. Whatever the cause may be, the result is the same — Outlook won’t read the file.
Trying to Recover My Emails
The first thing that popped into my head was simple:
“How am I supposed to get to my emails through Outlook, not opening?”
I went through all the classic troubleshooting steps — repairing Outlook, opening it in safe mode, running Microsoft’s built-in scan utility, etc. None of it worked. The same error continued to show up, and the OST file was still inaccessible.
While searching for potential fixes and solutions, many users online reported success after recovering their data by exporting/converting their OST file into some other readable format. I was interested in HTML because HTML files can be opened in any browser, such as Chrome or Edge, and the convenient factor is that you do not need to have the program, Outlook, installed at all. It seemed like the safest and simplest way to view my emails again.
That’s when I decided to convert my OST file into HTML.
The Tool That Helped Me — Professional OST to HTML Converter
During my research, one tool kept coming up repeatedly — DataVare OST to HTML Converter Expert.
Since I needed something reliable and easy, I decided to try it.
What I liked immediately was how smoothly it handled corrupted and inaccessible OST files. The interface was simple, and the tool showed a proper preview of my mail folders, which instantly gave me confidence that my data was still recoverable. It kept the attachments, formatting, and folder structure exactly the way they were — nothing looked misplaced or broken.
How I Converted My OST File to HTML
The whole process was incredibly easy. This is what I did:
- I installed the above-mentioned OST to HTML Converter on my computer.
- I used the Add File feature to open my corrupted OST file.
- I saw a preview of all the folders – Inbox, Sent, Drafts, and subfolders.
- I selected HTML from the save options.
- I chose where to save the output files.
- I clicked Convert, and in a matter of minutes, files were converted into HTML pages.
When I finished, I opened those HTML files in Chrome, and I will say it felt like I was looking at my Outlook mailbox again– everything is there and readable.
Manual Methods I Tried Earlier
Before using the tool, I had tried a few manual attempts.
For example, saving emails manually one by one as HTML, exporting through Outlook’s Import/Export option, and even dragging emails to folders for manual conversion.
But all these methods failed mainly because my OST file itself was corrupted. They also had other issues, like:
- Manual saving works only for individual emails
- Attachments don’t always export correctly
- Folder structure is lost
- It takes too much time
So the manual route wasn’t practical at all for my situation.
Why I Recommend the DataVare OST to HTML Converter Expert
After successfully recovering everything, I realized how efficient this tool actually is.
It can convert entire OST mailboxes, supports bulk conversion, and handles corrupted or orphaned OST files effortlessly. Most importantly, it preserves structure, formatting, attachments, metadata — everything. For someone who just wanted a clean and reliable output without technical complications, this tool was exactly what I needed.
Conclusion
If your OST file becomes unreadable, stops syncing, or Outlook refuses to open it, don’t stress too much. I went through the same situation, and I know how frustrating it feels. Converting the OST file into HTML saved all my data and gave me access to my emails again, even without Outlook.
For me, the DataVare OST to HTML Converter Expert worked perfectly and restored everything without any loss. If you also want a safe and simple way to view your OST emails in any web browser, this tool is definitely worth trying.
