What is PST File Extension?

Full Form of PST File

PST file stands for Personal Storage Table. The acronym of PST defines the complete organization of data items like Emails, Calendars, Contacts, Tasks etc.

A Brief Information about "What is PST file Extension?"

PST or Personal Storage Table is an open proprietary file format that stores an users data items for POP3, IMAP and web based email accounts including email messages & attachments, contacts, calendar entries, tasks and many other data items too. It is a self-contained, stand-alone, and structured binary file format that represents a message stores including folder hierarchy which holds message objects with its attachments. It can also be defined as Personal Storage File, Personal Storage Table or Personal Address Book(.pst. In the following sections, we will discuss what is PST file extension; its location and its various issues.

About PST file

PST file is user data storage of Outlook Email application. Earlier versions of Microsoft i.e. 2000 and 2002 uses ANSI format for saving user data with maximum file size limit of 2GB, and the updated versions such as 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013 & 2016 uses Unicode format for storing user data with maximum file size limit of 20GB for 2003/07 & 50 GB for 2010/13/16. The open file format is organized by Microsoft who provides free specifications and free stable licensed technology. For allocating memory, PST file utilizes a fixed-block-based scheme. Users can enlarge the files by pre-defined sum of bytes and file can preserves the internal information regarding allocated and non-allocated blocks. Therefore, when email messages are combined with PST file then, file size is being adjusted according to application.

Default Location of PST File

By default, the location of .pst file varies based on Windows Vista and Latest Operating System, which are mentioned below.

For 2007 -

For 2010/13/16 -

allow users to change the default location of these PST files according to their requirements.

MIME Type

The MIME type of a PST email program is mentioned as application/vnd.ms-outlook

Major Reasons of PST file

MS Personal Storage Table files multiply rapidly as user sends and receives email messages. Here are several reasons, why organization should consider eliminating PST files.

1. PST file contain critical Details

The Organization need to increase to retain, search and retrieve email is undetermined using PST local files including Personnel data, Customer information, Product and marketing plans, Corporate financial data. These PST files built on end users’ Desktop makes it almost impossible for IT users to store, find, and manage the crucial business information contained.

2. Impact on storage & Backup

Multiple users have several copies of documents within their PST files. In addition, to open PST file requires a complete backup, even if the particular file has been viewed. The combined PST file size of all employees’ can easily reach hundreds of gigabytes, or even terabytes. Therefore, PST files also impact the capacity requirements and performance of enterprise server backup.

3. Data loss and Corrupted files

When file size limit becomes higher than 2GB then PST files got corrupted in case of 2000 & 2002. Unfortunately, they have not the capability to recover the limited files, so results will come in the permanent data loss. Because of their portability, laptop and computers contains PST files that present another threat to enterprise security. If a user have lost his/her laptop then, the result could lead into loss in business. When PST files are not fully corrupted, then it could be recovered. In this scenario, users can contact to help desk for learning, how to repair corrupted PST files.

4. Duplicate data items

Consider, a business related information are present in PST file and the most of emails are present more than once. So, in this case it may result in huge utilization of space. However, the storage system of PST makes it very difficult for users, to easily identify and delete repetitive emails. Hence, to avoid such scenarios, user need to remove unnecessary or redundant items from PST files. The presence of replica might result in slow performance or may lead to the data corruption. Therefore, users have to remove duplicate emails from PST file.

Conclusion

PST file is the most significant data files for Microsoft users. After understanding various aspects of file, we have presented the entire information to let the users know, what is PST file & default location of PST files according to the different versions of .