Fix Outlook Unexpected Shutdown

Often called as .pst or outlook data file, it comprises of local copy of emails and other data account information that could be used as required. In cases outlook application is not closed properly, error messages are received while launching the application in following attempts. This is the time outlook will show the messages stating of issues that aroused in the file as it was not closed properly, which is why it is now being checked for errors.

Outlook unexpected shutdown issue could be resolved in much easy & effective way for cases the problem is not a severe one. Until the check completes outlook data files could not be accessed, this very case applies with outlook 2003 and versions earlier. However, for outlook 2007 the check process takes place in background and a system tray bubble is there to show the results of the analysis. Some of the damage issues may be serious enough such as the ‘outlook cannot open' & could not work in resolving the error. Those are the situations in which data needs to be restored from backup or alternatively outlook inbox repair could be done.

In one such instance when starting Microsoft Outlook, user might get across the below shown error message –

“ Outlook cannot open the data file ‘filename' until it has been checked for problem ”

Or

“ The data file ‘filename' was not closed properly. This file is being checked for problems ”

 

What causes ‘Cannot open outlook data file' error?

Following are the most probable reasons responsible for outlook unexpected shutdown & generation of error data file not closed properly.

• Ending outlook.exe process from task manager when outlook is being accessed
• Abrupt system shutdown when outlook was in process
• Closing outlook application just before system shutdown, this again is counted as unexpected or improper shutdown as the outlook.exe process is in use at that point of time. As this would kill the outlook process all of sudden

 

How to fix outlook cannot open the data file error?

In order to resolve cannot open or data file was not closed properly error that occurs, along with one other, follow the steps described –

• The consistency checking being done by outlook should be allowed to complete properly
• Also make a practice to have considerable difference between system shutdown & closing outlook application
• Or you can also leave outlook open while system shuts down, so that the processes are not killed and open applications could shut down properly
• For inconsistency error reported in PST, scanpst.exe repair utility could be used to fix the issue
• Restore PST file items from previous backup available
• Using PST repair software to scan & analyze PST file errors & fix those off effectively

If these steps do not help resolve PST file problems, it is outmost essential to use effective outlook 2003 recovery tool to repair damage & corruption encountered & helps in safely restoring all the files back.