How to Fix Outlook Data File Cannot Be Configured?

Microsoft Outlook is an immensely popular email application among most corporate houses. Although primarily an email manager, it has many features like a calendar, task manager, contact manager, note-taking journal, and browsing. What adds to the functionality of this application is the Offline Storage Table (ost) feature that allows you to work with messages and mail data even when you have no access to the mail server and then synchronize changes with the Exchange server once you gain access to the internet again. OST files are used in two scenarios: Microsoft Exchange Server’s Cached Exchange Mode and Outlook Connector for Windows Live Hotmail when accessing Hotmail mail.

When Outlook is used along with Microsoft Exchange Server, it allows you to work with Exchange mailbox offline. Outlook will create an exact copy of your mailbox on the Exchange Server, called offline folder file, which has .ost extension. The OST file is the local copy of your Exchange mailbox, containing all your important personal information like emails, folders, appointments, posts, contacts, tasks, journals, meeting requests, notes, etc. However, while using the MS Exchange Server OST file, users often encounter error messages saying, “Your Outlook data file cannot be configured.” In this article, we seek to find out the causes and solutions. We will also discuss the methods that fix the issue when “Outlook data file cannot be opened.”

Causes of Outlook Data File Cannot Be Configured Error:

Before we figure out the solutions, it is important to understand the causes of the “your Outlook data file cannot be configured” error. 

• Missing OST or PST File: If the Outlook system gets crashed while importing the data file, the OST and PST file may get displaced. As a result, the process will get dismissed, and Outlook may not configure the profile you are looking for.
• Corrupt Data File: If the OST and PST file gets corrupted due to a virus attack, synchronization error, abrupt termination, logical error, etc., you may get this error message.
• Roaming Profile: Outlook users, who have roaming profiles connected to the MS Exchange server of the organization, usually encounter this problem. Their roaming profiles are saved on a shared network wherein they can easily access their Outlook profile from any computer connected to that network. Many users get the error message, “your Outlook data file cannot be configured,” when they try to access their profile.
• System Crash: If the system crashes while importing data files, it disrupts the configuration process. As a result, you may get an error message.

Solutions to Fix Outlook Data File Cannot be configured error:

Follow the steps mentioned below to fix your Outlook data file cannot be configured error:

1. Recheck the Outlook data files path in the system, and reset it to the original one if changed. 
2. In the case of the OST file, delete the .ost file and download it from Exchange.
3. Reinstall Outlook and try to open Outlook data files. 
4. Use inbuilt Inbox repair tool(Scanpst.exe).

 If this method doesn’t work, then try to fix the error with the following methods:

How to Fix “Your Outlook Data File(.ost) cannot be Configured “ Error:

You can access your Outlook account through the OST file. OST file is a replica or copy of your information saved on your mail server. If you encounter any problem with the OST file, delete it and recreate it by downloading a copy of the file using the Exchange Server when ”Outlook .ost is in Use and Cannot Be Accessed Error“. Follow these steps :

• Go to Control Panel and search for mail from the Search Control box.
• The Mail Setup dialog box appears. Select Email accounts.
• Choose the Data Files tab from the available options, choose the Data Files tab and select the Exchange account, and then select Open File Location on the mini toolbar. 
• After closing Account Settings and the Mail Setup box, return to the File Explorer window.
• In the corresponding File Explorer Window, right-click Exchange data file(.ost) and click on the Delete button. 
• Shut down the system and restart. 

A new OST file is created for rebooting the system. 

If the above method does not fix the error, you can use third-party software to overcome this problem and open the OST file successfully.

How to Fix “Your Outlook Data File(.nst) cannot be Configured” Error:

NST is an extension of the Outlook file stored on the local computer whenever you configure Office 365 in Outlook. Outlook synchronizes the local copy of Office 365 and stores it on the PC in a group storage table, also known as NST files. NST files allow you to work offline on Office 365 as OST works for MS Outlook. Both OST and NST files are stored in the same folder. Outlook Slider manages and controls the data synchronized in the NST files with the .nst extension. The NST files are created automatically whenever you configure Office 365 to Outlook as all the cached data of Office 365 are stored in the NST file format. So if you get an error message saying “ Your Outlook data file cannot be configured in Office 365” while configuring your Office 365 account in Outlook, it is pointing towards a .nst file. Follow these steps to fix this error:

Step 1: Verify the System for Corruption 

Run System scan.

• Press Windows + R.
• Now, type “ sfc/scannow” and press Enter.

To run this command, admin privileges might be required.

Step 2: Install the Latest Windows Update 

Check for Windows updates. 

• Click the Start button. 
• Type “ update” and press Enter.
• Windows dialog box will appear. 
• If the updates are available, click on the install updates option. 

Step 3: Clean Up Junk Files

• Press Win + R.
• Now type “Cleanmgr” and press Enter.
• Pick the OS partition and click OK.
• Finally, click on Clean Up System Files.

Resolve Outlook File (.pst) cannot be configured:

If you cannot start MS Outlook, your profile is not configured. It is linked to your PST file, and you can fix it by using Scanpst.exe software. To fix the “Outlook data file cannot be configured in Windows” error. Follow these steps:

• Exit Outlook and do one of the following :
• Browse to C:/Program Files: or
• Browse to C:/Program Files (×86)
• In the search box, type scanpst.exe.
• Open scanpst.exe
• A new window appears; type the name of the .pst file you want to check. 
• Hit Start to begin the scanning process.
• If the scan finds an error, choose Repair to fix the error. 
• Once the Repair completes, start Outlook with the profile associated with the repaired data file.

Aryson OST Recovery 

The manual methods mentioned above are very time-consuming, so that you can opt for an expert solution for quicker results. Aryson OST Recovery is the best tool to fix the “your Outlook data file cannot be configured” error. This software can recover data from all kinds of corrupt OST files.

Conclusion 

We have discussed an effective solution to fix the “ your Outlook data file cannot be configured” error, which saves your time and recovers data from all kinds of corrupt OST files without any data loss.

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