Introduction
In this review we’ll take a look at EdbMails OST to PST converter and see what we think of it in terms of recovering data from inaccessible and old OST files. We can look at the software’s installation, usability, functions, and, of course, the end result. We are all aware that OST is a Microsoft file format that, unlike PST, cannot be simply transferred to another computer or device and viewed with a different version of Outlook. An OST file is a synchronized copy of your online mailbox that cannot be opened even if you use a different profile on the same system. Since Microsoft Office 2013, the OST file format is also supported for IMAP accounts. Before we get into EdbMails OST conversion software, let’s take a quick look at some of the most common use case scenarios that would necessitate the use of it.
Why is OST conversion important?
Why would everyone want to get over it if the file is already synchronized with their online accounts, and who cares if it corrupts? This is where you are mistaken. This can be a major disaster if you have users who travel frequently or who work offline on their device, sending emails, updating their calendar entries, and scheduling invites while their PC is down. The OST file is the most efficient way to retrieve all of this data as well as the unique emails of each individual. When you create a draft, send emails from the outbox, set tasks, or add new calendar entries, all of these changes are saved in the OST file and can be synchronized to the server’s mailbox and vice versa once you connect to the Exchange Server. (When you connect to the internet)
Use Case 1: If Outlook becomes corrupt prior to the synchronization, retrieving data from the OST is your best option, unless you’re willing to accept data loss. If you try to create a new profile in Outlook and sync it with your online mailbox, all of the changes you made while working offline are lost..
Use Case 2: If you have an old PC from a user who has left the company and the mailbox has been deleted from the Exchange Server, the simplest way to recover all the data is to retrieve it from the OST file record.
Use Case 3: Consider another scenario: Recovering and converting an OST file is absolutely necessary if your Exchange or IMAP server has been hacked or unavailable and if your backup has been misplaced. Now, all the copies of the mailboxes are contained and accessible within the OST file. Although extreme, there have been reports of an IMAP server being compromised and removed, and to make matters worse, backup servers being shut down as a result of the attacks.
As all of the preceding examples demonstrate, an OST file is generally useless in and of itself, but it may be required at times and is your best option in extreme and everyday situations.
EdbMails OST to PST converter – A one stop shop
As a result, we now have a fundamental understanding of what an OST file is and why it is significant. Now, let’s take a look at the EdbMails OST converter software. In terms of download and installation, it was very smooth, and according to our review, it does not require any technical knowledge. We had the utility up and running in minutes with just a few clicks.
Login process
When we first launched the app, we were greeted with a popup screen that asks to choose between two options.
- Login
- Start Your Free Trial
When you choose the Login option, you need to provide an email address and password to enter into the application.This email address is associated with the license plan when you purchase the software. EdbMails, therefore, does not require any kind of license or activation keys to use the software.
The Start Your Free Trial option allows you to try the software and all of its features for free without requiring any details. We proceeded with this option since we wanted to do a quick test of the software and its features. In the main interface, you are displayed a small window with a drop-down having multiple recovery, conversion and migration operations. We chose the OST related option.
Browsing and scanning the OST file
The following window prompts you to browse and navigate to the OST file. If you already know where the file is, you can navigate to it and select it. Otherwise, use the Windows Search option to locate the .ost file. It’s usually in the AppData folder or the MS Outlook installation directory. In any case, we recommend that you make a backup of the original OST file before proceeding. When you select an OST file, the software will run a file test before proceeding. However, depending on the size of the OST, the software will scan it, and the tests we ran revealed that everything worked as expected. (It scans and extracts a large GB file within minutes which is pretty decent) When the scan is finished, you’ll see a tree-like folder structure.
User Interface (UI) and Selection
When you look at the user interface, you’ll notice that it’s extremely clean and that everything is on one screen. We dislike having to navigate through multiple displays and windows in order to complete a task in an application. One more thing to observe is that the interface looks quite familiar to most email clients. This is a big plus point since many users find it hard to adapt to a new interface if they are already familiar with one.
You can see the entire structure of your mailbox, as well as other data in the OST file on the left side. The center pane will display a list of items within the selected folder, and the preview pane will appear at the bottom allowing you to view the highlighted email contents in HTML format. The tasks, mail, calendar journal, and contact tabs are all located in the lower left corner. This is a fantastic interface because it looks and feels exactly like the one in Outlook, so you’ll have no trouble adapting to it.
In the center panel, you can click on individual tabs to sort mail items based on Sender address, Recipient and others.
Each folder on the left side has a checkbox. This is practically useful to export specific items rather than converting all of them. If you select a few folders and then click the Convert to PST button in the bottom right, only the items you selected will be exported and saved in a PST file.
Filter Options and more
The application includes an appealing filter function, which can be accessed by clicking the Settings button or while converting files. This includes filtering messages based on specific dates or the Sender address, among other things. You can export individual emails from the preview pane to various formats such as MHT, EML, and HTML. This is very useful in situations where you need to quickly print or view important emails from an inaccessible OST file.
Convert OST to PST
After you’ve selected the necessary items, you can use the PST split option to split a large OST file into smaller PST chunks. If you export the entire OST file to PST or only selected items, you will be prompted to save the file in a specific location. When you click the Convert button, the magical conversion takes place and your data is exported to PST format.
Recovering Deleted Mailboxes
It is possible to recover deleted Exchange server mailboxes from an OST file using EdbMails. The software makes it extremely easy to locate the Deleted Items folder in the left tree-menu. When the online mailboxes on the Exchange server are deleted and you need to recover them, this feature comes in handy.
Direct OST import to Office 365 and live Exchange server
If you don’t want to convert your data to PST, this option comes in handy. Many businesses seek a quick way to set up new servers in the event that the old one fails or crashes. EdbMails enables you to import the contents of an OST file directly into Office 365 or a live Exchange server.. The procedure is straightforward: you enter the OST file, connect to your Office 365 or Exchange server, and begin the import process. It should also be noted that this feature is only available in the Corporate and Technical Editions of the software.
Conclusion and Verdict
EdbMails OST to PST converter is actually available to solve OST file issues in difficult situations, as well as extremely complex and tragic ones. The application was simple to install, and the user interface was appealing and easy to use. This tool works flawlessly on corrupted and even large OST files and supports Exchange, IMAP and Outlook OST files. It is compatible with all Microsoft Office and Exchange versions, from the very old, 2003, to the most recent, 2019. With the Corporate and Technical licenses, you can import directly from OST files to a live Exchange Server or an Office 365 tenant, allowing you to use it as a migration tool. The software is highly recommended for all types of users, including Home, Exchange administrators, business, and corporate users, for both one-time disaster recovery and day-to-day file recovery and conversion. Based on all of the aforementioned features, it truly deserves a five-star rating.
