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Carlito Austin
How to Repair Outlook Data Files with SCANPST.EXE Keygen
If you are looking for a way to repair your Outlook data files (.pst and .ost) without paying for a license, you might be tempted to use a keygen program that claims to generate a valid product key for SCANPST.EXE, the Inbox Repair tool that comes with Outlook. However, using a keygen is illegal and risky, as it may contain malware or fail to work properly. In this article, we will explain what a keygen is, why you should avoid it, and how to repair your Outlook data files safely and legally.
What is a keygen?
A keygen (short for key generator) is a computer program that generates a product licensing key, such as a serial number, necessary to activate for use of a software application. [^4^] Keygens may be legitimately distributed by software manufacturers for licensing software in commercial environments where software has been licensed in bulk for an entire site or enterprise, or they may be distributed illegitimately in circumstances of copyright infringement or software piracy. [^4^]
Illegitimate keygens are typically distributed by software crackers in the warez scene and demoscene. These keygens often play "Keygen music", which may include the genres dubstep or chiptunes [^1^] in the background and have artistic user interfaces. [^4^] They try to emulate the key sequence required by a program for installation, allowing bootlegged copies of software to be installed by anyone without paying for an actual license. [^5^]
Why should you avoid using a keygen?
There are several reasons why using a keygen is a bad idea:
- It is illegal. Using a keygen to generate a product key for a software that you do not own or have not paid for is a form of software piracy, which is a criminal offense in many countries. You may face legal consequences such as fines or imprisonment if you are caught using a keygen. [^5^]
- It is risky. Many unauthorized keygens, available through P2P networks or otherwise, contain malicious payloads. [^4^] These keygens may or may not generate a valid key, but the embedded malware loaded invisibly at the same time may, for example, be a version of CryptoLocker (ransomware). [^5^] [^6^] This malware may encrypt your files and demand a ransom to unlock them, steal your personal information, damage your system, or perform other harmful actions. [^5^]
- It is unreliable. Most modern software has other means of validation than a product key to ensure that the software is legally licensed and not pirated. A keygen may allow you to install the software but validation over the Internet would then stop the software from working. [^5^] Moreover, some keygens are equipped with spoofing servers that intercept the communication between the software and the actual servers, providing it with the validation reply it is expecting from the real servers, thereby tricking the software into thinking that it has been validated. However, this method may not work if the spoofing servers are down or blocked by your firewall or antivirus. [^5^]
How to repair your Outlook data files safely and legally?
The best way to repair your Outlook data files safely and legally is to use the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) that comes with Outlook. You do not need a product key to use this tool, as it is part of your Outlook installation. You can use this tool to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data file (.pst or .ost), such as corruption or damage caused by power failures, disk errors, or virus attacks. [^1^]
To use the Inbox Repair tool, follow these steps:
- Exit Outlook and browse to one of the following file locations: