How to Fix Missing Emails and Attachments After MBOX to PST Conversion

You converted an MBOX file to PST, opened the new data file in Outlook and immediately noticed that something is wrong. Old project folder is blank Some e-mails are missing. Even worse, messages that seem correct may have attachments that can’t be opened or are not visible.

This can be alarming especially when the MBOX file contains years of business or personal communication.

Fortunately missing emails and attachments after MBOX to PST conversion does not always mean the data lost forever. The problem can be caused by an incomplete source file, corrupt messages, Outlook view settings, conversion pauses or errors in the resulting PST file.

This manual will assist you to find the actual issue and repair missing mailbox items without compromising your original MBOX data unnecessarily.

Why Do Users Need to Fix Missing Emails and Attachments?

Here are five real-world scenarios where incomplete MBOX to PST conversion can become a serious problem.

1. Missing Business Emails

A converted PST can hold customer conversations, project updates, contracts or payment records.

Without older messages, it can be difficult for employees to look back on previous decisions or important communications. The conversion needs to be fixed before the mailbox can be used for daily work.

2. Can’t Find Important Attachments

An email without its attachment is nearly useless.

Mailbox messages often contain invoices, reports, spreadsheets, images, and PDF documents. Missing attachments can impact both your personal and business records.

3. Microsoft Outlook Is Growing Its User Base

A large number of users convert MBOX to PST while migrating from an MBOX-based email client to Outlook.

If only part of the mailbox is visible after migration, the user may think that Outlook lost the data. In fact, there could be some issue with the conversion process or PST file structure.

4. Mailbox Backup Shows as Incomplete

Some users convert MBOX to PST to create an archive that is compatible with Outlook.

Backup is only useful if the mailbox data is complete. If you discover your emails missing months later, it will be much more difficult to recover them, especially if the original MBOX file has been deleted already.

5. Previous Conversion Was Interrupted

The conversion can be interrupted due to computer restart, power failure, low disk space or application crash.

However, the PST file may only contain mailbox items that were processed prior to the interruption.

Method 1: Verify Whether the Emails Exist in the Original MBOX File

Best for: Users who are not sure if the problem occurred before or during conversion.

Before repairing Outlook or redoing the conversion, check the source MBOX file.

Steps

1. Create a copy of the original MBOX file for backup.
2. If possible, open the mailbox in the original supported email application.
3. Find a few emails that are missing from the PST.
4. Go through old and recent mailbox folders.
5. Open important attachments in a message.
6. Please confirm that the attachments are legible.
7. Compare the source mailbox and converted PST.

If those missing emails are there in the original mailbox the issue is likely due to MBOX to PST conversion.

Advantages

• Determines whether the source data is complete.
• Eliminates unnecessary PST troubleshooting.
• Helps to verify missing attachments.

Disadvantages

• Needs access to a compatible MBOX email client.
• Can't restore corrupted source messages.

Method 2: Verify Outlook Filters and View Settings

Best for: Users who think that emails are missing when the PST conversion is successful.

Sometimes the emails are in Outlook but you have a filter or custom view hiding them.

Steps

1. Start Microsoft Outlook.
2. Open the folder where messages are missing.
3. See the current Outlook view.
4. Clear active filters.
5. You can reset the folder view at any time.
6. Search by subject or sender to locate a known email.
7. Look at other folders in the imported PST.

And look in folders like Archive, Deleted Items, and your custom mailbox folders.

Pros

• Fast and simple.
• Does not change PST data.
• Can show emails that were just hidden.

Cons

• Does not recover genuinely lost messages.
• You might have to look in custom Outlook settings.

Method 3. Check Attachments in Source MBOX Data

Best for: Emails on the PST that are missing or inaccessible attachments.

MBOX files contain the contents of the emails in a mailbox format. The message data typically encodes attachment information.

Kindly note that if the original message was incomplete the attachment may not convert properly.

Steps

1. Open original mailbox.
2. Locate an email without an attachment.
3. Verify the source message displays the attachment.
4. Try opening or saving the attachment.
5. Repeat the check with a few messages that are affected.
6. Note if a specific attachment type is impacted.
7. Compare the same messages in converted PST.

If attachments are working in the source mailbox, but are lost after conversion, try the conversion again using a method that properly preserves MIME content and attachments.

Pros

• Helps identify attachment-related problems.
• Checks that the source attachment is readable.
• Enables more accurate troubleshooting.

Cons:

• Manual checking may take a lot of time.
• Source attachments may be corrupt and unrecoverable.

Method 4: Repair Converted PST File

Best for: PSTs that don’t open correctly, show folder errors, or are acting strangely in Outlook.

The converted PST file itself might be having structural errors. Microsoft's Inbox Repair Tool, also called ScanPST.exe can scan some PST problems.

Steps

1. Close down Microsoft Outlook.
2. Find ScanPST.exe on the Windows machine.
3. Run the Inbox Repair Tool.
4. Browse and choose the converted PST file.
5. Begin scan.
6. Review the problems that were found.
7. When asked, make a backup.
8. Initiate the repair procedure.
9. Launch Outlook and check the PST once again.

Search for missing messages again and test several attachments after fixing them.

Pros

• Good for certain PST structure errors.
• Can improve Outlook access to corrupted folders.
• Available with a supported install of Outlook.

Cons:

• Does not fix original MBOX file.
• Messages that are not written to the PST cannot be recovered.

Method 5: Repeat the Conversion with Enough Disk Space

Best for: Conversion processes that hang, freeze or create very small PST files.

Conversion of mailbox can be interrupted by low disk space.

Steps

1. Look at the size of the original MBOX file.
2. Ensure that the destination drive has sufficient free space.
3. Delete unnecessary temp files.
4. Copy the MBOX file to your local hard disk.
5. Close applications you are not using.
6. Restart the machine.
7. Perform MBOX to PST conversion again.
8. Save the PST file to your local computer.
9. Check the PST before relocating it.

Pros

• Reduces conversion failures due to storage.
• May improve performance in processing.
• Easy for people who aren't technical.

Cons

• Does not fix source file corruptions
• Larger mailboxes may need more controlled processing.

Advanced Solution for Incomplete MBOX Migration

Hidden emails, PST structure problems and storage problems can be manually troubleshot. But, a better conversion approach might be needed for large or multiple failed MBOX files.

Professional Softaken MBOX to PST Converter opens mailbox messages, process email headers, maintain folder structures and decode attachments, and then create a PST file compatible with Outlook.

It is very useful to preview the mailbox. This enables users to preview the readability of the messages before conversion. Selective folder conversion can also help in processing only affected mailbox portions instead of repeating the entire migration.

Maintaining batch and email metadata is important for business mailboxes. Sender information, recipients, subjects, dates and attachments must stay attached to the correct messages.

These advanced methods are most useful when the original email client is unavailable or if all manual conversion attempts result in incomplete conversion.

Benefits and Features of Advanced Conversion Method

• Email Preview: Messages checking before PST creation.
• Preserving attachments: Retain files attached with original emails.
• Folder hierarchy retention Keep original mailbox structure.
• MIME data handling: Properly handling email content and attachments encoded.
• Selective conversion: Process only the necessary folders or mailbox data.
• Batch conversion: Process multiple MBOX files in a more efficient way.

Conclusion

Lack of emails and attachments after MBOX to PST conversion can be frustrating, but the data may still be available in the original mailbox.

First check the source MBOX file. Make sure the missing emails and attachments really are there. Then check Outlook filters, PST structure and disk space.

If a large mailbox is repeatedly creating incomplete PST files then processing smaller mailbox sections can help troubleshoot the problem. For persistent problems, an advanced MBOX to PST conversion method can give you more control over email, attachment and folder processing.

Most importantly, don’t delete the original MBOX files until you open the PST in Outlook and make sure you have all important emails, folders and attachments.