how to delete .ost file in outlook 2010

If you are using Windows XP, the .ost files should be in C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

For Windows Vista and Windows 7, the .ost files should be in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

You can delete it like delete a music file, just selected it and hit Delete key.

Answered Nov, 11 2010

Quit Outlook, if it is running.
From the Start menu, choose Run.
Go to Start> Run window, type this path in the Open box and click OK:
"%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\"

Double-click Scanost.exe, located at drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12 or drive:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\LocaleID folder. You can see the .ost file location in the File box, and delete the one you want to remove. Answered Dec, 28 2010

Have you ever used the Offline Folder Report Software? It will generate offline folder report depicting OST and Non-OST users.

Download Offline Folder Report.

Answered Dec, 30 2010

Personally I’d like to keep my pst-files in a folder called Outlook which is a subfolder of the My Documents folder. In order for Outlook to default to that location, you can make the following change in the registry;

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\Outlook
Value name: ForcePSTPath
Value type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Value: path to your storage folder

As the Value you give the path to the folder where you want to keep your pst-files. You do not need to use quotes for this path, even if it contains spaces.
Example; D:\My Documents\Outlook

Outlook will now use this path by default when creating a new pst-file or when connecting to an existing pst-file.
Changing this key does not move any existing connected pst-files to this path; you’ll have to change that manually.

Using Exchange
If you are also using an Exchange account, then modifying this registry key will also save any newly created ost-files in this location. If you want to set a different location for ost-files, then you’ll need to add another registry key;

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\Outlook
Value name: ForceOSTPath
Value type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Value: path to your storage folder

Using IMAP and the Outlook Connector
Adding these registry keys will not affect the default location for newly created pst- and ost-files for IMAP and Outlook Connector accounts. There are currently no reliable methods to change the location of the storage files for those accounts and it is recommended to leave them in the existing location.

Answered Nov, 11 2010

Outlook includes a tool that may be able to correct the problem. This tool, the OST Integrity Tool, can scan and repair .ost files. If that doesn't completely solve the problem, you can disable the .ost file and create a new one.
To scan and repair the .ost file:
1. Close Outlook.
2. On the Start menu, click Run.
3. In the Open box, type
drive:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\LocaleID\scanost.exe
where LocaleID is the locale identifier (LCID) for your installation of Microsoft Office. For example, the LCID for English (United States) is 1033. For a list of LCIDs, see Microsoft Office Help.
4. Click OK.
5. Click either Scan all folders or Choose folder to scan. If you click Scan all folders, this may take several minutes.
6. Select the Repair errors check box.
7. Click Begin Scan.
Details of actions performed during the scan and repair are saved as a message in your Outlook Deleted Items folder with the subject "OST Integrity Check."
If the Offline Folder file cannot be repaired, you can disable it and create a new one. Answered Mar, 02 2011

Personally I’d like to keep my pst-files in a folder called Outlook which is a subfolder of the My Documents folder. In order for Outlook to default to that location, you can make the following change in the registry;

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\Outlook
Value name: ForcePSTPath
Value type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Value: path to your storage folder

As the Value you give the path to the folder where you want to keep your pst-files. You do not need to use quotes for this path, even if it contains spaces.
Example; D:\My Documents\Outlook

Outlook will now use this path by default when creating a new pst-file or when connecting to an existing pst-file.
Changing this key does not move any existing connected pst-files to this path; you’ll have to change that manually.

Using Exchange
If you are also using an Exchange account, then modifying this registry key will also save any newly created ost-files in this location. If you want to set a different location for ost-files, then you’ll need to add another registry key;

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<version>\Outlook
Value name: ForceOSTPath
Value type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Value: path to your storage folder

Using IMAP and the Outlook Connector
Adding these registry keys will not affect the default location for newly created pst- and ost-files for IMAP and Outlook Connector accounts. There are currently no reliable methods to change the location of the storage files for those accounts and it is recommended to leave them in the existing location.

Answered Oct, 07 2010