How to Repair “Scanpst.exe entry point not found” Error ? – Resolved
The “scanpst.exe entry point not found” error means Windows can’t locate or execute the Inbox Repair Tool properly, usually due to a corrupt or missing Microsoft Office installation. You can fix this by repairing Office, reinstalling it or using the Turgs PST Repair Tool as a direct alternative.
You tried to open scanpst.exe, and Windows threw back a “entry point not found” error. It’s frustrating, especially when you have a corrupt PST file that needs repair right now. The good news: this error has a few reliable fixes, and one of them bypasses scanpst.exe entirely.
What Causes the Scanpst.exe Entry Point Not Found Error
Scanpst.exe is Microsoft’s built-in Inbox Repair Tool for Outlook PST files. The “entry point not found” error means a specific function or DLL that scanpst.exe depends on is missing or broken on your system.
The most common causes are:
- A partial or corrupt Microsoft Office installation where essential DLL files are missing
- A failed Office update that left shared libraries in an inconsistent state
- Conflicts between multiple versions of Office installed on the same PC (e.g., Office 2016 and Office 365)
- Antivirus software that quarantined a DLL file that scanpst.exe needs
- Manual deletion or corruption of files in the Office program directory
The error appears because Windows found scanpst.exe but the executable can’t initialize itself without a dependency it can’t locate.
Fix 1: Use the Turgs PST Repair Tool (Fastest)
The quickest way to repair your PST file without needing scanpst.exe to work is to use the Turgs PST Repair Tool. It’s a standalone application that doesn’t depend on your Office installation at all.
Download it here:
Install and open the tool. Click Browse and navigate to your PST file. The tool scans the file automatically and shows a preview of recoverable items including emails, contacts, calendar entries and attachments. Click Repair to save the fixed PST to a new location.
This approach works regardless of whether scanpst.exe runs on your system or not. I’ve used this on systems where Office was partially installed and it recovered everything from the PST without any issues.
Fix 2: Repair Microsoft Office Installation
If you want to fix scanpst.exe itself so it runs properly, repairing Office is the right approach. Here’s how:
- Press Windows Key + R, type
appwiz.cpland press Enter - Find Microsoft Office in the list and click it once to select it
- Click Change at the top of the window
- Choose Quick Repair first. This runs without internet access and fixes the most common issues
- If Quick Repair doesn’t resolve the error, run Online Repair instead. This downloads and restores all Office files from Microsoft’s servers
- Restart your PC after the repair completes and try scanpst.exe again
Online Repair takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet connection. It restores all shared DLL files that scanpst.exe depends on.
Fix 3: Reinstall Microsoft Office
If the Office repair doesn’t fix the error, a clean reinstall usually does. This is more disruptive but it guarantees all Office components are in a clean state.
Before reinstalling, note your Office product key or make sure you have access to your Microsoft account linked to the Office license. Uninstall Office completely using Microsoft’s official Office removal tool (search “Office uninstall support tool” on Microsoft’s site), restart your PC, then reinstall from your original source or Microsoft 365 portal.
After reinstalling, scanpst.exe will be in its default location at C:Program FilesMicrosoft Office (adjust for your Office version) and should run without errors.
ootOffice16SCANPST.EXE
Fix 4: Find and Run Scanpst.exe Manually
Sometimes the error happens because you’re running the wrong version of scanpst.exe. If you have multiple Office versions installed, there are multiple copies of the tool.
Open Windows Explorer and search for “scanpst.exe” in the C: drive. Windows will find all copies. Match the version to the one that created your PST file:
- Outlook 2019/365:
C:Program FilesMicrosoft Office
ootOffice16 - Outlook 2016:
C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft Office
ootOffice16 - Outlook 2013:
C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15 - Outlook 2010:
C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14
Run the version that matches your installed Outlook. Using a mismatched version often triggers entry-point errors.
Limitations to Know
Limitations
- Repairing Office won’t fix PST files that are severely corrupted or oversized. Even a working scanpst.exe may fail on files larger than 50 GB
- The entry-point error sometimes reappears after Windows updates if the update overwrites shared DLL files
- Reinstalling Office can take 30 to 60 minutes and requires a stable internet connection for the download
- Neither scanpst.exe nor most repair tools can recover emails that were permanently deleted before the corruption occurred
- If the PST file itself is beyond repair, the only option is a professional data recovery service or restoring from a backup
- Running scanpst.exe from the wrong Office version can cause it to fail silently without repairing anything
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Turgs PST Repair Tool without Microsoft Office installed?
Yes. The Turgs PST Repair Tool is a standalone application that doesn’t require Microsoft Office to be installed. It opens and repairs PST files directly without depending on any Office components, which makes it useful specifically when scanpst.exe isn’t working.
Where is scanpst.exe located on my computer?
The location depends on your Outlook version. For Outlook 2019 and 365, check C:Program FilesMicrosoft Office. For older versions, check the corresponding Office version number in the same path (Office15 for 2013, Office14 for 2010). Search for “scanpst.exe” in Windows Explorer to find all copies.
ootOffice16SCANPST.EXE
Why does the entry point not found error keep coming back after I fix it?
Windows updates or antivirus scans can overwrite or quarantine DLL files that scanpst.exe needs. If the error recurs after updates, run Office repair again. If your antivirus quarantined a DLL, restore it from quarantine or add the Office folder to your antivirus exclusion list.
Does repairing Office delete my Outlook emails or settings?
No. The Office repair process only fixes program files. It doesn’t touch your Outlook data files (PST or OST), your account settings or your email. You’ll find everything exactly as you left it once the repair is done.
Is scanpst.exe safe to run on my PST file?
Yes, when it works. Scanpst.exe makes a backup of your PST file before modifying it, so you can restore the original if something goes wrong. Always check that the backup was created before you proceed. For severely corrupted files, a dedicated PST repair tool often produces better results than scanpst.exe.
My PST file is too large for scanpst.exe. What can I do?
Scanpst.exe struggles with PST files larger than 50 GB and sometimes refuses to process them. The Turgs PST Repair Tool handles large PST files more reliably. If the file is genuinely oversized, consider splitting it after repair using Outlook’s import/export feature to create smaller, more manageable PST files going forward.
