Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients used across industries. Outlook makes use of MS Exchange as the Server according to the Client-Server architecture. All the mailboxes of Outlook users who use the same Exchange Server are stored in a database on that particular server. For efficient functioning and better data management, the Exchange Server has divided itself into three major components - EDB or Exchange Database file – the primary database of Exchange Server, Transaction log, and STM or Live Streaming Media file.
With a large number of businesses around the world using Outlook as their preferred email client, Microsoft Exchange administrators need to take regular backups of the Exchange Server to prevent data loss and facilitate data retrieval in adverse circumstances. The exchange backup file has. bkf file extension and contain .Steam, and .log files of MS Exchange Server. Microsoft even provides a utility called NTBackup using which you can create the backup of your Exchange Server database as well as .bkf files. These can be stored in a safe location, allowing you to retrieve and restore the data. However Backup Exchange data is not 100% safe as Exchange bkf files are prone to corruption.
With a large number of businesses around the world using Outlook as their preferred email client, Microsoft Exchange administrators need to take regular backups of the Exchange Server to prevent data loss and facilitate data retrieval in adverse circumstances. The exchange backup file has. bkf file extension and contain .Steam, and .log files of MS Exchange Server. Microsoft even provides a utility called NTBackup using which you can create the backup of your Exchange Server database as well as .bkf files. These can be stored in a safe location, allowing you to retrieve and restore the data. However Backup Exchange data is not 100% safe as Exchange bkf files are prone to corruption.
What Causes Corruption?
There are a number of reasons that can lead to corruption of the Exchange bkf file and let us take look at the most common ones-
Exchange bkf File Header Corruption: In case there is corruption in the header of your Exchange bkf ,it can lead to failure in the backup restoration process and cause the file to get corrupt.
Interruption in the Backup Process: By default bkf file are backed up regularly and any interruption in the backup process can cause the bkf file to corrupt and lead to inaccessibility of all the data stored on it. It can be caused by power outage or network errors. To prevent such corruption you need to prevent interruption in Exchange backup process.
Virus Attack: Virus attacks are one of the biggest threats to Exchange bkf file. These files can easily get corrupted via a sudden virus attack. You can easily prevent this by installing an effective anti-virus program that is updated with the latest definitions. This will prevent these files from external threats.
Abrupt System Shutdown: If the system abruptly shuts down it can also cause the Exchange bkf file to get corrupt. Thus, you must prevent abrupt system shutdown using power backup and other measures.
Missing Catalog Files: This is another of the common causes that is responsible for corruption of Exchange bkf files.
CRC Error: Cyclic redundancy check error can also be a reason behind Exchange bkf files corruption.
These are some of the most common situations that can lead to corruption of Exchange bkf files. However, there are other factors also which can cause this corruption which results in Exchange bkf file throwing error messages
Exchange bkf File Header Corruption: In case there is corruption in the header of your Exchange bkf ,it can lead to failure in the backup restoration process and cause the file to get corrupt.
Interruption in the Backup Process: By default bkf file are backed up regularly and any interruption in the backup process can cause the bkf file to corrupt and lead to inaccessibility of all the data stored on it. It can be caused by power outage or network errors. To prevent such corruption you need to prevent interruption in Exchange backup process.
Virus Attack: Virus attacks are one of the biggest threats to Exchange bkf file. These files can easily get corrupted via a sudden virus attack. You can easily prevent this by installing an effective anti-virus program that is updated with the latest definitions. This will prevent these files from external threats.
Abrupt System Shutdown: If the system abruptly shuts down it can also cause the Exchange bkf file to get corrupt. Thus, you must prevent abrupt system shutdown using power backup and other measures.
Missing Catalog Files: This is another of the common causes that is responsible for corruption of Exchange bkf files.
CRC Error: Cyclic redundancy check error can also be a reason behind Exchange bkf files corruption.
These are some of the most common situations that can lead to corruption of Exchange bkf files. However, there are other factors also which can cause this corruption which results in Exchange bkf file throwing error messages
Common Error Messages
Let us now look at some of the most common error messages which users encounter while trying to extract or restore data from corrupt Exchange bkf file:
"An inconsistency was encountered on the requested media"
"The fixed media is full. You cannot back up all of the specified data to this disk device. The backup operation will stop"
"The backup file is unusable. You must erase it, or choose another file."
"The database missed a previous full backup before the incremental backup"
"The backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used."
"An inconsistency was encountered on the requested media"
"The fixed media is full. You cannot back up all of the specified data to this disk device. The backup operation will stop"
"The backup file is unusable. You must erase it, or choose another file."
"The database missed a previous full backup before the incremental backup"
"The backup file contains unrecognized data and cannot be used."
Handle Exchange Backup Corruption Intelligently
If you are witnessing any of these error messages or bkf file is corrupt don’t panic. To counter these problems, make use of efficient third-party Exchange bkf repair software such as Stellar Phoenix Exchange bkf Recovery software. This software is capable of repairing corrupt or damaged Exchange bkf file. It can easily recover .edb, .stm, and .log file.