GoldFynch Blog

PSTs and OSTs are how Microsoft Outlook stores email. PSTs let you send/receive emails in real-time, but you need an active internet connection. OSTs let you read/write emails offline, but to send/receive them you'll need to connect with the internet.

For a quick check of an MSG file's contents, use Microsoft Outlook or a reliable third-party application (e.g., GoldFynch's MSG/PST viewer). For more advanced tasks like eDiscovery, choose specialized software that protects metadata and can open all MSG-types.

The easiest way to open a PST file without Outlook is to use a basic, free PST viewer. But for added security and viewing options, find a more advanced (but still free) viewer. Here's how & why.

PST viewers are free applications that let you open PST (email) files without their parent software - Microsoft Outlook. They're convenient and safe if: (1) They run in the Cloud, (2) They don't take files off your computer, (3) They don't change file metadata.

Deduplication is the process of removing extra copies of documents from your case. Comparing 'hash' values is perfect for document deduplication, but 'metadata matching' is much better for email deduplication. The trick is to find eDiscovery software that understands the difference.