Recover corrupted file

[busysocks123]

Hey,


I know you guys get this a lot, but I'm curious in terms of learning about recovery methods. I recently saved a file, had some resource problems on my computer, and it crashed. When I opened it up again it read in "####". I've tried un/zipping, reinstalling, and checking the corresponding backup files (empty). When it crashed, I made the mistake of reinstalling before I checked the backup folder, which I assume wiped the temp files (due to me reading one thread before the primary).

Anywho, the document is fairly small and it's just for a class of mine. I don't mind retyping it, but I figured I would post here for suggestions on possible last steps. I'm fairly clueless with regards to how, in other threads, individuals have recovered partial documents with software.

Thanks!

Specs:
Win 8
OpenOffice 3.1
File format: .odt

[Hagar Delest]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Sadly, quite nothing to do, see: 22 pages term paper replaced with pound signs.
I confirm your file is empty now.

Check the temporary folder of the system (see in OOo Tools>Options>OOo>Paths). If there are folders like sgmlf.tmp with a file having the same name inside, make a copy of that file, rename it in .odt and cross your fingers. If you have not rebooted, you might have those files still there.
Note that reinstalling does not remove your profile or the orphan temporary files so you have made no mistake in the end.

[WAEL_JU]

hello,
i have the same problem: i open the file and all i see were pound signs ########? Can i sen the file to you and fix it for me?
please!!!

[WAEL_JU]

Hi, can somebody fix this for me and send back to this email?
Email removed (Hagar, moderator)

[Hagar Delest]

You can try but if you see hashes, there is nothing to be done I fear.

NB: I've merged your 2 posts. Please don't multi-post. And next time, please make a dedicated topic. Please read the Survival Guide for the forum.

[WAEL_JU]

what do u mean? did u fix it?

[Hagar Delest]

I can't do anything with your file. I need Emacs to check deeply but not available right now on the machine I'm using.

If you want to try, see: File corrupt and therfore cannot be repaired.

What OS BTW?

[RoryOF]

I got nothing either. The archive, which is the OpenOffice file, seems to be very incomplete. I doubt that here is much to be done with it. You could rename the .odt to .zip and investigate with some form of ZIP utilty which attempts to rebuild the archive. This is usually so iffy it is not worth wasting time on. Better to check the files in the temporary folder and if nothing there, to try running some form of deleted file recovery application, such as PhotoRec. In fact, the sooner this is run the more chance there is of success, but don't expect miracles.

[acknak]

Sorry, the attached file contains nothing but zeros; there's no information there to recover.