Guest Chris Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our databases. The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files are stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and windows went ahead and repaired a number of files. All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open a file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise the file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. As Murphy’s law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files that we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups where over written. Is there anyway to repair these files?
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our > databases. > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files > are > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and > windows > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open > a > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise > the > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files > that > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > where over written. > > Is there anyway to repair these files? > No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you have important files then you must maintain at least two independent backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an opportunity to go to the version before.
Guest Chris Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk We usually keep backups weekly, monthly and every 3 months, I've been away on vacation for 3 weeks, returned last week and discovered this today. Which of course means our backups have all been over written for the last month. Nobody else in the office noticed since all our databases all work correctly. The Data from files that we need now though has happened in the last month and is what is urgently required so going back to the previous 3 month backup is pointless Is there any reason why this happens and how to stop it from happening again (thats if I dont get fired today). "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our > > databases. > > > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files > > are > > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and > > windows > > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open > > a > > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise > > the > > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files > > that > > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > > where over written. > > > > Is there anyway to repair these files? > > > > No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you > have important files then you must maintain at least two independent > backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an > opportunity to go to the version before. > > >
Guest DL Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk If they are simply doc files, they *may* be repairable with a disc sector editing tool, I once recovered a large Health & Safety doc that had become corrupted - it was many years ago & I used some version of Norton If you are planning any recovery attempts you should immediately make copies, several, of these files, probably via xcopy "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:ABDA6CB0-2FCD-4763-AC01-218723DCFC31@microsoft.com... > We usually keep backups weekly, monthly and every 3 months, I've been away > on > vacation for 3 weeks, returned last week and discovered this today. Which > of > course means our backups have all been over written for the last month. > Nobody else in the office noticed since all our databases all work > correctly. > The Data from files that we need now though has happened in the last month > and is what is urgently required so going back to the previous 3 month > backup > is pointless > > Is there any reason why this happens and how to stop it from happening > again > (thats if I dont get fired today). > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> >> "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... >> > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common >> > files >> > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our >> > databases. >> > >> > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files >> > are >> > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and >> > windows >> > went ahead and repaired a number of files. >> > >> > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are >> > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try >> > open >> > a >> > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise >> > the >> > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. >> > >> > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files >> > that >> > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as >> > well, >> > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the >> > backups >> > where over written. >> > >> > Is there anyway to repair these files? >> > >> >> No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you >> have important files then you must maintain at least two independent >> backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an >> opportunity to go to the version before. >> >> >>
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk You should be able to retrieve your files from the backups that were created prior to you running chkdsk.exe. "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:ABDA6CB0-2FCD-4763-AC01-218723DCFC31@microsoft.com... > We usually keep backups weekly, monthly and every 3 months, I've been away > on > vacation for 3 weeks, returned last week and discovered this today. Which > of > course means our backups have all been over written for the last month. > Nobody else in the office noticed since all our databases all work > correctly. > The Data from files that we need now though has happened in the last month > and is what is urgently required so going back to the previous 3 month > backup > is pointless > > Is there any reason why this happens and how to stop it from happening > again > (thats if I dont get fired today). > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> >> "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... >> > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common >> > files >> > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our >> > databases. >> > >> > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files >> > are >> > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and >> > windows >> > went ahead and repaired a number of files. >> > >> > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are >> > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try >> > open >> > a >> > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise >> > the >> > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. >> > >> > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files >> > that >> > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as >> > well, >> > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the >> > backups >> > where over written. >> > >> > Is there anyway to repair these files? >> > >> >> No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you >> have important files then you must maintain at least two independent >> backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an >> opportunity to go to the version before. >> >> >>
Guest Chris Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk The backups for the last month all contain the corrupted files. It is the files from the last month that I am trying to retrieve so they are all pretty useless. Is there any reason to why this is caused and how to prevent it? Will also try look into a disc sector editor (not sure where to start though) "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > You should be able to retrieve your files from the backups > that were created prior to you running chkdsk.exe. > > > "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:ABDA6CB0-2FCD-4763-AC01-218723DCFC31@microsoft.com... > > We usually keep backups weekly, monthly and every 3 months, I've been away > > on > > vacation for 3 weeks, returned last week and discovered this today. Which > > of > > course means our backups have all been over written for the last month. > > Nobody else in the office noticed since all our databases all work > > correctly. > > The Data from files that we need now though has happened in the last month > > and is what is urgently required so going back to the previous 3 month > > backup > > is pointless > > > > Is there any reason why this happens and how to stop it from happening > > again > > (thats if I dont get fired today). > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > > >> > >> "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > >> > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common > >> > files > >> > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our > >> > databases. > >> > > >> > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files > >> > are > >> > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and > >> > windows > >> > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > >> > > >> > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > >> > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try > >> > open > >> > a > >> > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise > >> > the > >> > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > >> > > >> > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files > >> > that > >> > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as > >> > well, > >> > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the > >> > backups > >> > where over written. > >> > > >> > Is there anyway to repair these files? > >> > > >> > >> No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you > >> have important files then you must maintain at least two independent > >> backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an > >> opportunity to go to the version before. > >> > >> > >> > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk I don't understand. You wrote that your databases worked correctly during your absence. If they did then the files that got backed up must be useable, regardless of the corruption reported and subsequently "fixed" by chkdsk.exe. "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:359132EE-89A8-4CE9-96B0-58302466B0F6@microsoft.com... > The backups for the last month all contain the corrupted files. It is the > files from the last month that I am trying to retrieve so they are all > pretty > useless. > > Is there any reason to why this is caused and how to prevent it? > > Will also try look into a disc sector editor (not sure where to start > though) > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> You should be able to retrieve your files from the backups >> that were created prior to you running chkdsk.exe. >> >> >> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:ABDA6CB0-2FCD-4763-AC01-218723DCFC31@microsoft.com... >> > We usually keep backups weekly, monthly and every 3 months, I've been >> > away >> > on >> > vacation for 3 weeks, returned last week and discovered this today. >> > Which >> > of >> > course means our backups have all been over written for the last month. >> > Nobody else in the office noticed since all our databases all work >> > correctly. >> > The Data from files that we need now though has happened in the last >> > month >> > and is what is urgently required so going back to the previous 3 month >> > backup >> > is pointless >> > >> > Is there any reason why this happens and how to stop it from happening >> > again >> > (thats if I dont get fired today). >> > >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... >> >> > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common >> >> > files >> >> > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our >> >> > databases. >> >> > >> >> > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the >> >> > files >> >> > are >> >> > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and >> >> > windows >> >> > went ahead and repaired a number of files. >> >> > >> >> > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are >> >> > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try >> >> > open >> >> > a >> >> > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't >> >> > recognise >> >> > the >> >> > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. >> >> > >> >> > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical >> >> > files >> >> > that >> >> > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as >> >> > well, >> >> > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the >> >> > backups >> >> > where over written. >> >> > >> >> > Is there anyway to repair these files? >> >> > >> >> >> >> No, there isn't. You will have to review your backup scheme. If you >> >> have important files then you must maintain at least two independent >> >> backup copies so that if you back up a corrupted file, you have an >> >> opportunity to go to the version before. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Guest Colon Terminus Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our databases. > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files are > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and windows > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open a > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise the > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files that > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > where over written. > > Is there anyway to repair these files? > As has been said, there's no way to repair/recover these corrupted files. It is possible that the corruption occurred during chkdsk because you have a large hard disk in a PC without the BigLBA registry hack applied. I've seen this several times. -- Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service ------->>>>>>http://www.NewsDem
Guest zeke7 Posted January 24, 2008 Posted January 24, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk On Jan 24, 8:16 am, "Colon Terminus" <Colon_Termi...@hotmail.com> wrote: > "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > > news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > > > > > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our > databases. > > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files > are > > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and > windows > > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open > a > > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise > the > > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files > that > > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > > where over written. > > > Is there anyway to repair these files? > > As has been said, there's no way to repair/recover these corrupted files. > > It is possible that the corruption occurred during chkdsk because you have a > large hard disk in a PC without the BigLBA registry hack applied. I've seen > this several times. > > -- > Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service > ------->>>>>>http://www.NewsDem If your disk has (had?) a corrupted partition due to not having Enable BigLBA installed as above, the following might work on a backup set (but not on post-chkdsk-repaired files): first enable bigLBA, then fix the partition using http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk , and your files might be restored to working order.
Guest Chris Posted January 25, 2008 Posted January 25, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > I don't understand. You wrote that your databases worked correctly > during your absence. If they did then the files that got backed up must > be useable, regardless of the corruption reported and subsequently > "fixed" by chkdsk.exe. The Databases work, but most of the other files dont. I work for a manufacturing company and the critical date like our spread sheets, all our typed up quotations, our design calculcation, and all our drawings done over the last month are corrupted. For some reason, the Databases were un effected by chkdsk. @ Colon and Zeke7, we haven't done the bigLBA hack, I'll search up on it now and see if what you have suggested works.. Thanks.
Guest Chris Posted January 25, 2008 Posted January 25, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk Thanks guys, though seems bigLBA was enabled. its got me completly confused, All the files are there, and the sizes all show correct, yet I cant seem to open any of them "zeke7" wrote: > On Jan 24, 8:16 am, "Colon Terminus" <Colon_Termi...@hotmail.com> > wrote: > > "Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > > > > news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... > > > > > > > > > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > > > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our > > databases. > > > > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files > > are > > > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and > > windows > > > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > > > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > > > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open > > a > > > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise > > the > > > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > > > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files > > that > > > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > > > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > > > where over written. > > > > > Is there anyway to repair these files? > > > > As has been said, there's no way to repair/recover these corrupted files. > > > > It is possible that the corruption occurred during chkdsk because you have a > > large hard disk in a PC without the BigLBA registry hack applied. I've seen > > this several times. > > > > -- > > Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service > > ------->>>>>>http://www.NewsDem > > If your disk has (had?) a corrupted partition due to not having Enable > BigLBA installed as above, the following might work on a backup set > (but not on post-chkdsk-repaired files): first enable bigLBA, then fix > the partition using http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk , and your > files might be restored to working order. >
Guest John John Posted January 25, 2008 Posted January 25, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk I think that it's time to call a data recovery firm and explain the situation to them and see if they can recover your files. These files appear to be quite important and with all due respect neither you or hardly any of the contributors here have sufficient data recovery experience to be able to walk through this by newsgroup exchange and discussions. From here on, if the files are recoverable, any thing that you do may seriously or completely reduce any chances of successful recovery by data recovery professionals. If you wish to keep on working on this by yourself (and with the help of the contributors here) I urge you to clone or image the corrupt disk and work on it instead of the original disk. With the use of data recovery software you may be able to salvage the files. Another thing that I might try if I were in your position is mounting the disk to a Linux installation and see if Linux can read them. On occasion I have seen or heard of files that were unreadable by Windows yet Linux for some reason or other could read them. At times it seems that minor MFT or NTFS corruption that completely prevents Windows from reading the files has less effect on Linux and it can read them, worth a try I think. As for your questions of "why did this happen" and "how can I prevent this in the future" there really isn't much that we can tell you. Disk or file corruption happens and I would say that in 99% of the cases we don't know why it happened, we run the disk checking utilities or we restore from backups and we move on. I think that in your case you had some bad luck thrown in with the disk corruption. Your backup strategy appears sound but as luck would have it you were backing up what turned out to be corrupt files and no one knew. In a perfect world the backups should have been tested, but if you did that a few times already and were satisfied that the backup method was sound and that it provided usable backups then it is understandable that you may not have done frequent regular tests on the backups. One thing that isn't mentioned often enough is that there is *always* a risk of data loss when chkdsk is run on a drive. Sometimes it can be minor data loss and at other times it can be nearly complete data loss! The more important the data the more precautions one should take before running chkdsk, in your case perhaps doing a clone or image of the disk before running chkdsk might have allowed you to recover the files from the clone. But then who would have thought or bothered with that? I would have said, "I have a backup so why bother with that" and done exactly what you did. In hindsight it may have been wise to clone or image the disk before running chkdsk, but hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? Good luck! John Chris wrote: > Thanks guys, though seems bigLBA was enabled. > > its got me completly confused, All the files are there, and the sizes all > show correct, yet I cant seem to open any of them > > "zeke7" wrote: > > >>On Jan 24, 8:16 am, "Colon Terminus" <Colon_Termi...@hotmail.com> >>wrote: >> >>>"Chris" <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >>> >>>news:F7D00CF0-ABB1-4526-9EE9-E054117F802C@microsoft.com... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>>We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files >>>>are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our >>> >>>databases. >>> >>> >>>>The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files >>> >>>are >>> >>>>stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and >>> >>>windows >>> >>>>went ahead and repaired a number of files. >>> >>>>All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are >>>>displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open >>> >>>a >>> >>>>file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise >>> >>>the >>> >>>>file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. >>> >>>>As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files >>> >>>that >>> >>>>we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, >>>>and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups >>>>where over written. >>> >>>>Is there anyway to repair these files? >>> >>>As has been said, there's no way to repair/recover these corrupted files. >>> >>>It is possible that the corruption occurred during chkdsk because you have a >>>large hard disk in a PC without the BigLBA registry hack applied. I've seen >>>this several times. >>> >>>-- >>>Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service >>> ------->>>>>>http://www.NewsDem >> >>If your disk has (had?) a corrupted partition due to not having Enable >>BigLBA installed as above, the following might work on a backup set >>(but not on post-chkdsk-repaired files): first enable bigLBA, then fix >>the partition using http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk , and your >>files might be restored to working order. >>
Guest Alan Posted March 14, 2008 Posted March 14, 2008 Re: Unable to open files after chkdsk On Jan 24, 4:16 pm, Chris <Chris @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > We have a windows 2000 PC running in our office where all our common files > are stored. Basically all our word documents, spreadsheets and our databases. > > The system reported a problem on the one hard drive where all the files are > stored and requested that chkdsk be run on reboot. This was done and windows > went ahead and repaired a number of files. > > All the files are still there, and even the correct file sizes are > displayed, however we are unable to access 50% of them. When you try open a > file in word, word tries to import the file saying it doesn't recognise the > file type. The same with excel, PDF's, and JPG's. > > As Murphy's law would have it, it seems its most of the critical files that > we currently need that can't open. Our backup system is automated as well, > and as luck would have it, we only picked up the problem after the backups > where over written. > > Is there anyway to repair these files? You may try some try some recovery tools. I have no idea about other tools, but one program called Advanced Excel Repair is useful to me to when I tried to repair your Excel file. It is a powerful tool to repair corrupt or damaged Excel files. Detailed information about Advanced Excel Repair can be found at http://www.datanumen.com/aer/ And you can also download a free demo version at http://www.datanumen.com/aer/aer.exe Hope this will help. Alan
Recommended Posts