Files corrupted / will not open

[Guest Tom R]

All of a sudden today one of our 2003 servers has a problem. When trying to

open documents (Word and Excel), it prompts to do a file conversion. Wants

to know what "Encoding" to use to make the document readable.

 

It appears all across this server, but does not appear to be a problem on

other servers I checked.

 

I have started a full backup (probably too late), and plan to run scandisk

after the backup completes.

 

Any ideas?

[Guest Ace Fekay [MVP]]

Re: Files corrupted / will not open

 

In news:eisFa0IsIHA.4716@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl,

Tom R <fsbktom@hotmail.com> typed:

> All of a sudden today one of our 2003 servers has a problem. When

> trying to open documents (Word and Excel), it prompts to do a file

> conversion. Wants to know what "Encoding" to use to make the

> document readable.

> It appears all across this server, but does not appear to be a

> problem on other servers I checked.

>

> I have started a full backup (probably too late), and plan to run

> scandisk after the backup completes.

>

> Any ideas?

 

1. Was anything changed on this server? Anything new installed?

2. Regional language change, installed Mac services, an update to an app?

Update to the server?

3. What apps are installed on the server (Exchange, SQL, etc)?

4. Are there any errors in the event logs? (If so, post the EventID# and

Source)

5. What version of Office?

6. What versions are the files?

7. Can Wordpad open any of the Word files?

 

The following is the only thing I can find on this issue. Implies a corrupt

drive.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Microsoft-Word-1058/encoding-error-1.htm

 

--

Regards,

Ace

 

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and

confers no rights.

 

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT,

MVP Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

Microsoft Certified Trainer

 

For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please

check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.

 

Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations

[Guest Tom R]

Re: Files corrupted / will not open

 

See response imbedded:

 

"Ace Fekay [MVP]" <PleaseAskMe@SomeDomain.com> wrote in message

news:OpdwDdJsIHA.552@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> In news:eisFa0IsIHA.4716@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl,

> Tom R <fsbktom@hotmail.com> typed:

>> All of a sudden today one of our 2003 servers has a problem. When

>> trying to open documents (Word and Excel), it prompts to do a file

>> conversion. Wants to know what "Encoding" to use to make the

>> document readable.

>> It appears all across this server, but does not appear to be a

>> problem on other servers I checked.

>>

>> I have started a full backup (probably too late), and plan to run

>> scandisk after the backup completes.

>>

>> Any ideas?

>

> 1. Was anything changed on this server? Anything new installed?

nothing new installed

> 2. Regional language change, installed Mac services, an update to an app?

> Update to the server? no updates that I can think of. Just a normal day

> 3. What apps are installed on the server (Exchange, SQL, etc)?

no special apps. it's a file server

> 4. Are there any errors in the event logs? (If so, post the EventID# and

> Source) no events in the event log

> 5. What version of Office?

Office 2003

> 6. What versions are the files?

Don't see a version. Update date on the file is over 3 years ago. It's

been viewed often since then, but no changes to it.

> 7. Can Wordpad open any of the Word files?

Wordpad also see corruption.

>

> The following is the only thing I can find on this issue. Implies a

> corrupt drive.

> http://en.allexperts.com/q/Microsoft-Word-1058/encoding-error-1.htm

>

> --

> Regards,

> Ace

>

> This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and

> confers no rights.

>

> Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT,

> MVP Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

> Microsoft Certified Trainer

>

> For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please

> check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.

>

> Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations

>

[Guest Ace Fekay [MVP]]

Re: Files corrupted / will not open

 

In news:eLg16$JsIHA.4840@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl,

Tom R <fsbktom@hotmail.com> typed:

> See response imbedded:

> > 1. Was anything changed on this server? Anything new installed?

> nothing new installed

> > 2. Regional language change, installed Mac services, an update to

> > an app? Update to the server? no updates that I can think of. Just

> > a normal day 3. What apps are installed on the server (Exchange, SQL,

> > etc)?

> no special apps. it's a file server

> > 4. Are there any errors in the event logs? (If so, post the

> > EventID# and Source) no events in the event log

> > 5. What version of Office?

> Office 2003

> > 6. What versions are the files?

> Don't see a version. Update date on the file is over 3 years ago. It's

> been viewed often since then, but no changes to it.

> > 7. Can Wordpad open any of the Word files?

> Wordpad also see corruption.

> >

> > The following is the only thing I can find on this issue. Implies a

> > corrupt drive.

> > http://en.allexperts.com/q/Microsoft-Word-1058/encoding-error-1.htm

 

 

So I believe it comes back to a possible corrupt drive or controller. If so,

you can usually find telltale signs such as ATAPI errors in the System log.

 

What type and brand of server?

 

What type of drive and controller does it have? IDE? SCSI? RAID?

 

If the subsystem is a PERC or similar type of controller, you may not see

the errors in the logs and would have to rely on the hardware manufacturer's

utility, such as if it is a Dell server, they have their Dell Open Manager

to view status and perform other functions. They are downloadable for free

from the manuf. However this is specuations since I do not know your setup.

 

Is it just one or two files, or is it EVERYTHING in the shared folder(s)?

 

Is this just happening when accessing the file(s) through the share?

 

Can you open the files locally (from the console)?

 

If the file(s) are that old, I would imagine you have a good backup?

 

Ace

[Guest Alan]

Re: Files corrupted / will not open

 

On May 8, 5:56 am, "Tom R" <fsbk...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> All of a sudden today one of our 2003 servers has a problem.  When trying to

> open documents (Word andExcel), it prompts to do a file conversion.  Wants

> to know what "Encoding" to use to make the document readable.

>

> It appears all across this server, but does not appear to be a problem on

> other servers I checked.

>

> I have started a full backup (probably too late), and plan to run scandisk

> after the backup completes.

>

> Any ideas?

 

Hi,

 

If the files are really damaged, you may have to repair them. For the

excel files, if necessary, I think you can try a utility called

Advanced Excel Repair to repair them. It works rather well for my

corrupt Excel xls files. Its web address is http://www.datanumen.com/aer/

Hope this helps.

 

Alan