Damaged Photos Video and Word files on XP PRO

MCMLXVIII · Jan 19, 2006

A few weeks ago I shut off my computer and it would not reboot. Not knowing how to fix it I copied the files off the C: Drive with my other computer and reinstalled windows. The file system is NTFS. 98% of the files were undamaged but a few are courpted. You can tell what type of file they are but you can't open them. These files were never deleted or formated over. Is there a way to salvage them? I see alot of programs for recovering deleted files but will they work for this problem? Anyone know of a program or a way to fix this?

Help,
Dave

I hope that I posted this in the right place.
"Its my first day"

DavidGP · Jan 20, 2006

What has most likely happened Dave is that when you re-install XP the new install looses ownership of the old files ( part of NTFS's security ), know doubt you get an error message like this while trying to open them...

You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name etc etc ?

If so then what you will need to do is take ownership of the files/folder again, to do this follow the instructions here http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&sd=tech

MCMLXVIII · Jan 21, 2006

The messages that I get are media player "Windows Media Player cannot play the file.The file is either corrupt or the Player does not support the format you are trying to play." Word document "Select the encodeing that makes your document readable." Jpeg "No preview available." I don't get a message about not having permission to view files. This is kind of a new thing for me when I looked at security group or user names there are 4 different names there 2 with my name user admin and one called system and another with a ? by it. Is that the problem?

DavidGP · Jan 21, 2006

No those other user names in security are the system access, dont delete otherwise the OS will cease to work correctly but whats the one with a ? called? dont think this is your issue as you dont get that message about permissions.

you could use this to try and recover those media files but if they are too corrupted then I doubt you'll recover them without paying for professional hardware recovery from the likes of Ontrack.

but give these a go, both free and from same maker...

PC Inspector File Recovery

PC Inspector Digital Media Recovery

Since you re-installed XP did you also update it fully?

You may also be missing Codecs to allow playing of certain video/movie files?

Have you in the case of the JPEGs right clicked the files and chosen Open With and pic a graphic app "windows picture and fax viewer" will do and see if they open.

MCMLXVIII · Jan 21, 2006

The user name with the ? is gone had a bunch of ####-#### in it. Everything is up to date now it took a while. The video files are just Windows Media Audio. They did not play on my other machine when I copied them. Pictures are trying to open with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. Tried microsoft photo editer did not work. I am going to try the programs you mentioned and see what happens.

MCMLXVIII · Jan 23, 2006

I tried the programs that you suggested but no luck. Since the files were not deleted it will not work.

Log in or Sign up

Damaged Photos Video and Word files on XP PRO

MCMLXVIII Private E-2

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

MCMLXVIII Private E-2

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

MCMLXVIII Private E-2

MCMLXVIII Private E-2