img files not sure how to open

ok. I recently acquired a case with 20+ video connectors on the back of it. I was more interested on what is inside. I found 2 WD 250GB hard-drives each divided into 10 partitions. first partition has a lot of stuff I am not familiar with on it. The other 9 however have what appear to be video or image files. The files seem to have been created in 2008. I have tried to open a couple of them to see if they are something I may want to keep or pick through before formatting and using the drives. I am at a loss however as to how to open them. I am running windows8 and don't seem to be able to open them with what I have. Can I send somebody one or can I put one here and see what anybody else can figure out or does somebody maybe have any suggestions ? Since I have no idea what they are it's not like a major loss if it doesn't get figured out but curiousity is something we humans live with is it not ? :confused . I tried to attach one of them to this post but got a message that a security token is missing or some such.

 

Greetings, bobbyc67, and welcome to MajorGeeks...

If you right-click on one of the image files, a context menu should appear and there should be a "Properties" option in that menu. In the "General" tab of that property sheet there should be a listing such as "Type of file:" with a file type and a 3- or 4-letter extension. Please post what you find.

Also, if that extension is not one that's allowed by this vBulletin forum software you'll not be allowed to attach a sample to a post - it's a security thing. Valid file extensions allowed are:

 

Also, be advised that this thread will most likely be moved to the Software Forum.

 

Ok, this is what is listed in the properties "general" section. IMG File (.img)
Also, the sizes range from 25.8 kb to 30.1 mb so can I assume these are video of some sort ? This could have been part of a security system I suppose though I don't know why they would have disposed of it if it was working.

 

Ha! Would have been nice if they had some weird, non-generic extension that a specific program might open, but nooo - just had to be an .IMG file. According to FILExt, .IMG files can be used by the following:

And the list goes on - it's very possible that some specialized program (including your security scanner idea) created the files...

Try this: download and install IrfanView (a great free image viewer/converter) and make sure to d/l and install the program's associated plugins package - then try to open one of the files with IView.

If that doesn't work, another shot would be to copy/rename one of the files and changing its extension to something more recognizable (.jpg, .bmp, .mov, .mp3, etc...) - ignore the stability warnings and see if something will open the file.

 

Another thought: try opening one of the smaller files with Notepad (you might have to force it to open the file), see if any clues might be hidden in the graphics code - probably a whole lot of gibberish, but sometimes camera data, program identifiers, etc. will be displayed in plain text...

 

I'm thinking the files are video files and the program/device that wrote them simply choose the .IMG extension as a convenient way to name the files. It likely has nothing to do with a "standard". Additionally the files may contain some security information as you seemed to indicate.

 

Being as I have both drives, master and slave, I have been looking through the first file of the master. Since it worked for the system it was in the information has to be on it somewhere. I just want to make sure I don't mess up my pc trying to open any of it. I opened one and was going to install it until it popped up a message that said "do not install this program on a personal pc". That definitely made me stop.

What would happen if I changed my boot sequence to boot from that drive ? Could that adversely affect my laptops drive ?

No luck using IRFAN view yet either