Badly corrupted word files

Jono8 · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:24

Ok guys need some serious help. My friend has some really important work for her PGCE course that is corrupted.

They are word files that won't open correctly ( Word asks for which code it should use e.t.c). The files, when opened just have random bits of actual text from the work mixed in with pages of strange symbols and no formatting.

Is there any way to get the file back? I have tried everything i can think of including "open and repair" in word, some free word recovery tools, changing the file type/name e.t.c.

When i ran chkdsk on the memory stick that the files were being held in, it said it did find some errors that it fixed.

Are these lost for ever?

I would be happy to email anyone the files to see if they can have a go at fixing them.

Cheers

JT

tntcoder · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:39

Sounds bad, but ill take a look if you want. Mail in trust.

Have you checked for any hidden word files in the directory?

The Mad Rapper · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:43

What version of Word is it?

Jono8 · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:52

Thanks tntcoder, I have emailed you an example of the files.

Not quite sure how you mean in terms of hidden word files?

Jono8 · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:54

The Mad Rapper said:
What version of Word is it?

Word 2010 on her laptop, although she does then open them up at the school she is doing her placement at so probably in 2003 or 2007

Would constantly changing Word version cause them to corrupt?

tntcoder · 20 Oct 2010 at 22:02

Had a look at the files and they are mostly full of null data im afraid, there's no more than 2-3 small paragraphs of text in each file if that

If you enable 'show hidden files' in the directory they were stored in, there maybe be some hidden backups there. Long shot but worth a look.

Jono8 · 20 Oct 2010 at 22:05

tntcoder said:
Had a look at the files and they are mostly full of null data im afraid, there's no more than 2-3 small paragraphs of text in each file if that

If you enable 'show hidden files' in the directory they were stored in, there maybe be some hidden backups there. Long shot but worth a look.

Damn

Well thanks for having a look at it anyway. What could have caused this? Would swapping from different Word versions do anything this bad? I wouldnt have thought so :confused:

.

I'm guessing her memory stick is just knackered and has corrupted the files?

tntcoder · 20 Oct 2010 at 22:14

Jono8 said:
Damn

Well thanks for having a look at it anyway. What could have caused this? Would swapping from different Word versions do anything this bad? I wouldnt have thought so .

I'm guessing her memory stick is just knackered and has corrupted the files?

Yer changing Word versions wouldn't be an issue.

If it was stored on flash memory that's probably the cause. Either it's faulty or she removed it while word was still saving it or something. You can't really narrow it down further, unless it happens again.

I would suggest to her in future to make regular backups to the main PCs hard drive, safely-remove usb devices and take backups in general. Hindsights a wonderful thing though

Jono8 · 20 Oct 2010 at 22:23

tntcoder said:
Yer changing Word versions wouldn't be an issue.

If it was stored on flash memory that's probably the cause. Either it's faulty or she removed it while word was still saving it or something. You can't really narrow it down further, unless it happens again.

I would suggest to her in future to make regular backups to the main PCs hard drive, safely-remove usb devices and take backups in general. Hindsights a wonderful thing though

Indeed, that is what i have told her. I was surprised when she said that the only copies she had were on her flash drive! Told her to save multiple copies and versions of everything in as many places as possible in future!

A[L]C · 21 Oct 2010 at 13:01

sure theres nothing in the autorecovery folder on her pc?

JohnDempsey · 1 Feb 2012 at 09:41

Jono8 said:
Ok guys need some serious help. My friend has some really important work for her PGCE course that is corrupted.

They are word files that won't open correctly ( Word asks for which code it should use e.t.c). The files, when opened just have random bits of actual text from the work mixed in with pages of strange symbols and no formatting.

Is there any way to get the file back? I have tried everything i can think of including "open and repair" in word, some free word recovery tools, changing the file type/name e.t.c.

When i ran chkdsk on the memory stick that the files were being held in, it said it did find some errors that it fixed.

Are these lost for ever?

I would be happy to email anyone the files to see if they can have a go at fixing them.

Cheers

JT

Recover corrupted word files you can try http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/repair_word.html
The tool works under any system configurations of PC. The utility launches under all popular Windows OS.