Trying to fix a .mov that was corrupted after using undelete software

[Elderain]

I have a .mov file that I am hoping to find some information as to how it can be repaired.

Its a .mov that was created on a Nikon Coolpix L1 camera. The file was deleted (purposely, but not by the owner). It was "recovered" via some undelete software, however the file will not play. When you try to load it, it says "Error -2048: Couldn't open the file DSCN0840.MOV because it is not a file that QuickTime understands."

I read some information on using "Dumpster" from apple to try to view and correct the header information but the file will not even load (I've tried both MAC and Windows versions).

I am positive that the file can be recovered because I found a post on a small private forum of a man doing video recovery for free, so that he could write a program that could do it and needed corrupted files to test and working. I submitted the video to him, he sent back screen shots saying that it could be fixed but his services were no longer free, despite what his forums claimed. If the file had any value to me, that option may be worth while, but the clip is just from my birthday party of some friends being stupid (I think someone even gets mooned).

Is there anyone that might be able to assist in helping me recover this?

Here is a link to the video if anyone would like to take a further look to possibly fix it, or assist me in the right direction to do it myself.

http://elderain.com/xSCN0840.MOV (33mb)

Thanks,
Josh

[Soopafresh]

Fuggetaboutit. Sometimes an unerase will work, sometimes it'll look like it works but doesn't. Unfortunately, your file is in the latter.

You can try opening it it MpegStreamClip, but it isn't gonna help most likely. Hate to be a downer

[Elderain]

So you don't think there is any way possible to recover it, other then the repair service which that guy wanted $60 for? He said it *IS* repairable (he's even provided screenshots from the movie), I suppose how is the question.

[Cornucopia]

Repair guy is probably manually hexediting and using a QT "atom" viewer (like RIFF section viewer in AVI) and then plugging in boilerplate default "good" or null atoms for whatever sections(s) are bad and gumming up the works. Once done, the file would be playable, though with gaps.

You --could-- do this yourself, but you'd have to have the right tools and a lot of time and patience and be able to understand all the different atom categories for QT...

$60? That's it? Sounds worth it if this is an important file...

Scott

[Elderain]

I read an article on manually editing the atom's by taking another movie, same camera, taking the hex of the good atom's and replacing it over the corrupted ones. I guess I'll have to play around with it.

The file isn't "important", however I have lots of time, but little money. I would like to recover it.

[dimple]

hello
i have the same problem
delete .mov and then recovered win software
but video not play
please help me to fix the video
may be i pay to this
if cannot for free
please tell me what to do

sorry for my bad english

Regards

[Cornucopia]

I suggest you PM Elderain to find that repair guy's address/info.

Scott

[dimple]

Elderain still nor reply of my PM... please help me

[Cornucopia]

Ok, I'll do what I can...

Get a program called "Dumpster" from Apple. If you've got a Windows machine you can only get an older/legacy version AND you'll have to register with their "Developers" group first. The Mac version is much easier to get and is much more recently updated...
This app will "dump" the resource/structure of the various types that are used in a .MOV file. Things like the MooV container itself, headers for the kinds of streams included in the container, then the metadata for each stream, then the actual contents of each stream (usually packetized into regularly-spaced sections).
Get to know the structure on very familiar terms, including the usual placement/order and length of each of these things. Use KNOWN GOOD files with predictable material in them as examples (and also for boilerplate for later).

At the same time, get a good HEX Editor application so you can see the direct binary/hex code in the file, unobstructed by its "formatting".
Look at the SAME GOOD file in both apps and familiarize yourself with how the "atoms" are placed. Sooner or later, you'll be able to recognize the hexcode signature of a particular setting or attribute, as well as get an understanding of the relationship between the various packet lengths and the notation used to describe them. This will come in handy when you need to add dummy/filler for a bad section.

Now, try the BAD file in Dumpster. If you're lucky, it'll at least open without too much fuss and you'll be able to see SOME settings, etc. Map those to their placement in the file as seen by the hex editor (which will open ANYTHING--good or bad). Once you've eliminated the GOOD, you will have narrowed down the BAD and you be able to do a trial and error of various settings, etc. Plus you can copy and paste (from another instance of HEX editor using a good dummy file) to use as "backfill/padding" of the bad file so that it MAINTAINS THE SAME LENGTH, and DOESN'T INCLUDE BAD DESCRIPTORS (especially as regards placement and length of the streams).

After a while, you should have a playable file---with some hiccups. This can then be used as a source file in a converter/editor so you can finally be left with a regular file that only has the good stuff.

Hope that helps. Really, there's not alot more I can tell you that you shouldn't try out for yourself and learn the hard way. It's gonna have to happen sooner or later if you don't wanna pay and you want this fixed...

Scott

[dimple]

Thank You so much Scott
I try everything
Best Regards

[William.Leng]

Media Box Viewer does the same thing as Dumpster and much more. It runs on all platforms, Windows, Mac, etc. It can be downloaded from www.jdxsoftware.org.