Corrupt Video Files - Doomsday Arrived

[Quarkrad]

Unfortunately I have stupidly* formatted my HD2 storage disk (400GB) containing video and other misc files – stupid but here I am! My HD1 boot disc has a winXP partition and another 100GB free for temp storage. I have use Getdataback on the damaged (formatted NTFS) and can see the directory structure including the crucial family video files. I have copied them onto my HD1 disc but have a problem in that nothing can read the files – even GSpot. The files are smallish (typically 2 – MB) video files – originally DV avi files from camcorder and after editing, rendered using Canopus Pro 2 to smaller m2p files. (I normally create DVD’s from these breaking down the m2p into mpv and mpa streams. Problem is I do not have dvd backup of all the files. Good news is that I can recover all the files, in their windows folder structure that I originally set up,from HD2 and they appear the right size (in KB). Problem is they are damaged in some way as nothing can read them. (DVD app I use, DVDLab Pro, reports us with Direct Show). I do not know whether the m2p files are damaged beyond repair or whether they can be fixed in some way. Any advise appreciated as doomsday scenario has just taken place in my PC and it was my fault!

I have successfully copied across two largish MPG files (about 30mins playing time) and a number of mp3 files that all play successfully – issue is with these m2p files. They look OK (icon and size) but will not play.

* started winXP build and got through initial Quick NTFS format before I cancelled process. Some winXP files present on HD. Partition Magic shows HD2 as Bad Disk but Getdataback can scan and show recognizable folder structures with files.

[Krispy Kritter]

Sounds like the files are corrupt most likely from the data not being present on the HDD where the software expects it to be. Most recovery software by default trys to recover the FAT and then restores the files from the data contained in the FAT. However, in cases such as this, it is possible for the data contained on the disc to now be different than what is/was stored in the FAT.

Maybe someone else can be more helpful. But from my experience, if the files can't be recovered in the straight forward manner that you've already tried, then they can't be recovered at all.

Good luck.

Just an FYI: Whenever reinstalling XP (or any OS), always disconnect all HDD's except the primary drive. And I've learned from experience that it is usually best to use a new drive that is not already in use in your system. You can then connect your current drive up as a spare to pull any needed (or forgotten) files.