How to repair AVI file - dashcam footage for accident

[kp278]

Hi, I'd like to repair some dashcam footage to help with an accident claim. There are many 1min/100mb in AVI format - there's a FAT folder full of AVI that doesn't play, and a RAW folder full of AVI that will play the first 6 seconds at 2x speed then freeze the video, but the audio will still play in the background. I tried an SD card repair program (sorry I can't recall which it was a couple of months back) but that didn't work. VLC does not repair the file. Would you have any suggestions on programs to try? I have around 100 video files - if I knew which I needed I'd happily pay for repair.

Thanks, Kris

[jagabo]

What codec is used in your AVI files? Try DivFix or DivFix++. VirtualDub has an AVI fix feature too.

Never attempt to fix files on the original device (flash card, hard drive, whatever). Writing to the device may cause further corruption. Always copy the files to your computer and attempt fixing them there.

[kp278]

Thanks for your reply. I was able to view some videos but none of them are the golden ticket I was after. I have another 400 files (!) but these ones do not play at all. I tried DivFix but they are not recognised as avi files. I wondered if I had changed the extension at some point but I wouldn't have done all 400. The file size is spot on for a short video.

What could I do with a file that is not even recognised as a video?

[davexnet]

Upload a sample here to the thread

[jagabo]

Use MediaInfo to detect the container and other properties.

[kp278]

thanks, here's one of the files

[kp278]

Use MediaInfo to detect the container and other properties.

Thanks, the format column is empty, this is what I see


[Attachment 59038 - Click to enlarge]

[johns0]

I ran the video through virtualdub2 and this is what it saw.

[davexnet]

I ran the video through virtualdub2 and this is what it saw.

I couldn't even get that far, mine refused to open it at all.

Sometimes if you provide a known good file from the same camera it can help with further analysis

[jagabo]

Using a hex editor I found the start of an Avi file (AVI headers start with RIFF) about 1/4 of the way through the file. I removed everything before that and saved what was left. I got a playable AVI video. The video is marked as 30 fps but is obviously playing too fast. I suspect the video just needs to be slowed to about 11 fps to match the audio. But with this you'll at least be able to see what's going on.

[kp278]

Wow that's amazing thanks everyone for the all the efforts. I have a hex editor so I'll try a few more videos now.

[kp278]

Ok..... so it appears all the files are playing the same video clip. They are different sizes, different dates, but the same clip once I delete everything before the RIFF. Here's another file

[jagabo]

Sounds like the typical file system corruption you get when a flash device isn't shut down properly -- like a car crash.

[Car_Accident]

Read this trail and hoping the same magic might work for getting an image of the mudflap from this dashcam video. Or anything that might identify the semi-truck on the left as it fled from the site of the accident. Any help would be very helpful!