"ASF Header Object in Invalid"

[martinlest]

I have been trying to repair a wmv file, with no success so far. Today I enabled wmv files in Virtualdub, as one possible step to finding out what is wrong: when I drag the broken wmv file to the virtualdub window, I get the error "ASF Header Object in Invalid".

Have spent half the morning following useless trails (many lead to the same page on which you are invited to install an apparent panacea for all PC ills, Reimage Repair, or something like that), but nothing useful. Is the wmv file only fit for the Recycle Bin? Or can I somehow reinstate a working ASF Header? (I have tried a number of tools to convert the wmv file to a different format, but all end with errors or tiny 'contentless' files.

I am a relative beginner BTW so anything technical would need to be explained!

Thanks.

[LigH.de]

I have only little experience with ASF or WMV ... but I know that VirtualDub is among the tools I would recommend least to try. Avery Lee abandoned ASF support quite early, when Microsoft started getting picky about licenses. Windows Movie ... tools by Microsoft are probably the "native" tools one should try first. Tools based on ffmpeg (or ffmpeg itself at the console) may also be wort a try, at least its error messages may tell something more.

The description of AsfBin or Steeper sound like if they can't handle it, it may be broken. I wouldn't know any more tools beyond those, and Microsoft original software.

[videobruger]

AsfTools has basic and advanced repairs.

[martinlest]

Thanks, I had tried Steeper, with no luck. I'll have a go with AsfTools and post back. Thanks.

[martinlest]

No, still doesn't work. Is it possible to rewrite the ASF header manually somehow???

[LigH.de]

No. Such headers will quite probably contain data you can't retrieve from anywhere else, at least not without serious efforts.

But are we sure it should be WMV? A wrongly assigned filename extension is nothing uncommon. Can MediaInfo find anything? Or ffmpeg (ffprobe)?

[martinlest]

MediaInfo gives nothing at all, apart from the file name and the size (47MBs), so I guess it's only fit for the recycle bin

[smartel]

can you play any other .ASFs on your system? codec problem?

maybe Microsoft Windows Media ASF Viewer to see what's in it

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/download/details.aspx?id=12826

can VLC open it?

[martinlest]

can you play any other .ASFs on your system?

I don't know - I don't seem to have any and can't find any. Wmv files play fine.

can VLC open it?

No

Microsoft Windows Media ASF Viewer to see what's in it

This file was recovered by software from accidental deletion - it showed 'excellent' quality, but I guess, due to the missing or corrupt asf header, it is damaged beyond repair.

Thanks for the suggestions.