Corrupted files, unfortunately are often unrecoverable. In some cases however there is a process available that may partially recover the contents of the video. But there are a few caveats with this method for recovery.
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This is a technical process. You should be familiar with concepts such as zip files and command line prompts.
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This method does not recover audio, just the video.
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The recovered files generally only play well with a media player like VLC (www.videolan.org/vlc/). When trying to playback recovered files with QuickTime or Storyteller the files tend to play back with some degree of pixilation.
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This process is only for Windows based computers. It will not work on a Mac.
- Not every corrupt file can be recovered. Some files are too corrupted to recover.
Here is a link to the files you need in order to proceed with this recovery process:
After downloading and unzipping that file, follow the instructions below to proceed.
5. Navigate to the C:\Mov folder. (type "cd.." until you are in the C:\ root directory, then type "cd mov") The command prompt line should read C:\mov>.
6. Use the following command line to start the recovery:
1. Create a folder on the root of your C: drive called "mov" (C:\mov)
2. Put the "mov_rep" folder (located inside the zip file) into the C:\mov folder. (C:\mov\mov_rep)
3. Put the corrupt video file in the C:\Mov folder so that it resides directly next to the mov_rep folder when viewing the contents of the .mov folder.
4. Open the command prompt. To do that, click Start type CMD in the text box then press enter.
5. Navigate to the C:\Mov folder. (type "cd.." until you are in the C:\ root directory, then type "cd mov") The command prompt line should read C:\mov>.
6. Use the following command line to start the recovery:
java -classpath . mov_Rep.Mov_Repair xxx.mov
Replace the xxx.mov with the name of the corrupt file you are trying to recover. Be sure to include ".mov" on the end.
Replace the xxx.mov with the name of the corrupt file you are trying to recover. Be sure to include ".mov" on the end.
7. Press enter and the routine will run. You'll see a percentage marker showing the progress of the recovery.
8. Once the routine reaches 100% and is finished, close the command prompt window. In the folder C:\mov you will find a new file next to your original corrupt file. That new file is the one created by the recovery process.
9. Finally, play the repaired file back in VLC. Remember, it may not work in any other player properly and you'll have no audio, but you should see video.