The file is damaged and could not be repaired

[Piter1288]

Hello everyone,

A few days ago power went off and even though I'm constantly saving my work I got the message «The file is damaged and could not be repaired» when I tried to open my work. I followed some steps online and nothing worked, so yesterday I created a new file and worked fine thru the day. I turned off my PC and today when I tried to open the file, the same error appeared AGAIN with AGAIN no chance to recover it.

I repeated a few steps and added new ones:

• Updated my Illustrator version to 2019 (23.0)

• Tried to place the "corrupted" file into a new one.

• Looked for an auto-saved file (got the «Turn off Data Recovery for complex documents» unchecked)

• Change the extension to PDF.

• Open the file in Acrobat.

• Followed nileshb44389594's advice on post: The file is damaged and could not be repaired in illustrator - How to fix it

• Used Illustrator Fix Toolbox and said the file is too damaged to recover.

And NOTHING got the file back. I must say I'm truly surprised as the file I'm working with is really simple, a transportation map, just a grid, lines, circles and text, it shouldn't be too complex to process, save and work with.

As you can see, this is an issue beyond all the solutions I was able to find online, so if you got a new one, please be my guest.

[Jacob Bugge]

Piter,

It is always recommended to create backups with different names regularly, and to store backups in more than one place/way.

And also to save often.

If you have the Cloud, you can also set it to save copies with all the changes.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/crash-file-data-recovery.html

and here are some other suggestions,

https://forums.adobe.com/message/9328988#9328988

Concerning actual recovery after the disaster, one thing often tried first is to create a new document and File>Place the (PDF contents, if any, of the) corrupted one to see how much may be rescued that way.

Here are some websites where you can see whether it can rescue the actual file, and if it can, you may pay for a subscription to have it done,

http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html

http://markzware.com/adobe-software/fix-illustrator-file-unknown-error-occurred-pdf2dtp-file-recover...

http://www.illustrator.fixtoolbox.com/

http://www.erepairillustrator.com/

As far as I remember, the first one is for Win and the second one is for Mac, while the third and fourth one should be for both.

Here are a few pages about struggling with it yourself:

http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/

http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html

http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/enable-content-recovery-mode-illustrator.html

[Piter1288]

Jacob,

I'm sorry, but your answer is no other thing than a copy/paste from previous posts like this one with nothing new to offer as a solution.

It is clear to me, you didn't even bother to read the post, you just used the same answer I had read here before: https://forums.adobe.com/message/10499363#10499363

It is also very frustrating that the responsibility falls on the user's side, like it's our fault if we didn't save as PDF, or our fault for not creating 300 files in 300 different locations and Adobe does not have a solution for this matter other than make us navigate thru all the internet and execute the same steps and if not, consider your file lost forever.

You even have the nerve to include a PAID third-party software to recover my file? How about Adobe recover it for me as I already PAY them for the software?

This is clearly an Adobe issue that you are not addresing as you are supposed to. This is not a recent problem, it's been there for years and still you have no final solution for it.

Instead of including new stuff or changing what already works, how about you focus on how files are saved so they don't get corrupted for no reason.

Regards

[Jacob Bugge]

Piter,

After reading your OP (original post), I assumed that you have (had, even before the update) CC, so the first link in my post should give you an automatic way (provided by Adobe) to create backups, to prevent disaster.

Most of the remaining post was about ways to hopefully rescue the actual files.

Indeed, the post was a combination of the two posts in the thread you linked to, and for one reason: it is built on what I consider the most promising suggestions that I have come across in this forum, in its present form and the one that went before it, for quite some days.

So I find it better to create a fine tuned complete answer that I have tried to optimize and (re)use it, rather than reinvent and write new answers with possible slips and missing bits (and look up and copy links) every time for cases such as this which are truly disastrous and the best (and fastest) possible help is needed; I have a much longer one for cases where things that should work simply refuse to, and some others; all such answers being subject to regular reconsideration for possible improvements.

Apart from that, I am just an old native helping out in the forum with no more influence on (non) features than anyone else; everyone can suggest and vote here,

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/

Sorry for the disappointment.

[Monika Gause]

Piter1288  schrieb

You even have the nerve to include a PAID third-party software to recover my file? How about Adobe recover it for me as I already PAY them for the software?

This is not an Adobe issue.

You pay for creative software. You don't pay for a backup solution.

A power outage can happen any time and will always ruin even the most sophisticated saving solution, because nothing can happen without eletric power. That's why it's so important to always have multiple copies, especially of important files. And in case power outages happen regularly in your area, you might want to consider using a UPS solution Uninterruptible power supply - Wikipedia

Since power outages might also hamr your computer, not only your files.

It's you who is responsible for saving your files.

[Ton Frederiks]

Power outages are a sure way to damage files.

Making backups is essential to limit the damage.

It does not help you right now, but you have a CC account, so you can sync your files by saving them in your CC files folder.

They automatically get versioned (you can go back to previous file versions for at least 10 days ago).

And still make traditonal backups as well...

Sync:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/sync-files.html

Versioning:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/versioning-faq.html​