How to Fix Corrupted Files

Corrupted files are files that become non-functional altogether. There are several reasons for the file getting corrupted. It can be a glitch in the operating system or in the program utilizing the file, improper file saving procedure, a system crash, or a result of some dangerous computer virus.

The damage could also be on the hardware level, if the file system sector or the hard drive itself is damaged. Let's learn how to understand when a file gets corrupted and the ways to fix it.

When the file you are trying to access does not open and displays a message like 'Cannot open file' or 'File data inaccessible' then it's a clear indication that the file is corrupted. In case the file opens but the data within is unreadable, i.e., showing signs and symbols other than normal alphabets and numbers, then the file is corrupted.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) files are video files that run on a program application that is designed to play an .avi file.

To fix such files, all you have to do is download a software that renders an AVI file correct. If the software is zipped or compressed, unzip it using a software like Winzip. After all the files are displayed, click on the setup file and follow the instructions to set up the software on your computer.

Now, run the software, the interface window will display the functionalities that the software renders. Browse and add the corrupted AVI files and click on the button for repair.

The repaired files may be stored in the same location as the previous files, or it may prompt you to select a new location. Different software will provide different facilities, so select one that suits your needs. Few examples of AVI file repair software are DivXRepair 1.0.1, Avi Previewer 2.27, RegCure, ASF-AVI-RM-WMV Repair, etc.

JPEG is the short form of Joint Photographic Experts Group. When a .jpeg/.jpg image does not open with any default application programs like Paint, Windows Photo Gallery, Fax Viewer, etc., it is corrupt. To retrieve the image, try renaming and saving the picture file with a .jpg extension. Another option is to use JPEG image recovery tools.

Using these tools is a trial and error process, as it is difficult to figure out which one of the tools will recover the images successfully. The procedure for downloading and executing the tools is same. Examples of JPEG recovery software tools are JPEG Recovery, and Picture Doctor. You can also try opening the pictures with ACDSee, or Irfanview.

Word files are document files that contain text data. When a word file gets corrupted, download a word file repair software to resurrect the files. Click on the software's icon and follow the instructions. Some software may need installation while others may not.

Examples of word document repair software are Repair MyWord, Nucleus Kernel Word Document Repair Software, etc. Repair MyWord can be downloaded free of cost and it provides an easy interface for the retrieval of files.

Zip files are the compressed form of large files. Files that are very large in size are generally zipped/compacted using a compressing software, specially if they are to be sent through a mail or have to be saved on an external memory drive of low capacity.

The procedure for recovering zip files is the same, and requires a recovery software tool. Download it, follow the steps and run the application. Add the zip file to be retrieved. The software will scan the zip file and show you the result.

Select from the files the ones you want to repair and go to the next step.

Some of the data recovery software may not be available free of cost. If they are not freeware then you can download a trial or demo version to repair your files. Also, remember that a software that works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. Hence, you may have to employ the trial and error method to check the validity of the software.

In case of a virus, you may need to run an antivirus software, after which the corrupted files may open. In case of hardware failure, hard drive data recovery is also possible.