topic Re: Corrupted files from a card in Camcorders

Corrupted files from a card

ozymandias87 — Wed, 27 May 2020 21:37:13 GMT

So I've been through the ringer on this, and realised some of the mistakes I made that got me here, but I'm casting this out to see if anyone may have had this experience and been able to salvage anything.

Using a Canon Vixia HF R800, I have files recorded on a Gigastone 128GB microSD card (I know, I know.) It worked on two previous projects, but halfway through one day of shooting, the files seem to have stopped recording correctly or something. I've got a day and half of video files, all with appropriate sizes, but they just have a Quicktime logo. Neither QT Player nor Preview will open them; VLC will open them, and "play" them, but even though there's a status bar, there's no audio or video, and any attempt to convert/stream outputs a kb-size file that's clearly not correct. I bought "Stellar Video Repair" and it's done nothing. A friend of mine built a droplet encoder a while back, and it's not doing anything either.

It's not the end of the world if I can't get these working (unless the client wants to reshoot, but these were the wide camera) but I'm frustrated as to why they won't go. Obviously there's data there, but the file is either not closed or not opened correctly. I have two other folders that are full of these files, but the attached picture shows that first day of footage where something must have happened in the middle of the day, because the files recorded before that on this card are fine.

The first two files can be found on Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KkJdkgabE8aOTt0iTgUEZHNYPS6DkHOL?usp=sharing

Re: Corrupted files from a card

Waddizzle — Wed, 27 May 2020 21:41:40 GMT

@ozymandias87 wrote:
So I've been through the ringer on this, and realised some of the mistakes I made that got me here, but I'm casting this out to see if anyone may have had this experience and been able to salvage anything.

Using a Canon Vixia HF R800, I have files recorded on a Gigastone 128GB microSD card (I know, I know.) It worked on two previous projects, but halfway through one day of shooting, the files seem to have stopped recording correctly or something. I've got a day and half of video files, all with appropriate sizes, but they just have a Quicktime logo. Neither QT Player nor Preview will open them; VLC will open them, and "play" them, but even though there's a status bar, there's no audio or video, and any attempt to convert/stream outputs a kb-size file that's clearly not correct. I bought "Stellar Video Repair" and it's done nothing. A friend of mine built a droplet encoder a while back, and it's not doing anything either.

It's not the end of the world if I can't get these working (unless the client wants to reshoot, but these were the wide camera) but I'm frustrated as to why they won't go. Obviously there's data there, but the file is either not closed or not openers correctly. I have two other folders that are full of these files, but the attached picture shows that first day of footage where something must have happened in the middle of the day, because the files recorded before that on this card are fine.

The first two files can be found on Google Drive here:

You have two problems. Number one, using micro-SD cards. Number two, who is Gigastonez/

Re: Corrupted files from a card

ozymandias87 — Wed, 27 May 2020 21:45:00 GMT

As I said, I've been through the ringer, I've realised my mistakes, and I'm not looking for this kind of an answer.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

RobertTheFat — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:59:46 GMT

@ozymandias87 wrote:
As I said, I've been through the ringer, I've realised my mistakes, and I'm not looking for this kind of an answer.

You're asking us to tell you what you want to hear. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn't be the truth. It is what it is, and the fact that you've "been through the [w]ringer" and learned your lesson isn't going to make those corrupted files readable.

Waddizzle is one of the more knowledgeable and respected members of this forum. Maybe he can help you, and maybe he can't. But announcing that you don't want to hear what he has to say hardly advances the ball.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

kvbarkley — Thu, 28 May 2020 02:57:15 GMT

Some card makers supply file recovery software. Why not see if GigaStonez does.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

Waddizzle — Thu, 28 May 2020 11:34:53 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Some card makers supply file recovery software. Why not see if GigaStonez does.

Gigastone does not provide recovery services or software. Maybe 3rd party software can work.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

kvbarkley — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:16:03 GMT

I was being a little snarky.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

Waddizzle — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:57:03 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
I was being a little snarky.

I know. Just wanted to let the OP know not to bother with the manufacturer. They do not support their own products. He complained about not getting the answer the was looking for. What was the question? He never asked one.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

ozymandias87 — Thu, 28 May 2020 15:15:27 GMT

The question is in the first paragraph: has anyone experienced this type of file failure? I have a slew of files that appear to be fully recorded, but are either not closed or didn’t open correctly. I’ve attempted salvaging with VLC, third-party software (Stellar Video Repair) and a droplet encoder, and haven’t had any luck.
What’s making this confusing to me is that I have good files on the card, have used that card for a year, and then in the middle of that day something changed. There was no indication from the camera that there were problems during recording.

I’m not trying to relitigate the use of microSD cards, as that’s been made clear that it isn’t recommended (I have a YMMV approach—I’ve tested all my own gear and been satisfied with my own conclusions.) I’m here to see if anyone who’s more familiar with data corruption and file handling can offer advice as to how to potentially save such files.

Re: Corrupted files from a card

rhckm49 — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 19:50:28 GMT

I don't advise to use a Micro SD card and you want to have a full size SD card that has a name such as PNY.