CGTalk - file failed to open error

View Full Version : file failed to open error

plectrum

01-27-2003, 09:40 PM

the problem: 3d studio max r5 crashed, I said "no" when it offered to try and save a copy of the scene fearing that it would screw up the file, now when I try open the file it gives me a "File Failed to open" error. I had about 3 gigs of free space, so that shouldn't have been a problem.

this was a pretty important file..in retrospect I know I should have saved 50 backups on 50 different drives but of course I didn't :sad:

Should I have told it to try and save a recovery version of the file? Is that why it corrupted the original .max file? Is there anything I can do to repair it? Can anyone help me out (or should I go get wasted for the next few days)?

any help would be greatly appreciated

magicm

01-27-2003, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by plectrum
Should I have told it to try and save a recovery version of the file? Is that why it corrupted the original .max file? Is there anything I can do to repair it?

You should always answer this question with Yes. Max saves the recovery file in the 'backup' folder and doesn't harm your original file... Sometimes this recovery file is corrupted, but it's always better to give it a chance.

As for the 'failed to open' error. The only thing I can think of, is that you don't have enough space on your windows disk. Max somehow needs space there when opening files...

btw: does the size of your maxfile seem correct, or is it 0 kb? .. if the latter is the case, your file is indeed corrupt...

good luck!

TapioKa

01-28-2003, 05:50 AM

Hi,

I can indeed confirm your problem but for me it happens in R4.2 way too often for my liking. (I need to delete some bad scripts)

I set the autobackup for every 5 minutes and that has saved me many times. My autobackup folder is full of backups I've had to convert, they are named .mx or .bak You can just rename those and usually recover most of the work. I highly recommend you work in increments filename01.max failname02.max on the + symbol when you save, and always put a copy of the file on another physical drive.

I also sometimes use the hold command before I save, just in case.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to recover any corrupted max file even when it's file size is the same size as the original. I'm not sure if the header is corrupted or not. Anyone been able to?

I share your pain.:hmm:

chepe297

01-28-2003, 05:58 AM

magicm's right... always enter yes with this dialogue box.

I always save my work often... on a rewritable CD every week.
I do it every night when I am working on something very big or important. I learned this through a painful experience when my computer crashed two years ago... I lost 3 months of work! :rolleyes:

It only take at most a few minutes to back your work up. You've been working on the project for a whole day... why don't spend another few minutes just in case? right?

I am not trying to give you a lecture or anything. Backing things up should be a thing that we should all do often.

plectrum

01-28-2003, 02:11 PM

thanks very much for all the advice, guys. :thumbsup: I'll definetly be wiser next time

CGTalk Moderation

01-14-2006, 06:00 AM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.