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Drawing file not valid

Printed From: CAD Forum
Category: EN
Forum Name: AutoCAD
Forum Description: Discussion about AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, viewers, DWG and DWF formats, Design Review, AutoCAD 360, add-ons
URL: https://www.cadforum.cz/forum_en/forum_posts.asp?TID=3249
Printed Date: 16.May.2026 at 10:36


Topic: Drawing file not valid
Posted By: randal_ashford
Subject: Drawing file not valid
Date Posted: 26.Feb.2010 at 04:10
Hello,
 
I recently lost about 5 years of files and digital folders from a power strike. (files cannot be recovered from a data recovery specialist).
 
Anyways, I managed to recover some of the files off an external hard drive that i had them on temporarily using pc inspector - file recovery.
 
I have recovered the files but when i try open them with autocad 2010, it says drawing file not valid.
 
The files were probably created in autocad 2000 or 2004.
 
I have tried recovering the files, inserting the files.
 
Does anyone have any ideas of what i can do or try?
 
Regards

Randal



Replies:
Posted By: Arben.Allaraj
Date Posted: 26.Feb.2010 at 09:16
Originally posted by randal_ashford randal_ashford wrote:

Hello,
 
I recently lost about 5 years of files and digital folders from a power strike. (files cannot be recovered from a data recovery specialist).
 
Anyways, I managed to recover some of the files off an external hard drive that i had them on temporarily using pc inspector - file recovery.
 
I have recovered the files but when i try open them with autocad 2010, it says drawing file not valid.
 
The files were probably created in autocad 2000 or 2004.
 
I have tried recovering the files, inserting the files.
 
Does anyone have any ideas of what i can do or try?
 
Regards

Randal

 Try to open with AutoCAD 2004 then 2010.



-------------
Ing Arben.Allaraj
http://cad-drafting-corner.blogspot.com


Posted By: CarlB
Date Posted: 26.Feb.2010 at 09:20
Try opening them with an AutoCAD clone like ProGE CAD or Bricscad; they seem to be less picky if the file structure is not perfect. (using a free trial)


Posted By: Vladimir Michl
Date Posted: 26.Feb.2010 at 09:34

"Drawing file not valid" means that either the DWG format is too new for your AutoCAD version (probably not the case here), or that the internal file structure is seriously damaged.

Look inside your DWG file with a text view (e.g. Notepad) and check whether it starts with the AC10... signature - see:

http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/qaID.asp?tip=868 - http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/qaID.asp?tip=868

Recovered files often have large portions cleared with null characters - such files will not be recoverable unfortnately (in any CAD software).

-------------
Vladimir Michl (moderator)
ARKANCE - https://arkance.world" rel="nofollow - https://arkance.world - Autodesk Platinum Partner


Posted By: randal_ashford
Date Posted: 01.Mar.2010 at 00:59

Hello All,

Thanks for the replies.
 
I opened the file with notepad and this is what comes up:
 
˙Ř˙ŕ JFIF  H H  ˙ţ AppleMark
˙Ű „ ˙Ģ     
 
at the beginning.
 
I opened a different one and all the text was in chinese.

But what stuns me, is that some of the recovered files open perfectly... but just not the ones i wanted. lol
 
Can i upload one of the drawings? or email someone on here one of the drawings to see what they can do??
 
THanks alot


Posted By: Arben.Allaraj
Date Posted: 01.Mar.2010 at 09:16
Originally posted by randal_ashford randal_ashford wrote:

Hello All,

Thanks for the replies.
 
I opened the file with notepad and this is what comes up:
 
˙Ř˙ŕ JFIF  H H  ˙ţ AppleMark
˙Ű „ ˙Ģ     
 
at the beginning.
 
I opened a different one and all the text was in chinese.

But what stuns me, is that some of the recovered files open perfectly... but just not the ones i wanted. lol
 
Can i upload one of the drawings? or email someone on here one of the drawings to see what they can do??
 
THanks alot

 Ok Send it in arben.allaraj@gmail.com and I 'll check it.


-------------
Ing Arben.Allaraj
http://cad-drafting-corner.blogspot.com


Posted By: randal_ashford
Date Posted: 04.Mar.2010 at 06:06
anyone else willing to try have a go??
 
Thanks heaps


Posted By: CarlB
Date Posted: 04.Mar.2010 at 06:43
OK for grins...
c a b AT e e i t e a m DOT c o m



Posted By: maser
Date Posted: 04.Mar.2010 at 07:14
did you have backup file? i mean in format .bak.. change into dwg, and recover..




-------------
feel free to visit my blog at
http://autocadcourses.net" rel="nofollow - http://autocadcourses.net


Posted By: randal_ashford
Date Posted: 08.Mar.2010 at 05:13
Originally posted by CarlB CarlB wrote:

OK for grins...
c a b AT e e i t e a m DOT c o m

sorry what did you mean?? nah no .bak files at all... unfortunately....
 
I have about 1000 really good drawing files taht i cant open. its driving me crazy. Some work some dont



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