Corrupted File

[CallMeKerrigan]

My computer blue screened and I got the dreaded "Unexpected File Format".

I've been crying the past half hour because I've been working on this game for over a year and I was so close to finishing it and I put the majority of the work into it the past 4 months. Hundreds of hours have been lost. I've been moving the 'data' files back and forth. I tried Making a new project and copying just a couple of the data files, and then making 36 maps and copying all of my maps over but still it says "Unexpected File Format", and if there is only one of the 'data' files it says 'unable to load actor data' or something like that.

I have a backup but it's from 4 months ago when only 50% of the game was done. I know it's my fault for not backing up my files properly, what options do I have? Is there anyway I can recover the file or is there something magical I can do that I haven't thought of?

 

[bgillisp]

All you can do is see which files still work and which do not. The ones that don't, you'll have to delete and redo them. There is no other option short of restoring a back up.

 

[Andar]

You didn't say for which maker this is - sometimes (<1% there is a chance for a partial data extraction if you can open the damaged files in a simple texteditor (the simpler the better), but even if that works it's often easier to just type things new.

 

[CallMeKerrigan]

It's for vx Ace I tried opening a data file in notepad but nothing happened.

And I was really bummed at first but I feel a little better. The hardest part was figuring out my story and putting together the graphics. At least those are still all done and this gives me the chance to streamline things better in the editor.

 

[Andar]

[move]Ace Support[/move]

And no, looks like your data is gone. You should have used one of the backup scripts for Ace, those automatically make backups on playtest.

 

[CallMeKerrigan]

What a painful way to learn that lesson. At least I have a little bit of a back up and now I can finally decide if I want to start over in MV or cut out some features.

I guess a clean slate isn't all that bad. I almost feel a little relief.