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Help! I'm desperate

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  • 04-10-2011 7:18pm
    #1
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I have a VERY important video that was taken on a video camera recently. Only the first 3 videos came out OK but the rest of the files are unplayable

    However, I notice that the size of the file is roughly equal to the length of the file so I think the video may be there but the file may or may not have closed properly during recording

    The files do not play in any player inc super, VLC etc... VLC does not give any error, just a blank file but it does give the file length
    They're in MP4 format if that helps

    Also, while I was using the camera, everything appeared fine, everything was working and the record light was on. Everything looked as if it was OK. Hmm...

    If I can't recover these videos, I think it'll be time to pack my bags........

    Please please please help!
    Tagged:


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    #2
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    Ok don't panic... have you attempted any conversion?


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    #3
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    No, not yet
    How or what would be the best way to try that?

    Bit late for panic!

    Thanks :)


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    #4
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    Was I right in reading that you have the Super converter? If so, drop one of your troubled videos into it and try doing a conversion to H.264 or whatever, just to see if it will. While you're at that I'll rack my brains for you - I do a fair bit of work with video conversions etc.


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    #5
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    Damn. I got an error message :(

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13154434/encoding.jpg

    I tried with and without direct show


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    #6
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    OK you could try opening it with a program called MPEG Streamclip. Its a free download. Worth a shot...


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    #7
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    Nope :(

    Streamclip asked me to open anyway and when I did, it found 0 audio/video clips


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    #8
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    Right, sounds like the headers are corrupted.
    Its a very trick one. Have you tried reloading the vids into the camera and closing them off again?


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    #9
    mp22
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 6,854 Mod ✭✭✭✭mp22


    http://download.cnet.com/DivFix/3000-2194_4-75449932.html?tag=mncol;2

    This will attempt to repair the headers.


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    #10
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    It's worth a shot, not sure how reliable it would be mind you.


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    #11
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    sirgandi wrote: »
    Right, sounds like the headers are corrupted.
    Its a very trick one. Have you tried reloading the vids into the camera and closing them off again?

    How do I do that? Just put them on SD back into the camera? The camera can see the files but can't do anything with them

    Sorry for the stupid question!
    mp22 wrote: »
    http://download.cnet.com/DivFix/3000-2194_4-75449932.html?tag=mncol;2

    This will attempt to repair the headers.

    Thanks for this, but it wants an AVI input file. My format is MP4. Any suggestions?

    Thanks


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    #12
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    Yeah thats all it should take to get em back into the camera. If you want to, you can pass one of the clips to me to look at via dropbox - unless the content is sensitive in which case, hold onto it.


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    #13
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    sirgandi wrote: »
    Yeah thats all it should take to get em back into the camera. If you want to, you can pass one of the clips to me to look at via dropbox - unless the content is sensitive in which case, hold onto it.

    They're not sensitive videos, just important ones! I've sent 2 via PM. Thanks :)


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    #14
    sirgandi
    Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭sirgandi


    Ok so I checked out your video. Unfortunately I was unable to demux its streams, also on checking what stream content there was, the only reading I could get was a 32kbps mpeg audio stream that was disarmed.
    This is different to the audio stream on the good file so I'm guessing its a false reading.

    I'm guessing the raw data might be there, but whatever makes video digitally readable looks to be missing.

    I'm sorry I couldn't help mate - I hope you have enough footage to keep everyone happy!:pac:


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    #15
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    sirgandi wrote: »
    Ok so I checked out your video. Unfortunately I was unable to demux its streams, also on checking what stream content there was, the only reading I could get was a 32kbps mpeg audio stream that was disarmed.
    This is different to the audio stream on the good file so I'm guessing its a false reading.

    I'm guessing the raw data might be there, but whatever makes video digitally readable looks to be missing.

    I'm sorry I couldn't help mate - I hope you have enough footage to keep everyone happy!:pac:

    Damn :( Thanks for your help. I will keep trying everything and anything I can

    I might call samsung and see if they can help. Someone there must know!

    Thanks for your help :)


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    #16
    JustAddWater
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,990 ✭✭✭JustAddWater


    Quick update. I managed to use Video Repair Tool to attempt to fix the problem

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13154434/VRT.jpg

    Using the above parameters I managed to get a file that was not playing at all, to show a time of 2:54. The first 2 mins are blank BUT i recovered the video for the remainder of the file. No audio

    It's not a fix yet, but it leads me to hope the video is still in that file and it just needs help to come out!! Even full video but no audio is much better than nothing :)


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    #17
    redstarmark
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭redstarmark


    I had a problem like this before where my video files became corrupt and the file extension was showing as .doc on my mac, Final Cut wouldn't even import the files and nothing would read the files. Anyway I changed the file extension to what it was supposed to be .mov and this worked perfectly.
    I hope this might help you.
    Ps I didnt read the rest of the thread so I am sorry if I am repeating what someone else had written.


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    #18
    forsaleireland
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭forsaleireland


    use this too it's free bloody classic,plug ur camera into ur pc open format factory

    http://format-factory.en.softonic.com/download

    go to video then all to avi,add file,browse to your file or whatever add file,press ok,press start

    this is a gem of a programme even if the file won't play on vlc this will change it to avi and playable on anything once ya have the codecs installed ;)

    any questions on this gimme a shout


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