Cannot access text files

**Argyll** · 14th May 2015

I have two text files which I cannot do anything with. They were originally each on a CF card which I transferred to a portable hard drive. Now I cannot transfer the files on to my PC. When I open up the text files using Notepad+ it�s blank even though one file is 14.3MB and the other 49.2MB.

I don�t think it�s the portable hard drive as it works normally with other files. I�ve tried repairing with checkdisk without success.

I also tried a sansdisk program I have at home but it mentioned something about �cyclic error�
There�s about three months� worth of data on these files so I�m getting a bit desperate.

Any ideas what I can do?

**akimba** · 14th May 2015

try V http://fileviewer.com/ I have used this to open semi corrupt files and super large files. Opens as Read Only tho but you can copy the data out into another file ;-)

Cyclic Errors (CRC) pretty much does mean there is some level of corruption in the file tho :-(

**Argyll** · 14th May 2015

Thanks I'll try that from home as I can't access that site at work.

**EvilBoB** · 14th May 2015

I use notepad++ for pretty much everything. Handles large files really well and has lots of nice plugins. Might be worth giving that a punt but as said, it's probably corrupt

**Argyll** · 17th May 2015

I already use it mate. I mentioned it in my original post.

**ilscuro** · 17th May 2015

You say the files were originally on a CF card, are they still on it? maybe they were corrupted during transfer to your portable hard drive.

**Argyll** · 17th May 2015

Yeah it sounds that way.

I formatted the CF card unfortunately.

**ilscuro** · 17th May 2015

They may still be recoverable mate, try Recuva or one of the many other data recovery programs found in 'usual places'

**akimba** · 18th May 2015

Originally Posted by ilscuro

They may still be recoverable mate, try Recuva or one of the many other data recovery programs found in 'usual places'

Recuva found on their website http://www.piriform.com/recuva/download its free ;-)

**Argyll** · 19th May 2015

Recuva didn't work but the fileviewer worked a treat. It took ages to open up as the file was so large but I got there in the end.

Typically I called my IT department a few days before posting this and they had nothing to offer me. They said the data would be lost and that was it. I wonder why some of them are still in a job.

Thank you very much, you saved three months of data for me.