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View Full Version : PDF Recovery - Anything Can Recover?

DasFox
August 22nd, 2008, 06:04 PM
I have a corrupt PDF file that I'm trying to see if there is any app that can recover.

So far Advanced PDF Repair 1.1 doesn't work.

Anyone know if there is something that can work?

THANKS

P.S. pdftk and Recovery for PDF don't work either, that makes 3 apps not working, looks like it's not going to happen...
JRViejo
August 22nd, 2008, 06:42 PM
DasFox, the free OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org) suite, especially Writer (http://www.openoffice.org/product/writer.html), can read and create PDFs. Worth a shot since you have covered most good apps out there.
DasFox
August 22nd, 2008, 08:40 PM
-{ Quote: "DasFox, the free OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org) suite, especially Writer (http://www.openoffice.org/product/writer.html), can read and create PDFs. Worth a shot since you have covered most good apps out there." }-

I don't see how Writer is going to deal with a corrupted PDF, but I'll give a try and see what happens....

THANKS
JRViejo
August 22nd, 2008, 08:43 PM
DasFox, I've seen stranger things happen, yet, since OpenOffice is FREE, there's nothing to lose! Best of luck!
DasFox
August 22nd, 2008, 08:55 PM
Yes good ole open source maybe it can read it...

I'll let you know in a few, going to install it now... :)
DasFox
August 22nd, 2008, 09:21 PM
Nope doesn't work... :(
JRViejo
August 22nd, 2008, 09:30 PM
Well, DasFox, think about it this way. You now have the equivalent of MS Office 2003 for FREE!!!
GlobalForce
August 22nd, 2008, 09:51 PM
How far are you willing to go - http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=459446?

S
DasFox
August 23rd, 2008, 12:08 AM
-{ Quote: "Well, DasFox, think about it this way. You now have the equivalent of MS Office 2003 for FREE!!!" }-


I'm a Unix/Linux geek, used Ooo, as it's also know back when it started only on Unix... :)

Thanks though...
DasFox
August 23rd, 2008, 12:11 AM
-{ Quote: "How far are you willing to go - http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=459446?

S" }-


Well the client that I'm helping really needs it, so I guess as far as one can take it, hehe...

I'll check everything out and get back...

THANKS
emperordarius
August 23rd, 2008, 02:17 AM
http://www.officerecovery.com/pdf/index.htm

try the demo version.
Bob D
August 23rd, 2008, 12:05 PM
http://www.pdf-repair.com/
I might also suggest posting it (assuming there is nothing personal or proprietary).
I have four .pdf proggies, and I'm sure other members here have dozens more.
One of them may (?) be able to open / save.
Pinga
August 23rd, 2008, 06:42 PM
Open it in Photoshop?
DasFox
August 23rd, 2008, 07:42 PM
Well I've tried every program except Photoshop, hehe...

PS opens PDF?

Bob D, what programs do you have? I've tried I think every PDF app out there and none working...

THANKS
GlobalForce
August 23rd, 2008, 07:54 PM
Nothing @ my link made sense?

S
Bob D
August 23rd, 2008, 08:03 PM
-{ Quote: "..what programs do you have? I've tried I think every PDF app out there and none working..." }-
GS View (Ghostgum), PDF X-change, PDF FormulaCAD.
I think you need to try the scatter-gun approach. Offer (if possible) the afflicted .pdf file up for grabs, and see if anybody can open it.
(With the understanding that it may truly be shot / unrecoverable).
Also searching a dedicated pdf site may (?) yield something: http://www.planetpdf.com/find_software.asp
DasFox
August 23rd, 2008, 11:30 PM
-{ Quote: "Nothing @ my link made sense?

S" }-

It all makes perfect sense, however none of the programs worked...


-{ Quote: "GS View (Ghostgum), PDF X-change, PDF FormulaCAD.
I think you need to try the scatter-gun approach. Offer (if possible) the afflicted .pdf file up for grabs, and see if anybody can open it.
(With the understanding that it may truly be shot / unrecoverable).
Also searching a dedicated pdf site may (?) yield something: http://www.planetpdf.com/find_software.asp" }-

Thanks I'll give those apps a try. After that I think I'll give up, it's been 3-4 hours on it already, and I don't think it's recoverable.

But if anyone wants to have a go at it I'll place it on Mediafire to download:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?odvix2trqzw

THANKS
Bob D
August 24th, 2008, 10:54 AM
-{ Quote: "..I don't think it's recoverable." }-
Yea, I think the file is toast.
(Possible that it is not a .pdf?)

FWIW, error message:

GSview 4.9 2007-11-18
GPL Ghostscript 8.63 (2008-08-01)
Displaying non DSC file C:/Documents and Settings/Training.pdf
Error: /syntaxerror in (binary token, type=141)
Operand stack:

Execution stack:
%interp_exit .runexec2 --nostringval-- --nostringval-- --nostringval-- 2 %stopped_push --nostringval-- --nostringval-- false 1 %stopped_push 1905 1 3 %oparray_pop 1904 1 3 %oparray_pop 1888 1 3 %oparray_pop 1771 1 3 %oparray_pop --nostringval-- %errorexec_pop .runexec2 --nostringval-- --nostringval-- --nostringval-- 2 %stopped_push --nostringval--
Dictionary stack:
--dict:1158/1684(ro)(G)-- --dict:0/20(G)-- --dict:74/200(L)--
Current allocation mode is local
Last OS error: No such file or directory

--- Begin offending input ---
GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILuEϖӁaH>E{U{.޲-
Y&xџX)'$֣GE'"
_vb}f|^CpN7eb`aMzI W>]>}Lc:\ILu
--- End offending input ---
file offset = 1024
gsapi_run_string_continue returns -101
Searching_ _ _
August 24th, 2008, 02:03 PM
Would a file recovery program like Photorec be needed first?
Long View
August 24th, 2008, 02:11 PM
-{ Quote: "Well, DasFox, think about it this way. You now have the equivalent of MS Office 2003 for FREE!!!" }-


good news - when did they include outlook ?
JRViejo
August 24th, 2008, 02:35 PM
Long View, no, there's no Outlook equivalent in OpenOffice, just Writer (like Word), Calc (like Excel), Impress (like PowerPoint), Draw (like Publisher) and Base (like Access) but since we have Mozilla Thunderbird, who needs Outlook anyway?
JRViejo
August 24th, 2008, 05:23 PM
DasFox, using PDF Tools Online - Repair PDF (https://www.pdf-tools.com/osa/repair.aspx) this is the result:

-{ Quote: "Output file creation error
Errors:

Open file.
0x80410104 - E - The file header was not found.
Recover XREF table.
0x8041010E - E - The trailer dictionary is missing or invalid.
Analyze Objects.
Analyze Outlines.
Analyze Pages.
0x80410401 - E - The page doesn't exist (null).
0x80410113 - E - The file is corrupt and cannot be repaired. Some of the contents can possibly be recovered.
Recover Pages.
Save output file.
Couldn't save file C:\TEMP\tmpA8AE.tmp.
Close file." }-

I think that PDF is SOL!
Long View
August 24th, 2008, 06:55 PM
-{ Quote: " since we have Mozilla Thunderbird, who needs Outlook anyway?" }-


taking your suggestion seriously I downloaded and set up Thunderbird. A very good program for those who have simple mail needs but "who needs Outlook ?"
we anyone who is more than a home user. I receive several hundred e-mails every day - with out e-mail rules my in box might become disorganised. With less mail I suppose I could use Thunderbird and get another program to hand Tasks but being intergrated with the mail is so useful. It seems a pity that so few have ever understood the many real values of outlook. I admit the program has a steep learning curve and is not for the faint hearted but it really is worth the effort.
JRViejo
August 24th, 2008, 07:43 PM
Long View, to qualify my assertion, I own the MS Office Professional Edition 2003 suite. I also have Outlook Express and Thunderbird. On any given day, I receive about 400 emails from several sources: business email addresses and personal Web Mail addresses. The Web Mail addresses have Spam filters in place but the business emails come direct from the server, unfiltered.

IMO, I find that Thunderbird allows me to do everything that Outlook can do and when I said "who needs Outlook?" my comment was geared more toward those thread readers who might not have the money to buy the suite from Microsoft, perhaps not you and definitely not me.

Anyone can compare the Thunderbird 2 Features (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/features.html#organize) to Outlook and judge for themselves. Here's someone else's recent comparison: Thunderbird vs. Outlook: Email App Showdown! (http://davemoyer.org/2008-06-22/thunderbird-vs-outlook-email-app-showdown/). Again, IMO, for a FREE product, Thunderbird is a suitable alternative.