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Subject:Ret: Help! Corrupted Word file(?) From:arroxaneullman -at- aol -dot- com To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:17:39 -0400
I've already uninstalled AVG 8.0 just to see if that might be a problem. No change. So I reinstalled it.
I've tried the open and repair and receive the insufficient memory error message. I've also tried the insert and no luck. Deselecting graphics doesn't seem to allow me to open the file.
I'm normally very good about backups, but I *thought* this file was done and was about to push it to publication when all heck broke loose.
Thanks.
Arroxane
-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>
To: techwr-l List <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>; arroxaneullman -at- aol -dot- com
Sent: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 4:44 pm
Subject: Help! Corrupted Word file(?)
Arroxane wonders: <<MS Word 2003 got the last laugh this time. I think the file is corrupt, but getting an insufficient memory error... [AVG antivirus snipped]>>
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There's been considerable discussion of problems with the latest AVG on copyediting-l. Consensus seems to be that you might need to uninstall it and download a new build to resolve these problems.
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<<At this point, I'm stuck with either a) going back to the version four days before or b) recovering text only and rebuilding the styles, links, references, index, ToC, and so forth. Perhaps one of you has a better idea on how to repair this doc without wasting another week repeating what I've already done to the doc?>>
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A couple possibilities, but before you do any of them, make a backup copy of the problem file; what I'm recommending should be perfectly safe, but if Murphy happens, you'll be glad you can try again with the safe version of the file. Alternatively, work on a duplicate/copy of the file.
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First, try this: Open the File menu, select Open, and select the problem file... but don't click OK by reflex. Instead, click the teeny little cryptic triangle beside the OK button that indicates the presence of a hidden menu. From that menu, select "Open and repair". This wonderful little feature solves an amazing number of problems. Word tables often become corrupted, and have to be re-entered from scratch, so you may lose some formatting if you're forced to recover a file in this manner (it's the corrupted table, not the recovery process, that causes problems), but it shouldn't be a disastrous amount.
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If that doesn't work, try this instead: Create a new file, then open the Insert menu, select File, and select the problem file. That sometimes also fixes problems.
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If you think the problem might result from a graphic in the file, open the Options dialog and turn off the display of graphics. Then try opening the file, and if you can open it successfully, do a "save as" under a new name. You may need to delete and reinsert graphics until you find the problem.
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<<And please, no lectures about backups or Word or whatever.>>
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Sorry to hear you're providing an object lesson of the need for backups. Sorry if that sounds snarky... I've spent a lot of time today advising people how to recover lost files that could have been recovered in minutes from a good backup. It gets kinda old after a while.
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