10 replies to this topic

[gooappletroy]

A few years ago I created a very important password protected RAR-file. The RAR-file is fairly large, about 2.2 GB.

 

I was(am) pretty sure I remembered the password, but when I tried to extract it I got an error message saying:

 

" Checksum error in the encrypted file... ...Corrupt file or wrong password.

 

I spent hours trying every conceivable password-combo I can think of, but always the above message remained.

 

Eventually I found a software that could brute force the password, based on my own dictionary of "word"-combos i could possibly have used for the password.

Now here is another odd thing: The password that was "found" was a password that included some of my own recognizable "words", but in a combo I can swear I would never ever have used! Also there seems to be a few extra letters in the password as well.

 

Anyway, now, when I use this "found password" for the rar-file, WinRar now gives me a different error message saying:

 

"... Unexpected end of archive."

 

I have tried WinRars own Repair tool, but that gives me the message:

 

Searching for recovery record
---> recovery record not found.

 

The somewhat "jumbled" password leads me to believe that the file has gotten corrupt somehow (it is on a fairly old HDD).

 

The file is very important to me. Can you guys help me solve this?

 

 

[paws]

Hi and welcome to our forums

 

It looks like its an important file you are having trouble with....

A few years ago I created a very important password protected RAR-file.

leads me to believe that the file has gotten corrupt somehow (it is on a fairly old HDD).

 

So it may be best just to use another copy of it from one of your backups and see if your password works on it.

 

Incidentally we don't offer any support for solving password issues as its against our sites Terms of Use...

 

Extract from Terms of Use

Due to the nature of online help we are not able to verify ownership, and will not be able to help bypass or recover any user passwords, cd keys, license codes, serial numbers, etc..

 

Regards

paws

[gooappletroy]

Hi and welcome to our forums

 

It looks like its an important file you are having trouble with....

A few years ago I created a very important password protected RAR-file.

leads me to believe that the file has gotten corrupt somehow (it is on a fairly old HDD).

 

So it may be best just to use another copy of it from one of your backups and see if your password works on it.

 

Incidentally we don't offer any support for solving password issues as its against our sites Terms of Use...

 

Extract from Terms of Use

Due to the nature of online help we are not able to verify ownership, and will not be able to help bypass or recover any user passwords, cd keys, license codes, serial numbers, etc..

 

Regards

paws

That is okay.
Since I'm now certain that the file is corrupt. I tend to have full control over my passwords, and the jumbled password that appeared makes it obvious that the file is corrupt somehow.

So what I actually need help with here is to "repair" the HDD or the file itself, whatever is more suitable.

Where do I start on that?

[paws]

To check the hard disc you could try running chkdsk with the r switch from a command prompt with elevated privileges (for the commnd prompt type

cmd at the search box and Right click on either cmd or cmd.exe from the menu that will appear and click on Run as administrator..... at the Dos like box that will open type chkdsk /r ( note the space it needs to be there) accept the warning type in Y and then press the enter key on your keyboard and restart your machine, the chkdsk will take several hours to run and you will not be able to use your machine whilst it is running.

 

Make sure your battery is fully charged and your PSU/charger is connected before starting,  chkdsk will try and repair any errors in your hard drive.

It will restart the computer when you have finished.

 

Chkdsk slightly stresses your hard drive so if it is on its last legs it could shorten its time before failure, so do make sure you are totally happy with all your backups before starting.

 

The above procedure may or may not help with your compressed file, so I would be inclined to use your password on one of the existing backed up filecopies as this may be the easier approach.

Regards

paws.

[gooappletroy]

Thank you, I will try checkdisk tonight if I can leave the computer on then.

 

The above procedure may or may not help with your compressed file, so I would be inclined to use your password on one of the existing backed up filecopies as this may be the easier approach.

 

Anyway, how do you mean with this last part? I have made backups of the rar-file, but unfortunately only after I discovered it was faulty, so I guess the backups must  be faulty as well. Or do I misunderstand you? :-)

[paws]

No! You need to use one of your backup copies you made prior to the file becoming damaged

Regards

paws

[gooappletroy]

No! You need to use one of your backup copies you made prior to the file becoming damaged

Regards

paws

Oh...
"I have made backups of the rar-file, but unfortunately only after I discovered it was faulty." :-/

[paws]

"I have made backups of the rar-file, but unfortunately only after I discovered it was faulty." :-/

 

 

Oh dear! sorry to hear that.

Did you make a disc image prior to the problem (using either native Windows tools or other utilities like for example, Macrium Reflect Free, Norton Ghost or more modern versions?)

 

Any of these made prior to the problem would likely do the trick.

 

Have you also tried the built in tools within WinRar?

 

A useful repair function is integrated in WinRAR.

1: Run WinRAR and in  the address bar, navigate to the corrupted file.

2: Select the RAR file. Click Repair button in tool bar, and choose “Repair archiver” (if there is a drop-down list).

3: Save the repaired file to a handy location.

now try your password on it, if the corruption/damage to the file is not too great, this procedure may work for you.

Regards

paws

[gooappletroy]

 

"I have made backups of the rar-file, but unfortunately only after I discovered it was faulty." :-/

 

 

Oh dear! sorry to hear that.

Did you make a disc image prior to the problem (using either native Windows tools or other utilities like for example, Macrium Reflect Free, Norton Ghost or more modern versions?)

 

Any of these made prior to the problem would likely do the trick.

 

Have you also tried the built in tools within WinRar?

 

A useful repair function is integrated in WinRAR.

1: Run WinRAR and in  the address bar, navigate to the corrupted file.

2: Select the RAR file. Click Repair button in tool bar, and choose “Repair archiver” (if there is a drop-down list).

3: Save the repaired file to a handy location.

now try your password on it, if the corruption/damage to the file is not too great, this procedure may work for you.

Regards

paws

 

 

Yup, already tried WinRars Repair function, but to no avail. I think it said: "...Unexpected end of archive."

I think we need to find a more "low level" way to repair either the file or the disk itself. If that is even possible?

[paws]

OK all understood.

It looks like you may need to consider some third party file archive or repair software.

 

Usually these have to be purchased although you maybe able to find some free versions, but do be careful the bad folks do like to infiltrate malicious code into some of their "free miracle cureative" applications!

 

Unfortunately I have no experience of these in a practical sense, so it looks as though you are on your own! Sorry!

Regards

paws

[gooappletroy]

OK all understood.

It looks like you may need to consider some third party file archive or repair software.

 

Usually these have to be purchased although you maybe able to find some free versions, but do be careful the bad folks do like to infiltrate malicious code into some of their "free miracle cureative" applications!

 

Unfortunately I have no experience of these in a practical sense, so it looks as though you are on your own! Sorry!

Regards

paws

Okay, I will investigate those options a bit more.

Thank you for your efforts Paws! :-)