Computer problem

[abennettphotography]

Not strictly photography related but thought someone in the Club might have some insight.

I've got a corrupted MS Word .doc (not .docx) file that I can't open on my Mac. It won't open with Preview or Pages. I've also got Libre Office but that won't open it either. Anyone any advice. I have some recovery software but this only recovers the files, not repairs them. I don't want to pay for new software.

[Mike Farley]

First hit from Google, although it will not help you unless you or someone you know has access to Word. Note also the section about how corruption can occur which applies whether using Windows or macOS.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/off ... 86ac734bc3

[abennettphotography]

Thanks Mike. I did a google search and couldn't find anything hence posting on the off-chance to the forum. The link is for Windows and Word, neither of which I have. Ho-hum looks like it's lost.

[Mike Farley]

I have Word if you want to give it a try.

[abennettphotography]

Thanks, Mike. That'd be great. But how would it work - I'm on a Mac? And how would I get it?

[Mike Farley]

But how would it work - I'm on a Mac? And how would I get it?

Er, you send me the file via e-mail and, if it works, I send the repaired file back? File format is the same regardlesd of OS.

[abennettphotography]

Ah! I see what you were getting at. I've managed to get free access to Word online and the doc is still not showing so I reckon it's lost beyond repair but thanks anyway.

[davidb]

Do you use Time Machine (a backup system), an Apple app that's free and comes with the operating system. You'd need an external hard disk of at least the size of your internal storage.

If you do use Time Machine you should be able to go back in time to find a version that still works.

If you don't use TM then now would be a good time to start so this doesn't happen again.

[Paul Heester]

Probably more for Mike but you could try to open the .doc in Notepad on your Windows PC (dragging file into Notepad best way). It wouldnt keep any formatting or images within the doc but it may provide you with the bare text. If the doc only contained images then this method is a non-starter.

[walterconquy]

Hi David, you talk about time machine, I have been having trouble using it on the only hard drive that has any space but I cannot use it for that, got any ideas I can put information on it?
Wally