0 byte Excel file

[rrandel]

Hi,

 

I'll get straight to the point.

 

Suddenly, one of my dad's REALLY IMPORTANT Excel file just became a 0-byte file, I cant either open, move, delete or even copy the file, it was just prompting that file "file cannot be found, it may be moved, renamed or corrupted"

 

its a really importat financial file worth of 2015s company expenses and income.

 

please help, I've searched all over google but even google cant give me a good and working answer.

 

let me know what other information you guys need.

 

Thanks!

[rrandel]

and now he is blaming me for the excel file... Dang it... (FYI: im the only tech guy in the building)

[dom1310df]

Do you have a backup?

[rrandel]

sadly, there is no backup... even the windows shadow copy is ditto

 

BTW. its a MS 2007 file

[rhyseyness]

sadly, there is no backup... even the windows shadow copy is ditto

 

BTW. its a MS 2007 file

 

Unfortunately it sounds like you're going to have to learn to back up your "really important files" the hard way

[rrandel]

Unfortunately it sounds like you're going to have to learn to back up your "really important files" the hard way

 

welp, my dad is kinda not good with computers.... I introduced him to OneDrive ages ago but he just ignored it.

 

well I just finished the OneDrive sync with his files.

 

but im still hoping that there might be a solution.

[rrandel]

i wonder if that file is saved on a bad sector on my HDD?

[Deagon]

i wonder if that file is saved on a bad sector on my HDD?

There are a few things you could try, like a file recovery software, you might be able to retrieve the data that way. 

[rrandel]

There are a few things you could try, like a file recovery software, you might be able to retrieve the data that way. 

Tried Recuva... No go

 

any other software?

[Mattyd7829]

Try checking the security settings for the file. maybe they have become corrupt. Easiest settings would be to add the user Everyone to the security settings. Beware this is not a secure way but it will allow you to access the file if security has become the problem.

[Deagon]

if you are super lucky, a system restore might rebuild it

[rrandel]

Try checking the security settings for the file. maybe they have become corrupt. Easiest settings would be to add the user Everyone to the security settings. Beware this is not a secure way but it will allow you to access the file if security has become the problem.

 

havent tried that yet... but the file wont allow itself to be copied, moved or even deleted...

 

 

 

if you are super lucky, a system restore might rebuild it

 

gonna try this <3

[Mikensan]

Data corruption is a bad sign, I would also start backing up any other files and maybe run some system tests on the disk / memory. Look under Recent files and see if for some reason he saved a copy somewhere else.

 

When you say Shadow Copy was a no go, you're checking previous versions?

 

Has he ever emailed that document to himself or other people that he could possibly just redownload the attachment?

[0x1e]

if you are super lucky, a system restore might rebuild it

System restore only effects Windows files, not your personal ones.

[Mattyd7829]

havent tried that yet... but the file wont allow itself to be copied, moved or even deleted...

 

 

 

 

gonna try this <3

if permissions have changed then it wont. You may need to take ownership of the file again before it will let you set permissions.

[Deagon]

System restore only effects Windows files, not your personal ones.

the file wasn't deleted something else affected it somehow, sometimes doing a system restore can fix stuff like this.

 

His best bet is this:

Has he ever emailed that document to himself or other people that he could possibly just redownload the attachment?

and scan the drive for bad sectors. 

[rrandel]

Thanks for all your inputs everyone... I'll try all your sugestions and I'll get back to you all for some news

this forum; as always, the best!