Recover a drawing file when the Recover command fails

[SRBalliet]

FWIW, IntelliCAD can sometimes (quite often) open files that AutoCAD can't.

Microstation too. (As much as I hate Microstation)

[a_meteni]

lately i discovered that these dwg files are restored form a crashed laptop using windows vista. -my PC runs XP professional & auto cad 2007- and its not only dwg files but also all other file extensions. so i think my last hope is to try to open the files on a different operating system instead of xp

[CGM]

lately i discovered that these dwg files are restored form a crashed laptop using windows vista. -my PC runs XP professional & auto cad 2007- and its not only dwg files but also all other file extensions. so i think my last hope is to try to open the files on a different operating system instead of xp

Good luck with it,
Please do keep us posted.

[kevinc.117928]

Is a bak file created during an autosave or only when a full save or qsave is done?

[rkmcswain]

Is a bak file created during an autosave or only when a full save or qsave is done?

If "create BAK" is enabled, both.

[jpaulsen]

I don't think BAK files are created during an autosave.

[rkmcswain]

I don't think BAK files are created during an autosave.

They are.....

[CADDmanVA]

Maybe not, depends on whether or not the BAK functionality is turned on. I personally don't trust BAK files any more. For a couple years now, I've caught BAK files which are several saves behind the current version of the file.

[rkmcswain]

Maybe not, depends on whether or not the BAK functionality is turned on.

That is why I said "If 'create BAK' is enabled" when initially responding to the question.

I personally don't trust BAK files any more. For a couple years now, I've caught BAK files which are several saves behind the current version of the file.

A BAK file from a .DWG or a .SV$?

Consider what AutoCAD does during a QSAVE (assuming "create BAK" is enabled)
1. It writes the contents of the editor to a temp file.
2. It renames the current drawing from .DWG to .BAK
3. It renames the temp file to the correct file name with a .DWG extension.

I don't see how you have had problems with BAK files since it's simply a copy of your last save. In fact, if you QSAVE twice in a row, then your BAK = the DWG.

[CADDmanVA]

That is why I said "If 'create BAK' is enabled" when initially responding to the question.




A BAK file from a .DWG or a .SV$?

Consider what AutoCAD does during a QSAVE (assuming "create BAK" is enabled)
1. It writes the contents of the editor to a temp file.
2. It renames the current drawing from .DWG to .BAK
3. It renames the temp file to the correct file name with a .DWG extension.

I don't see how you have had problems with BAK files since it's simply a copy of your last save. In fact, if you QSAVE twice in a row, then your BAK = the DWG.

Sorry about the enabled part, I somehow looked over your original post, my bad.
I understand the process AutoCAD writes its save files and temp files. It has just been my experience recently that even though I QSAVE every 15 minutes, the BAK file is usually four or more saves behind. The autosave files (SV$) tend to do me justice in most cases though.