topic Re: bak file in AutoCAD Forum

bak file

apanbasu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:29:32 GMT

I just noticed I do not have back files. There are pdf files but Adobe acrobat is not recognizing those files.. I have this software on my new machine for little over two months.

My setting is to have saving of file every 10 minutes.

Any suggestion?

Re: bak file

RSomppi — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:39:29 GMT

It sounds like you've associated the .bak files to Adobe. Can you see the file extension?

Re: bak file

paullimapa — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:30:45 GMT

First, double check to make sure you have file extensions set to visible in your Windows Explorer just to confirm that there are .bak files created each time you do a save in AutoCAD

https://www.gottheknack.com/a-how-to/file-systems/file-ext-and-details-view/file-ext-and-details-view.html

Re: bak file

apanbasu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:43:36 GMT

I have windows 11. It did not gave me the same screen as 10. View has different action.

Re: bak file

apanbasu — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:44:53 GMT

I am not how that happen. Where should I look for it.?

Re: bak file

paullimapa — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:52:38 GMT

searching on-line here's the instructions to show the file extensions on Win 11:

https://lazyadmin.nl/win-11/show-file-extension-windows-11/

Re: bak file

apanbasu — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:26:22 GMT

I have done what you have suggested and end up as shown in the attached Screen shot. It does not give any option to change extension. I see a file with extension .dwfx. Is this the auto save file?

Re: bak file

paullimapa — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:33:48 GMT

Your screenshot shows folders directly under your C: drive. But you need to open the folder location where your dwg file is stored and then look for a matching filename that has a .bak extension to rename as .dwg.

Re: bak file

apanbasu — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:28:26 GMT

That is not what I am trying to do. I want auto-save to be .bak file. In my old 32 bit machine I had 2028 version and the Auto-save files were saved automatically in .bak file. Now that is not happening. I have in option set up auto-save every 15 minutes and in .bak file. But that is not happening.

Re: bak file

paullimapa — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:32:57 GMT

Again run Windows File Manager and open the folder location where you have your typical dwg files stored.

For example your dwg files may be stored under My Documents.

Everytime you enter a command like QSAVE, a matching file name but with a .bak file extension will show up in the same folder location.

Auto-Save files are different and do not use bak extensions. Read up more on the differences discussed on this post:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-forum/autosave-bak-files-in-autosave-location/td-p/8320914

Re: bak file

RSomppi — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:34:29 GMT

Automatic saves and backup files have completely different purposes. I don’t think this is advisable.

Re: bak file

pendean — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:10:11 GMT

@apanbasu wrote:
...In my old 32 bit machine I had 2028 version and the Auto-save files were saved automatically in .bak file. Now that is not happening. ...

None of those statements are true in any previous or modern AutoCAD year version, Sorry. You are "mis-remembering".

You can just avoid ever using manual saves long enough that BAK files are eventually created, but for most of us that's a risky proposition.

Have you turned on file extensions in your new Windows File Manager yet? That will 100% cure your reliance on the unreliable WindowsOS labeling of file types and actually show you BAK pdf files for example.

Re: bak file

BudW — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:52:43 GMT

See this article regarding autosave files.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autodesk-community-tips-autocad/little-bits-recovering-autosave-files/ta-p/12020598

Re: bak file

apanbasu — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:52:36 GMT

Thank you.

Re: bak file

paullimapa — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 15:53:46 GMT

you are welcome...cheers!!!