opening a backup (.bak) file

[Anonymous]

HI - 

Trying to recover a file, and whenever I click to open the auto-recover file (.bak) I'm prompted to choose an application to open it with. Unfortunately its not letting me select AutoCAD.

How can I open this file?

Thanks,

Adena

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi Adena,

You have to rename file extension - three letters after dot from BAK to DWG, then AutoCAD will open this file.

You can try .BAK file in the same folder, as your corrupted DWG (the file should contain information when you save it last time), or you can look for autosaved version in "~/Documents/Autodesk/Autosave/" folder.

Just rename BAK to DWG and try to open drawing file.

EDIT: I managed to recover your file in Windows version of AutoCAD - look for it in your initial post.

Maxim

[GiorgiKoro]

You saved my life man. I was working on my project for 36 hours already and XFORM ruined my work. When trying to fix everything I spent all autosave slots in my 3ds Max folder, but .bak was old enough to revert everything. This is the most helpful reply on the entire Autodesk forum.

[ishmaela8]

So how do I edit the file extension to change it from BAK to dwg.?

[pendean]

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@ishmaela8 wrote:

So how do I edit the file extension to change it from BAK to dwg.?

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Start here https://support.apple.com/en-il/guide/mac-help/mchlp1144/mac#:~:text=on%20a%20network.-,Rename%20one...

or https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-change-file-type#:~:text=Double%2Dcli....

[ishmaela8]

Hi there, my BAK file can't open because it is set to open with the ACAD Application and it can't open!

Can you please explain how to change it? See the screenshot below.

[maxim_k]

Hi @ishmaela8 ,

Your question is about AutoCAD for Windows, so please look here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/changing-the-file-type-in-windows-10/9527d2db-...

You need to change .BAK extension to .DWG, without changing .BAK file association.