Opening Very old DWG files

[srochette147]

I have a very old 1994 .DWG file that I need to access, is there a way to import it in my version of ACAD 2020? Both the recover and import functions do not work. Simply opening it returns a "Drawing file not valid" error.

I tried using the 2008 version of DWG trueview but with no success either.

I opened it on notepad and there is stuff in there, it's not an empty file.

I've had little success looking for a solution online sadly.

Is there any way/software I might use to open it?

Thank you

[qnologi]

Seemed relevant...

https://forums.techguy.org/threads/solved-opening-old-autocad-files.856046/

[RobDraw]

Have you tried XREFing the file into a new .dwg?

It really sounds like the file has gotten corrupted. Nothing that I know of can fix that.

[TheCADnoob]

what version is the file saved as?

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-f...

[srochette147]

Hi Rob,

I just tried that and sadly it indeed does not work. My file might just be corrupted, I do not know.

[srochette147]

Hello,

I cannot seem to identify my version, the notepad mostly contains gibberish.

it says date modified: 1994 and it is a .DWG file when I look at file properties.

That must then means my file is corrupted?

[qnologi]

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCA...

[TheCADnoob]

date modified and file version are two different things so it may be much older than 1994...

It may just be corrupted.

Would you be able to share the dwg?

[srochette147]

That seems like the most likely scenario then.

Sure I can share it, here you go!

edit: sadly attachments seems bugged

https://we.tl/t-hxtdoWRQbq

[maratovich · Accepted solution]

This file is not AutoCAD.

[Moshe-A · Accepted solution]

@srochette147  hi,

i check your file and i doubt this is a dwg. a dwg file when opened with notepad, the first byte must be ACxxxx and your file does not have it. also the file size 3kb looks small, even an empty acad.dwt template has more so there is a doubt it even contains objects.

on the other hand i can not tell what is? tried to change the type to known types, nothing worked. 

Moshe

[Anonymous]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I see some knowledgeable users in here. If it's preferred to start a fresh topic tell me so.

Once or twice per year I keep bumping into the same problem. A relative has some very old dwg files, they are like family heirlooms at this point. I'm talking r9-r12 versions even older I don't really know. I have tried several times to recover them over the years with no success. Two(?) years ago I even found some of the old r' versions and tried to open them through dosbox or something, with no luck of course. 

Does anyone have any suggestion on what more I could try, or can someone tell me definitively that they are beyond recovery? they got corrupted between backups or should I keep trying?

I'll link a few of the files

PS. I can't upload through the panel (says extension error) so I'm just gonna leave a few zippy links.

https://www113.zippyshare.com/v/grR8zPRm/file.html
https://www113.zippyshare.com/v/Zq3kc1T8/file.html
https://www113.zippyshare.com/v/HtYHxzUI/file.html
https://www113.zippyshare.com/v/H0ZkbAoW/file.html
https://www113.zippyshare.com/v/qErX2Hb9/file.html

[pendean]

>>>... (says extension error) ...<<<
My installed anti-virus/anti-malware software here is blocking all of your files as malicious.

[Anonymous]

Hmm I dont really know why, these files are ancient. Second pic is in notepad, and in hex. I'll try to find another way to upload some I guess.

[Anonymous]

I uploaded a few in wetransfer like the original poster

https://we.tl/t-6UABTuJL31 

[pendean]

Thanks for the files: these are all completely damaged, they do not have any headers to recover (see your own screenshots). There is nothing you can do with these anymore.

Where did you have them stored?

[Anonymous]

Oh man such a shame. These go from 80-98 or something. I believe they were created in a 386(?) then as the years passed moved from hd to hd...

So even these old files should have a header AC2007 etc? In the off chance I find a header what do I do? I'll check em one by one I guess. 

Btw thanks for your time @pendean 

[pendean]

They are dead in other programs I have that open DWG files: sorry.

Their sizes are also very small, what do you think are in them? 3 are under 30kb is size for example.

[Anonymous]

They are civil engineer layouts, top view box shapes, windows, doors etc. Building blueprints you know. When I view the files in notepad between the gibberish I can see some tags intact like basement, floor1... They are written in greek-lish -that's greek written with english characters- that's why they didn't catch your eye probably.

Such a shame, there's like half a career in there heh. Anyway thank you again for your time.