Cannot open a particular maya file

[RA1911026010070]

Hi,
While opening a maya file I get this error saying 'File contains unknown nodes or data. To preserve this information, the current file type cannot be changed.' and right after that I get the 'Fatal Error. Attempting to save in C:/.../Temp/..ma' after I pressed 'OK' maya suddenly crashes. Please help I've been doing this project for weeks and now I cannot open it. 

[damaggio]

How can anyone help without your scene file?

[RA1911026010070]

The file size is 85 MB and this forum isn't letting me upload it!

[damaggio]

Zip the file first.

You can also try to open one of incremental saved versions or one of your saved FBXs.

[RA1911026010070]

Zip works

[damaggio]

It didn't crash here, see if you can open this one. Next time work in .ma format.

[RA1911026010070]

It didn't help. Maya still crashes

[RA1911026010070]

But this time with the file you sent, I didn't get the 'unknown nodes' or the 'fatal error'. When I open the file, Maya closes itself (Not showing crash report dialogue either)

[RA1911026010070]

I tried opening this file on my friend's PC. And it opens just fine. But when I open it in mine, Maya crashes. I tried reinstalling Maya and tried different version also

[damaggio]

Have you tried opening and earlier version of the file?

[RA1911026010070]

unfortunately, I didn't have any earlier version of this file 😞

[RA1911026010070]

I also tried saving that file as a maya ascii file on my friend's laptop and opened that file. Maya still crashes. All other files are opening just fine on my pc.

[damaggio]

Well , in this case is gonna be really hard to pin point the issue because is not a .ma file, maybe you can clean up the scene in your friend's computer, save also one with a simpler version so you can restart from that point on.

[RA1911026010070]

but I can save it as a ma file on my friend's PC. is it usable by any chance? Maybe to find out the issue with that converted ma file?

[damaggio]

No not like that, it will only start writing the code from that point on but is good to always work in.ma from here forward specially for professional work that might come in the future, you have to secure the file and keep back ups frequently.Turn on your incremental saves.

[RA1911026010070 · Accepted solution]

I've fixed the issue. On my friend's PC, he was using Maya 2018. So I installed Maya 2018 on my PC and opened that file. it opened very well. and then I did a optimize scene operation and saved the file as .ma
Then I opened that file in Maya 2023, and it worked just fine. But I'm not sure what's the problem with the latest version of Maya, anyway, I got my problem solved. Thank you for being so helpful @damaggio