Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dhtaylor

macrumors newbie
Original poster
my external hard drive crashed.

I DID NOT have documents backed up properly.

....I KNOW....

sigh...

Thanks to Ontrack, I recovered most if not all of the data, and this included the iMovies, I was told. Yet, when trying to open each file, none will open.

I've tried almost everything, including:

(1) show package contents (and trying to drag and drop "TimelineMovie.mov from cache to new iMovie)(nothing happens when dropping it into the new iMovie--quicktime opens but then nothing)

(2) show package contents (and clicking on the backup copy with ~ in the file name)(again, nothing happens)

What I know is the following:

(1) The data size is the same as when they were functional.

(2) Yet, when clicking on the icon for the movie, it opens and then I see a prompt that says, "A project file is missing..." If I click "ignore all", the movie never opens... i see it loading, loading, loading, and then it stops about 3/4 in.

(3) If I dont "ignore all", the process is the same.

(4) when I go into the media file, i see that all of the data is there

(5) while my new external hard drive(S)...lol... have plenty of space, my current macbook pro is maxed out and I operate with just under 1gb of available memory

My questions:

(1) do I have any hope here?

(2) If so, how do I fix these priceless files myself? I know, if priceless, why not backed up? again, sigh...

(3) If too hard for a novice, is there a company who can look at priceless imovie files and fixes them?

Again, I've lost MANY imovies (and the countless hours and love put into each). I'm willing to go to some lengths to fix them, including paying someone.

Thoughts/advice/suggestions?

Thanks.

Damon
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.