Incomplete Quicktime MOV

[ndw012]

A friend was sending me a large Quicktime file taken with his digital camera (a Nikon Coolpix 5200, I believe), when he had to cancel the transfer about 1/3 of the way through. He has since accidentally deleted the file, and it's one I really want to see. Is there any way to repair a MOV file like you can an incomplete AVI or WMV so I can watch the part that I have? I also have two complete files taken by the same-model camera, if that's of any help.

[anonymez]

you should be able to play it once you convert to avi, try here http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/mov2avi.html

i believe 'quicktime pro' can do the job as well...

[ndw012]

Hey, appreciate the response, but unfortunately, that didn't work. Quicktime Pro isn't identifying it as a valid quicktime file. I know there's video content in the file, as I can view the first frame in preview, but it simply won't open in any programs.

[anonymez]

did you try my first suggestion?

[ndw012]

Yes, I tried both, but like I said, the file isn't complete, and nothing that I've found can recognize an incomplete quicktime file. So I was hoping to find some way to repair it.

[drfsupercenter]

Try ULead video studio (www.ulead.com) by getting a trial. That works for normal MOV files.

[ndw012]

*sigh* Also unsuccessful. LOL. I don't think any program is going to read this file if it doesn't have a beginning and an end. Hence the reason I'm seeking a method for repairing the file.

I appreciate all the suggestions, though. I'm willing to try just about anything I can.

[anonymez]

reason why it cannot be read is because it needs a beginning & end. this goes with most files, including avi. you will NOT be able to watch an incomplete avi file (even if most of the file is present) unless you have the beginning and end chunks. usually only a few kilobytes from either end are needed...

the only reason why i suggested quicktime & encoding the file was because i never use mov files, so my experience with them is limited. it was worth a shot

[ndw012]

Not technically true with AVI files. It's entirely possible to watch the beginning of an AVI that you only have the first parts of, if you use a program like DivFix or Virtualdub to reconstruct it. I've done it many times.

[anonymez]

Not technically true with AVI files. It's entirely possible to watch the beginning of an AVI that you only have the first parts of, if you use a program like DivFix or Virtualdub to reconstruct it. I've done it many times.

like i said, only a few kb are needed. it is too small and will likely not be shown in any progress meter. most file sharing apps and download managers automatically download the beggining & end of files.

the END of the file is more important here. that's where the index (an important 'chunk' of data that contains the offset of each frame written) is stored. programs like 'divfix' rebuild the index, making the file, or what has been downloaded/captured, playable.