Unreadable Word file, all encrypted! Solved

Question

Hello everyone,
I created a Word file using Open Office 2007 this week. I saved it on my USB stick as a Word 97-03 document.
Today, when I opened the file, it is completely unreadable.
Here is an excerpt:

. ~(žT6T6 )žT6ø¬ .. ~(žT6T6 )žT6N¦ åWRD0000TMP `ìfV6V6 îfV6L ^ åi è r e s ?. d o c ÿÿ ÿÿÿÿå 1 6 - ? L e s L u m åC u l t u ?r e - c o u r s åULTUR~1DOC

And even at my place it appears with lots of squares. Now I realize that all the Word files I created are unreadable. However, those I created on different PCs work...
I reinstalled Office and tried all the conversions I know but the result is the same.

If anyone knows the solution to recover a readable Word document, I would be greatly grateful.
Thank you for your help.

Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 6.0

dan · Accepted Answer

For encrypted word: Set to an earlier date, in help and support Restore my computer to an earlier date. Choose a day in Bold font, etc

le druide · Answer

Hi,

just checking if you have any updates!.... Try opening it from another computer.

If it's the same, save a document to this USB drive from another computer and then try opening it from the same computer to see.

If it's still the same, it's a support issue (USB drive), and you'll need to format it.
--
the druid without the potion.

sam · Answer

I have a similar problem and it's urgent and important :(

I have a .doc file saved and created from OpenOffice that I have been regularly opening, modifying, and saving for a week, especially yesterday since I need to have it completed by tomorrow.

This morning, when I tried to open it, a box appeared
"ASCII filter options"
but nothing to do when the file opens, it's 25 pages of ############################

I really want to recover it, so I found this:
http://softlibre.gloobe.org/doku.php?id=openoffice:recupfichiers
but I can't find the Chilkat XML 1.01 software they suggest using on the net :(:(

le druide · Answer

Hi,

all I can do for you is give you the address to download the software.

As for the rest, getting your documents back, I can't guarantee the result will be successful.

See here for the software > https://www.zdnet.fr/telecharger/logiciel/chilkat-xml-11009400s.htm
--
the druid without the potion.

Roly · Answer

Hello everyone! I have a little problem with my Word files that I retrieved from a file recovery software called "Restoration."
The issue is as follows: When I open the Word file to read it, a conversion window prompts me to choose the mode to convert the file, and as a result, the outcome is disastrous. Everything appears with unreadable symbols, and we can't understand anything in the document.

I would just like to know if there is any freeware available to recover damaged Word files?

Thanks in advance.

Club Technique · Answer

It is said on almost all sites that files rendered unreadable after recovery or formatting are unrecoverable. Word files appear encrypted in the form of white squares or hexadecimal characters, etc...

I personally experienced this situation this week: Virus. Damaged Windows, deleted files and to make matters worse... MasterBootRecord destroyed.

This led me to a quick format, reinstalling Windows, and several (24) partition and file recovery programs... Result: All recovered files are unreadable. This despite the recovery program. After 4 consecutive days of attempts with recovery software and hours searching the web for tips to make them readable, the conclusion was... They are unrecoverable!

Faced with this established fact, I decided as a precaution to reformat my 500 GB disk but not with a quick format before reinstalling Windows, which took a good part of the night. In the morning, the idea struck me to reinstall a data recovery tool and perform a full scan again. Eureka!!! All my recovered files are now intact, readable, and I lost nothing except for a few URLs from my Favorites folder due to their long names!

https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37640569-recuperer-des-donnees-sur-disque-dur-et-cle-usb

Conclusions... Perseverance is key when facing a mountain to climb!

Daniel Talbot Technician for the Technical Club.

OOoForum · Answer

>After reading all the posts, I still can't find the solution. The problem is that
I have an Access 97 database that I modified with Open Office and now
it no longer opens in Access, whether it's 97 or 2000, and it opens in Open Office
displaying the ASCII filter option and therefore shows it as gibberish.
Why are you posting your Access question in a thread dedicated to a Word file?
OpenOffice.org is an office suite. You should specify which module you used to modify your file.
Then, we need to know if it's an access as a data source or if it's a conversion. In short, please provide us with a step-by-step account of what you did.

--
<signature>Why hack MS-Office when there is a free solution? Use OpenOffice.org</signature>

Alino-91 · Answer

Symbols that appear: this means that the Word file (the header) is not correct at the source code level of the file.

Solution to resolve the issue: create a new Word file and copy and paste all the text and image content from the unreadable old Word file to the new Word file you just created. Save your changes in the new Word file and everything will return to normal.

This solved my problem, as I also had symbols that appeared and this was problematic.

Unreadable Word file, all encrypted!

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