When you download a file and find that it won't open properly, the only way to fix it is usually to obtain a new copy, in an attempt to restore the lost integrity. However, if a local file can't be read due to issues like a sudden power failure, a malware infection, or a problem with its storage medium, there's a remote chance of recovery (either partial or total), and that's where the File Repair tool comes in.
The Golden Rule of File Recovery
Repairing damaged files is a very delicate matter. The golden rule tells us that generally you can't recover all the information, hence the need (not to mention the paranoia) of making backups on different media. If the error is in a downloaded file, it's best to get another copy from a different server: something got "left behind" along the way, and there's no way to "invent" what's missing. On the other hand, if a local file could be read before and now resists all our attempts, there might be one more move before declaring it ruined.
How File Repair Works
With that in mind, we arrive at the gates of File Repair, a simple repair tool compatible with a wide range of formats, from documents and spreadsheets to images and databases. File Repair tries to establish the file's original format, extract as much information as possible, and then create a new copy with the results. In the best case, the recovery is complete and the user can work with the new copy without issues, but it's logical to expect some kind of loss. Without a doubt, some formats are much more tolerant than others. If in a zip file you can recover 95 files out of a total of 100, the compromise isn't that great, but even the smallest loss in a video will cause things like frame errors and pops/clicks on the audio.
Using File Repair
There's no strange science in using File Repair, nor are there advanced configuration options: specify the file to repair, choose the destination path, and press "Start Repair". The duration of the process is directly tied to the file size and the amount of damage present, but even so, you shouldn't have to wait long. File Repair is a clean freeware, and it doesn't have any weird additional modules.
