InDesign does not recognize .indd files

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

I was recently working in InDesign CS version 3 on Windows XP until my hard drive died. I had all of my data retrieved and have now set up on a Windows 2000 system for the time being. The problem I'm having now is InDesign does not recognize InDesign files. When I attempt to open one of these rescued files I get this very vague error message:

"Cannot open the file "bmvol7.indd". Adobe InDesign may not support the file format, a plug-in that supports the file format may be missing, or the file may be open in another application."

I understand that all of my rescued files may be damaged, but I was hoping there might be another answer. Any insight will be appreciated.

Thanks,
chris

[unknown]

That's the error message you'd get if you were trying to open a CS2
file. But...are you fully patched to 3.0.1 (838)?

Bob

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for responding, Bob.

Yes, I just installed the upgrade and I'm receiving the same error message.

These files are native to CS3. I've never owned CS2.

I even tried adding the .indd extention at the end to no avail.

It doesn't even display the InDesign icon....but the description says it's an InDesign document and has the correct file size. So I know that the information must still be there.

[unknown]

If you'd like to email one of these documents to me, I'll take a look.

Click my name, go to my website and you'll find contact info there.

Bob

[B***@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for taking a look, Bob. Here is an explanation of my problem from another forum:

"The file types are what Windows already recognises and the filesizes are what Windows has been told they are. It doesn't alter the fact that the files are potentially corrupt internally (that is, inside themselves) and the missing "bits" were destroyed when the original hard drive died."

[P***@adobeforums.com]

If the file doesn't show an InDesign icon it likely means the program installation is damaged in some way. While true that Windows file associations are whatever windows is told they are (and evidently it's been told .indd files are InDesign files or that wouldn't show up in the properties) that has nothing at all to do with InDesign's ability to open the file, any more than having .bmp associated with Paint will keep Photoshop from being able to open those files from the open dialog.

[unknown]

Peter,

I got one of the files in question here and they're completely trashes
internally. I got a 7 meg file that had practically zero data in it.

Very strange.

Bob

[P***@adobeforums.com]

I don't doubt that a bit if there was a hard drive crash.

Chris,

Can you create new files? Do they have InDesign icons? How did the data get retrieved?

Peter