Video is one of the most widely used types of multimedia files in recent years. Its consumption has been boosted exponentially for two reasons. The first, the massive use of social networks, a place where the consumption of videos (especially short format) is the most demanded.
On the other hand, we must not forget that instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Telegram have also served as a dispenser for videos that end up on our phones and computers.
Another key factor in the proliferation of video content is the device with which it is created. Today almost everyone has a mobile phone in their pocket. This makes it much easier to shoot compared to not too many years ago, when home movies were born out of Handycams or the first compact cameras.
But videos, like any other file, can be susceptible to external factors that can cause damage, which can sometimes be irreparable. Let’s see what are the possible causes, symptoms and solutions to a damaged or corrupt video.
Video file types
The first thing we should know before identifying a damage and looking for a solution for it is what type of video file we have before us. The most common video formats are the ones you can read below:
- MOV
- MP4
- M4V
- AVI
- XVID
- DIVX
Symptoms of file corruption or damage
Symptoms of damage are not always the same, but there are some very obvious. In some cases you may run into error messages expressly stating “the file you are trying to play is corrupted.” However, sometimes it is not so obvious that we should be concerned if we detect some of these symptoms:
- Error codes “0xC00D1199” or “’0xc00d36c4” appear
- Video does not play audio
- The screen is completely black
- Synchronization problems between audio and image
- Video flicker
- Constantly hangs
Causes why they can be damaged
If your recording shows any of the symptoms mentioned above, chances are high that it has indeed been damaged or corrupted. Among the different causes by which these types of files can be damaged are the following:
- Compression issues: Sometimes when using third-party tools to edit videos, they can reduce their size too much by deleting data, which can lead to corruption
- Header file broken: Sometimes in MP4 files the header file, the one containing the information needed to run it, gets broken. This can be due to different factors such as severe virus attacks, interruptions during file transfer, and sudden computer shutdown.
- Lack of power while recording: This could also corrupt the header file, as this is the last one to be written to. A sudden power stop could perform incorrect header write corrupting the file.
- Files downloaded from unsafe Internet sources or resources
Memory card problems
The memory card that was used in the device to store the file may not work properly. This could be due to some mistakes made during its use that prevent its normal operation. Therefore, this could in many cases cause damage to the video that is saved in it.
Memory card errors can be caused by a number of causes, including being used by multiple devices and constantly being inserted and ejected.
Another cause that can cause damage from a card is that it is removed from the device while data is still being written to it. It can also happen if we rename, delete or transfer the files on the card while they are open on a computer or other device.
Tools for corrupted files
To try to repair the video we will have to use dedicated tools. If you do a quick search in Google, you will see that there are a lot of tools that promise to repair your video, but not all of them are reliable or easy to use, and many of them are also paid.
Here we show you some of the most reliable and simple options that you can use for this task.
VLC Media Player
The open source media player, VLC, media offers a functionality to repair corrupted files automatically. To activate it, open the player:
- Click on the Tools tab
- Select Preferences
- Click Input / Codecs
- Access Files
- In the drop-down menu of ” Damaged or incomplete AVI file” choose the option “Always repair”
Kernel Video Repair
Kernel Video Repair is a paid tool, but it is worth it, as it has a very intuitive interface and is very easy to use. Kernel offers different tools for video repair depending on the format. Supports MP4, MOV, MPEG, MJPEG, MTS, M4V, AVI, AVCHD, WEBM, ASF, WMV, FLV, DIVX, 3G2, TS, 3GP, and F4V.
Its price is about 25 euros (US $ 29) and it is compatible with all versions of Windows (10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000, 98, NT, 95).
Wondershare video repair
This tool is available for both Mac and Windows operating systems. As with Kernel, this file recovery software has a very simple interface, so its application does not require advanced knowledge. According to the manufacturer itself, this software has a high repair success rate. On their website they constantly say that it is “free”, but this only refers to its download. To obtain the user license we have to pay $ 49.95.
Remo Repair MOV
This tool is dedicated solely to repair MOV files. It is available for Windows and Mac. Like the rest of those that we have presented, it is extremely simple to use. It offers a free trial version that allows you to use it, preview how your video files will look once repaired, but you will not be able to restore them or of course download them without paying. Its final price is 79.12 euros VAT included and once you purchase it you can use it indefinitely.
