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Need help repairing broken replay (reward offered)

Forum Index > BW General
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fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 17 2020 05:26 GMT
#1
I have a deleted .rep file that was recovered using file recovery software. The file attributes (date modified, file name) were preserved. But the replay itself is unreadable to StarCraft. It prints the error message:

"The scenario is unreadable because it is invalid or corrupted."

The replay also does not open in BWChart (it is from 1.16.1, before SC:R.) There were other deleted replays from the same drive that were also recovered and corrupted. I have the working versions of those replays because some were found on another drive, undeleted.

I can send some of those corrupted replay files, along with the working versions for a side-by-side comparison. So far I have tried examining them side-by-side using a hex editor to try and make sense of the differences. But as far as I can tell the corrupted ones have the same values, just very scrambled (big surprise.)

I am offering a reward of $200 USD if anyone can do a full and complete working recovery of the replay. If you can get it to a point where someone can make further progress so that it is actually workable (i.e. the replay opens in StarCraft, but the sequence of commands is different from how they actually occurred, or does not show any input at all) I am offering a part of the total reward in accordance with the work done or progress made.

I am offering this reward because of the sentimental value of the replay. I'm sure you all understand. PM me for further details and the files themselves.
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
razorsuKe
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Canada2052 Posts
May 17 2020 05:38 GMT
#2
Have you tried opening it with older versions of bw? Cause even some previous proleague maps can't be opened in SCR (Icarus comes to mind)
If the match was played in 2008ish, you might want to try v1.15
If it was after 2009, then 1.16.1

I think reps worked from 1.15 on 1.16 but it doesn't hurt to try just to be sure. A relatively easy check before shelling out cash.
EntusGalleries.com - CJ Uniform Sale
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 17 2020 05:43 GMT
#3
The replay was recorded on Brood War 1.16.1 in 2012. Also I remember it playing correctly on 1.16.1 as well as SC:R before it was deleted. I could try it on another copy of 1.16.1 as well as 1.15 anyway to be sure, but like I said it did play correctly on 1.16.1. I would imagine the people who coded BWChart understand how the game records commands and would be able to restore some, if not most of them into working order. Changing one hex value on the editor completely breaks any replay, so I imagine the data might still be there, just scrambled.
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
razorsuKe
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Canada2052 Posts
May 17 2020 07:17 GMT
#4
Well in that case you can try messaging masterrey, he created SCRchart:
https://tl.net/forum/brood-war/546710-software-scrchart-replay-analyzer

I don't think the bwchart guy has been around for SCR (his name was JCA)
EntusGalleries.com - CJ Uniform Sale
Dakota_Fanning *
Profile Joined January 2008
Hungary2369 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-05-21 09:42:15
May 21 2020 09:33 GMT
#5
Send me the replays and I take a (quick) look. Mark which one you want to be repaired, and mark the corrupted-valid pairs too. My email address is at the bottom of this page: repmastered.app/about (yes, I coded repmastered.app, including its replay parser engine).

You could also upload your replays to repmastered.app so they won't get lost again
https://repmastered.icza.net
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 21 2020 10:59 GMT
#6
Thanks a bunch. Messaged!
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
Dakota_Fanning *
Profile Joined January 2008
Hungary2369 Posts
May 21 2020 11:04 GMT
#7
On May 21 2020 19:59 fNacks wrote:
Thanks a bunch. Messaged!

I haven't received any emails.
https://repmastered.icza.net
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 21 2020 11:14 GMT
#8
Entered the e-mail info wrong. Should be sent now, maybe check the spam folder if not.
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
Dakota_Fanning *
Profile Joined January 2008
Hungary2369 Posts
May 21 2020 11:19 GMT
#9
On May 21 2020 20:14 fNacks wrote:
Entered the e-mail info wrong. Should be sent now, maybe check the spam folder if not.

Ok, got it now, thanks.
https://repmastered.icza.net
Dakota_Fanning *
Profile Joined January 2008
Hungary2369 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-05-21 11:42:26
May 21 2020 11:41 GMT
#10
Sorry to disappoint you, but your broken replays don't seem like replays at all. Maybe the deletion scrambled the data to make them unrecoverable (on purpose), or the disk space was already overwritten by the time you recovered the files (or rather just the sectors at the same place).

I highly doubt there's even the slightest chance to recover these replays just from the corrupted replay files.
https://repmastered.icza.net
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 21 2020 12:02 GMT
#11
On May 21 2020 20:41 Dakota_Fanning wrote:
Sorry to disappoint you, but your broken replays don't seem like replays at all. Maybe the deletion scrambled the data to make them unrecoverable (on purpose), or the disk space was already overwritten by the time you recovered the files (or rather just the sectors at the same place).

I highly doubt there's even the slightest chance to recover these replays just from the corrupted replay files.


Damn, that's a shame.

The sectors they were on were almost certainly overwritten by the time I recovered them. I thought at least some data might be recoverable but I guess they really are that scrambled.

Thanks anyway though
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
AttackZerg
Profile Blog Joined January 2003
United States7586 Posts
May 21 2020 15:14 GMT
#12
Hello,

Is there any chance that you shared this replay with anyone back then or more recently?

Do you have an idea who was in the replay originally, could they still have it? Are they findable?

Is there a chance you already uploaded to one replay database years ago? Like battlereports.net or something like it.

I wish you luck
intrigue
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Washington, D.C9935 Posts
May 21 2020 18:23 GMT
#13
what was the game like? why is it so sentimental? please tell us it's a 5pool
Moderatorsloppy little slug
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10852 Posts
May 21 2020 18:45 GMT
#14
LOL, 2 People must be arguing about having a replay beating someone. The E-Peen level is high
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
Poly_Optimize
Profile Joined March 2016
Canada156 Posts
May 21 2020 20:43 GMT
#15
On May 22 2020 03:23 intrigue wrote:
what was the game like? why is it so sentimental? please tell us it's a 5pool


^This is exactly what I need to know!

try uploading your replay on OpenBW : http://www.openbw.com/replay-viewer/

it still supports 1.16.1 replays. maybe it could work.
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 21 2020 22:07 GMT
#16
Hahaha, not a 5 pool. But based on the title it was a build I was working on for a long time and finally executed it properly on the ladder which meant a lot to me at the time because I was pretty young I guess. Nostalgia is a powerful thing and memories you associate with things are priceless.

I've had a folder with all my files from the past 15 years or so stored on it. Documents, images, videos, and yeah stuff from old games I used to play. Some things I don't really care about losing because they can be replaced, it's the memorabilia that I wanted preserved. I was very serious about it and kept everything preserved on four different external backup drives. One of which I kept locked up in a damn fire-proof safe.

I deleted everything during a manic episode. I feel my entire livelihood was destroyed. Probably could've had an earthquake and a fire hit in the same day and chances are at least one backup would've survived, but it was completely my fault. I got lucky and found a older backup from 9 years ago so I recovered some files, but so much is missing.

I know of people whose houses burned down and all they cared about losing was memorabilia, like photo albums. I want to feel like I have salvaged as much as possible.
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
fazek42
Profile Blog Joined April 2011
Hungary438 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-05-21 22:57:53
May 21 2020 22:44 GMT
#17
+ Show Spoiler +
On May 22 2020 07:07 fNacks wrote:
Hahaha, not a 5 pool. But based on the title it was a build I was working on for a long time and finally executed it properly on the ladder which meant a lot to me at the time because I was pretty young I guess. Nostalgia is a powerful thing and memories you associate with things are priceless.

I've had a folder with all my files from the past 15 years or so stored on it. Documents, images, videos, and yeah stuff from old games I used to play. Some things I don't really care about losing because they can be replaced, it's the memorabilia that I wanted preserved. I was very serious about it and kept everything preserved on four different external backup drives. One of which I kept locked up in a damn fire-proof safe.

I deleted everything during a manic episode. I feel my entire livelihood was destroyed. Probably could've had an earthquake and a fire hit in the same day and chances are at least one backup would've survived, but it was completely my fault. I got lucky and found a older backup from 9 years ago so I recovered some files, but so much is missing.

I know of people whose houses burned down and all they cared about losing was memorabilia, like photo albums. I want to feel like I have salvaged as much as possible.


You should send the hard drive to https://www.kurtsec.com/contact/ They worked on 9/11 burnt hard drives and stuff AFAIK. Might cost you more than 200 USD though :D

edit: But even just talking to them you might get a couple of useful pointers as to what might be possible in your case data recovery wise

edit2: Not touching (that is, disconnect it and don't mount it in an OS) the drive is pretty important, as the leftover magnetic residue that the file has imprinted weakens if you keep using the drive or something, but even overwritten files can potentially be recovered, if you want it bad enough
fNacks
Profile Joined March 2010
United States39 Posts
May 22 2020 16:46 GMT
#18
On May 22 2020 07:44 fazek42 wrote:
You should send the hard drive to https://www.kurtsec.com/contact/ They worked on 9/11 burnt hard drives and stuff AFAIK. Might cost you more than 200 USD though :D

edit: But even just talking to them you might get a couple of useful pointers as to what might be possible in your case data recovery wise

edit2: Not touching (that is, disconnect it and don't mount it in an OS) the drive is pretty important, as the leftover magnetic residue that the file has imprinted weakens if you keep using the drive or something, but even overwritten files can potentially be recovered, if you want it bad enough


I'll check them out. Thankfully even using cheap software it's pretty easy to recover/repair broken images and video files. Those guys seem way more comprehensive than that. That's pretty crazy how they were able to work on hard drives recovered from 9/11 though.
"No worry, I use special tactics." - White-Ra
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10852 Posts
May 22 2020 16:48 GMT
#19
I understand now, Memorabilia is priceless I agree.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
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