OMG Help! Can't open my PK3 file!

[slayer87]

I apologize if this isn't the correct forum.

I was working on my project (it was recently saved) and my PC froze and restart. I literally updated my Nvidia drivers today and immediately after I started having this problem. (but that's another problem)

Now I can't open my file in Slade or as a resource in Ultimate Doom Builder. An error box says the following:

"Unsupported or invalid archive format"

I've been working on this file for days now. Is there anything I can do? I'm so so frustrated.

Too big for attachment, here on my google drive
PK3 File - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KvCFCc ... sp=sharing
PK3 file "bak" file - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cno_1G ... sp=sharing

[Logan MTM]

Do you have any older .bak?

[slayer87]

no i do not

[Logan MTM]

So, i recommend starting over from scratch. Or call a forensic analyst.

[Sarah]

I poked at both files. Windows compression tools and 7Zip refused to give me any results. I don't have a hex editor installed but it probably wouldn't give me anything anyway. My suggestion is to try one of the tools listed on this page. You might not get everything but worth a shot.

[Kappes Buur]

Bad news.
Both files contain nothing but 00s.

---

whereas one should see some data, such as

---

starting with PWAD.


Unfortunately that means to either start from scratch
or do a search of your harddrive for an older saved version of the pwad.

[Enjay]

Yup.

[Jekyll Grim Payne]

You could try restoring an earlier version of this file using "Previous versions" dialog if your OS creates restore points/backups.

Other than that, your file may be gone, sorry about that. It's highly recommended to *not* use PK3s during development and to not rely on SLADE's backup system. For proper version control, using folders and controlling them via GitHub is recommended.

[slayer87]

Well, thank you for the input from everyone.

I am, admittedly, a noob, when it comes to version control. Perhaps I'll look in to that.

I'm working a rather sizable project that I've been updating on YouTube, so I think some form of version control would be wise.

Thank you.

[Logan MTM]

I recommend doing manual backup every time you start working on something, especially Doom stuffs.
You lost "days", I lost years of work and I feel your pain.

[Jekyll Grim Payne]

I am, admittedly, a noob, when it comes to version control. Perhaps I'll look in to that.

GitHub is actually very easy to set up nowadays. It has a convenient GUI, and it's free, even for private repositories. It's also very convenient to make releasese there. See their starter guide. As for how to use it, you can just turn the folder with the same structure as a PK3 into a repository, it'll be downloadable and runnable as is. For example, here are my repos.

[ramon.dexter]

I am, admittedly, a noob, when it comes to version control. Perhaps I'll look in to that.

GitHub is actually very easy to set up nowadays. It has a convenient GUI, and it's free, even for private repositories. It's also very convenient to make releasese there. See their starter guide. As for how to use it, you can just turn the folder with the same structure as a PK3 into a repository, it'll be downloadable and runnable as is. For example, here are my repos.

Thank you for showing me how to use git. How come I didnt used it before...