How can I Check Integrity of Files on HDD ?

Paul Black · 13 Dec 2018

Hi BuckSkin,

BuckSkin said:

As it is, the only way that I know of is to watch each video = it would take three lifetimes.

How many videos are you actually talking about?

BuckSkin · 13 Dec 2018

Paul Black said:

Hi BuckSkin,

How many videos are you actually talking about?

When they are all accounted for, probably more than five hundred; most of them being from 2-GB to 5-GB

Paul Black · 13 Dec 2018

Hi BuckSkin,

BuckSkin said:

When they are all accounted for, probably more than five hundred; most of them being from 2-GB to 5-GB

One way to do it is to set aside say 15 minutes or so when you have time and open them individually. I know it will be a pain but you would be able to open many videos within the 15 minutes or so time frame. You only need to see that they load and work and then close them. It might be a lot quicker doing it this way than waiting for and experimenting with alternative options. Also, you will definately know that when the time comes to view them, they will work!

Just a suggestion!

BuckSkin · 13 Dec 2018

Paul Black said:

Just a suggestion!

I guess that is the route I will go.
If I can see the first few seconds, then it should be okay.
If there is anything amiss, it probably would not let me open/view the file at all.

I just need to dive in.

Thanks.

Paul Black · 13 Dec 2018

Hi BuckSkin,

BuckSkin said:

I guess that is the route I will go.
If I can see the first few seconds, then it should be okay.
If there is anything amiss, it probably would not let me open/view the file at all.

Yes, if they load and open, then you only need the first few seconds to be fairly confident that the whole video is OK. If there is a problem, then they will not load and open. I think you will be surprised how quickly you will manage to get through them all!

Good luck!

lehnerus2000 · 14 Dec 2018

Paul Black said:

Yes, if they load and open, then you only need the first few seconds to be fairly confident that the whole video is OK. If there is a problem, then they will not load and open. I think you will be surprised how quickly you will manage to get through them all!

Umm ... I've come across quite a few videos that will run properly for many minutes and then suddenly lose all video & audio.

Those dodgy videos can be identified by randomly skipping ahead using the player's progress bar, or chapter button (assuming the videos have chapters).

Paul Black · 14 Dec 2018

Hi lehnerus2000,

lehnerus2000 said:

Umm ... I've come across quite a few videos that will run properly for many minutes and then suddenly lose all video & audio.

Those dodgy videos can be identified by randomly skipping ahead using the player's progress bar, or chapter button (assuming the videos have chapters).

Fair point. I suppose it will depend on how long the OP is prepared to spend on checking each individual video!

wither 2 · 14 Dec 2018

Perhaps this "so called" freeware may help-

Easy Duplicate Finder - Find Duplicate Files INSTANTLY!

Some of these types of software use date instead of tag information to identify duplicates.

However, I don't think most of these do some sort of checksum to verify the integrity of the files.

Paul Black · 14 Dec 2018

wither 2 said:

Perhaps this "so called" freeware may help -

Easy Duplicate Finder - Find Duplicate Files INSTANTLY!

Some of these types of software use date instead of tag information to identify duplicates.

The OP's main question was to find some way to check the integrity of the video files as opposed to finding duplicate files!

BuckSkin · 14 Dec 2018

Paul Black said:

Fair point. I suppose it will depend on how long the OP is prepared to spend on checking each individual video!

I have revised my first plan and have decided to get them ALL together, duplicates, copies, etc., naming each successive copy that I find -2, -3, -4, and so on; putting the sheep with the sheep and the goats with the goats and the hogs in the hog pen.

Then, once I get everything together, I will do as you suggested and view a few seconds of each one; and, if all seems okay, pick a winner and discard the rest.

lehnerus2000 said:

I've come across quite a few videos that will run properly for many minutes and then suddenly lose all video & audio.

Do you think that this corrupted video/audio is a fault of the original capture (or editing) or a fault with the storage hardware ?
Every last video that I have stored here and there was skipped and skimmed through as soon as it got to the computer and seemed to be in good health at that time.