Windows 7: Recover/Repair an old video?

Newcomer7 · 05 Jun 2014

Hi

I have an old (simple) video which is not working now. It probably has been corrupted. It was taken with an old Nikon camera Coolpix 3000 (manufactured and recorded in 2004). Other videos from this camera can be view by either Quick Time or Windows DVD Maker, but not Windows Media Player. The file extension is .MOV. Any way to recover/repair this short clip, please?

ignatzatsonic · 05 Jun 2014

The only thing that comes to my mind immediately is to try to convert it to another format with a program such as Switch or Freemake Video Converter.

But those programs would have to be able to open the file to convert it. You'd just have to investigate if it's openable.

I don't know if a MOV file can be repaired directly with an editor of some type.

Newcomer7 · 06 Jun 2014

I just converted it to mpg file, and guess what ... it worked !!!!!

You are genius, thank you very much.

Newcomer7 · 06 Jun 2014

By the way, what's the difference between mpeg and mp4? What are the difference in their properties, ... or is of them better?

Newcomer7 · 06 Jun 2014

...Actually I have just converted another clip to both mpeg and mp4. I have found that the mpeg takes about 4mb and the mp4 only takes 1 mb. However, the mpeg file is not as smooth as mp4 - it has some pauses when playback ....

ignatzatsonic · 06 Jun 2014

I think MP4 is a more modern sub-category of MPEG---generally preferable and more commonly found these days. I just checked over my video clips and it looks like mp4 outnumbers mpeg by 5 or 10 to 1.

Smaller size and good quality---may as well go with mp4.

Do some experimentation and see what your eyes tell you on your monitor. As you go to a larger and larger screen, the differences start to become visible, where they wouldn't if you had a 15 inch screen.

Newcomer7 · 07 Jun 2014

Many thanks