Corrupt files

[Smilingfeelsgood]

How can I recover corrupted files that will not open?

[onfire]

How can I recover corrupted files that will not open?

What type of files?

[Arctic Fox]

How can I recover corrupted files that will not open?

I don't wish to sound heartless, but this is a good opportunity to remind people to

MAKE REGULAR BACK-UPS

[villagetinker]

As noted above we would need to know the type of files, your application, and your operating system. For example some applications make backups that will have most of your work saved in the backup, windows is much different from apple products, etc.

[Pugchief]

Correct on all the responses. More info needed.

Generally speaking, if the Windows files are in a folder or drive you can still access, running chkdsk will often solve the problem.

And yes, always backup things you care about regularly. Lots of automatic options for this now, including Microsoft Cloud on all newer Windows machines. Or do it manually.

[Freehiker]

I lost a ton of data years ago and immediately afterwards I became a firm believer in the Rule of Three!

Haven’t lost anything since then, but the cost for cloud backup has gotten pricey these days.

[Pugchief]

the cost for cloud backup has gotten pricey these days.

Microsoft cloud is $1.99/month or $20/year for 100GB and automatic, which is pretty cheap IMO. Or, get an external hard drive on Amazon for $50 and use free software to run the backup yourself once a week. I'd be happy to make recommendations of hardware and software if you choose to go that route, but I honestly think the cloud is better. It works with Mac as well as Windows.

[villagetinker]

OP, we are still waiting for for answers to the previous questions so we can help.

[Rainger99]

I but the cost for cloud backup has gotten pricey these days.

True. The cost of losing those files is even more pricey!

[Freehiker]

Microsoft cloud is $1.99/month or $20/year for 100GB and automatic, which is pretty cheap IMO. Or, get an external hard drive on Amazon for $50 and use free software to run the backup yourself once a week. I'd be happy to make recommendations of hardware and software if you choose to go that route, but I honestly think the cloud is better. It works with Mac as well as Windows.

I have a 360TB NAS that’s hovering about 93% full.

[Freehiker]

True. The cost of losing those files is even more pricey!

Preach!

[Maker]

Microsoft cloud is $1.99/month or $20/year for 100GB and automatic, which is pretty cheap IMO. Or, get an external hard drive on Amazon for $50 and use free software to run the backup yourself once a week. I'd be happy to make recommendations of hardware and software if you choose to go that route, but I honestly think the cloud is better. It works with Mac as well as Windows.

Please reconsider the external drive approach to backups because there is a fatal flaw in that process.
Lets say an important spreadsheet is updated, but saves corrupt. Then the backup happens. Try to open the spreadsheet and cannot. No worries, go to the backup. Unfortunately it is a copy of the corrupt file. Data is lost.
Need to have versioning backups. The ability to revert to a previous copy. Many cloud providers provide that capability. Check out Backblaze and P-Cloud.

Also, any backup strategy that does not include off-site storage is highly vulnerable to complete failure because of fire, flooding, lightning surges, etc.

[Pugchief]

Please reconsider the external drive approach to backups because there is a fatal flaw in that process.
Lets say an important spreadsheet is updated, but saves corrupt. Then the backup happens. Try to open the spreadsheet and cannot. No worries, go to the backup. Unfortunately it is a copy of the corrupt file. Data is lost.
Need to have versioning backups. The ability to revert to a previous copy. Many cloud providers provide that capability. Check out Backblaze and P-Cloud.

Also, any backup strategy that does not include off-site storage is highly vulnerable to complete failure because of fire, flooding, lightning surges, etc.

No solution is perfect, but any backup is better than none. Backblaze is great, but also 4X the cost of MS Cloud. Depends what you want.

[Pugchief]

I have a 360TB NAS that’s hovering about 93% full.

Yikes! 335TB is an enormous amount of data for a home user. What on earth are you storing?

Also, were you making a point regarding backups?

[villagetinker]

How can I recover corrupted files that will not open?

I saw that you added an edit to your original request, but it does NOT show up in the text, just as a note and is easily missed.
It would be nice for everyone that tried to help for you to follow-up with what happened and the solution which may help someone else.