Possibly corrupted file

I cannot open this and another file (from same project) in Audacity. Any help is appreciated,
Venita Vinson.aup (555 KB)

The project is expecting a folder called Venita Vinson_data to be very close at hand, like in the same location or folder. Is it? That’s where the actual show is. The AUP file is just the Audacity instructions what to do with all the stuff in the _DATA folder.

I see a listing called standalone=“no” Traditionally that means you were running Audacity in reference mode which means it doesn’t make personal copies of the music or sound. And that means those music or sound files need to exist and not be moved or renamed until you’re finished with the show and Export a finished sound file.

Any of that sound familiar?

Koz

Well, I found the Venita Vinson_data file (which I cannot seem to attach), but I can’t figure how to open it. Thanks

No, the indication of that in the AUP file is “aliasfile”.

It is not a _data file, it is a _data folder. Don’t open the Venita Vinson_data folder. Open the Venita Vinson.aup file that you attached. It should be listed at File > Recent Files in the Audacity menus. If not, use File > Open… to open Venita Vinson.aup.

If you need more help, please tell us your version of Audacity and Windows (see the pink panel at the top of the page). Tell us exactly what happens when you File > Open Venita Vinson.aup.


Gale

I have Windows XP on this computer and version 2.0.5 of Audacity. I could not open in Recent Files. Message said no longer there. When I attempted to open File>Open it would not open from the .data file. I got to the e00 and could open but have only short snippets. It is like I have to open lots of little files. They played on Audacity, but no more than 6 seconds each. Now I can’t seem to close out of Audacity and so far have 36 little files that are not merged. I’m obviously doing something wrong; just not sure what.

You double click the AUP file and it will open Audacity and automatically find the _DATA folder (not file) and open it for you.

Do Not open the _DATA folder yourself. You could kill your show if you touch the wrong thing.

The AUP file and the _DATA folder need to be in the same location or folder to work. If you split them between, for example desktop and documents, the show won’t open. Put them both on the desktop.

Koz

Please read Important information for Windows XP users about the risks of running an operating system that is no longer receiving security patches.

Have you moved the Venita Vinson.aup? You should not move AUP files or _data folders. If you must move them, move both the AUP file and the _data folder.

We have told you many times not to open the _data folder. Press the yellow Stop button in Audacity. Then exit without saving changes.

You can force quit Audacity in Task Manager if necessary. When you restart Audacity after force quit it will ask if you want to recover the project that had 36 little files. Say No - don’t recover. Then open the Venita Vinson.aup file.


Gale

Ok I realize you are becoming as frustrated with me as I am with trying to open the project files. As you suggested, I did not recover the little files. Based upon what I thought Koz was telling me yesterday I moved the .aup files and data folder to the desktop. I still cannot open the .aup files. I get two messages: ‘couldn’t find project data folder: Venita Vinson_data’ and 'could not load Venita Vinson_data\Venita Vinson.aup’ Also, I am only using this laptop with Windows XP because the interviews were recorded on this laptop. There was another interview recorded using Audacity on this laptop, which I had no problems opening. Perhaps this file is simply irreparably corrupted. I was hopeful when I heard portions of it on the ‘little recordings.’ Anyway, if you tell me it is likely hopeless I will move on. Thanks

Based upon what I thought Koz was telling me yesterday I moved the .aup files and _data folder to the desktop.

I did, yes. Those are really odd messages. Are they correct?

‘couldn’t find project data folder: Venita Vinson_data’

Is that exactly what the folder is called? The name should exactly match the AUP file.

Well, shoot…

I took apart the AUP file you provided earlier and found this line:

<project xmlns=“Audacity download | SourceForge.net” projname=“Venita Vinson_data”

If you double click on the AUP file with everything closed, it is intended to go looking for that projname folder. No option. Audacity has little or no smarts when it comes to data management. If the AUP and the _DATA folder aren’t right there together, they won’t be able to find each other.

…but you said they were both on the desktop…

…???..

It also says you’re in Audacity 2.0.5. Is that right?

Koz

It’s considered good practice to Export a WAV (Microsoft) of a valuable work in addition to Saving a Project. This doesn’t work very well if you’re into multi-channel, complicated, musical instrumental overdubbing, etc. etc., but if you’re managing simple interviews (my usual shows) it’s pretty good advice.

Koz

  1. Close Audacity completely (so that we both know where you are starting from), then re-open Audacity.
  2. Go to the File menu and click the “Open” command.
    That will open a file selection screen.
  3. In that file selection screen, navigate to your Desktop folder and select the file “Venita Vinson_.aup”
  4. Click the “Open” button in the file selection screen to open the Venita Vinson project.

That is your problem, assuming you have typed the error message correctly. That message tells us you have put the AUP file inside the _data folder. The AUP file must go on the Desktop, so you can see both the AUP file and the _data folder when you look at the Desktop.


Gale