Corel DRAW, a widely used software for graphic design, is popular among many users. When you save your valuable designs, such as logos, prints, and descriptions, they are stored with the .cdr extension. However, there are instances where CorelDRAW files become corrupted, making it difficult to open those files. This can be extremely frustrating, especially when the file is not saved, and the program unexpectedly shuts down. If you are in this situation and need to repair or recover your Corel Draw files, you have come to the right place. This article will present powerful yet simple methods to recover corrupted cdr files.
Understanding Corel drawing files is important if you are familiar with Corel DRAW. Those who extensively use this program are well aware of this. When you design something and save it in a folder, it will be saved as a CDR file. These CDR files contain shapes, images, text, and colors. They are vector graphic files that can be edited using vector editing software. You can open CDR files using any compatible software. We have explored how to recover CDR-corrupted files.
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Method 1: Automatic Recovery of Corrupted CDR Files
Corel DRAW has an auto-save feature that creates backups of edited files. These backup files, named “Backup_of(file name),” are saved in the same location as the original files. You can recover CDR files from these automatic backups by following these steps:
- Go to the folder where the CDR file was previously located.
- Select the file “Backup_of_”
- Open the file to extract CDR data.
Method 2: Recovering a Damaged CDR File from a Backup
CorelDRAW creates backup files to prevent data loss if the system or application fails. If your CDR files are lost or damaged, you can try to recover these files using these backups. Here’s how:
- Go to the Draw folder using the “C:/Program Files/Corel/Programs/Draw folder.”
- Select a file.BAK that you believe is a backup file of the CDR file you want to recover (these backup files have the . Extensión BAK).
- Open the file.BAK in CorelDRAW and save it
- The saved file will be a CDR file that you want to recover.
Method 3: Recovering Unsaved Corel Drawing Files Using Zip or Rar Format
To recover Corel DRAW files using .zip or .rar formats, you must download and use WinRAR, a file extraction tool. Follow these steps:
- Rename the damaged CDR file to .rar or .zip and open it in WinRAR or WinZip. These tools can repair zip files.
- Extract files using WinRAR
- When you open the file, search for and copy the file “riffdata.CDR”.
- Create a new DRAW file and import the “riffdata.CDR” file.
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Method 4: Recovering Unsaved Corel Draw Files from the Temporary Folder
If the previous methods didn’t work, you can try recovering the CDR file from the temporary folder. Follow these steps:
- Open the “Run” dialogue and type “%temp%.”
- Search for corrupted files with the extension .CDR
- Copy this file to your desktop.
- Change the file extension from .CDR.temp to.CDR
- Import the file into DRAW to check if it has been recovered.
Method 5: Recovering Unsaved Corel Draw Files by Renaming Temporary Files
Renaming the temporary file can recover the unsaved CDR file if the issue persists. Here’s how:
- The “Script on Save” feature in DRAW will rename the file to “filename.cdr backup” when saved again.
- Windows does not allow saving two files with the same name and location, so it will save the file as .tmp.
- After saving, the .tmp file will be renamed “filename.cdr backup” by deleting the existing file.
- Rename the .tmp file to .zip and extract the data.
Method 6: Recovering Unsaved Corel Drawing Files from a Previous Version
If the previous methods do not work, you can try using the pre-built version feature in Windows for CDR recovery. Follow these steps:
- Search and select the folder that contains the CDR files.
- Right-click on the folder and select the option “Restore previous versions.”
- Select the backup version from the “Previous” tab.
- Open the file to check if it is the file you need.
- Find the file you need and click “Restore” to recover that file.
Method 7: Recovering a Damaged CDR File from the Recycle Bin
If you haven’t emptied the recycle bin after deleting the CDR file, you can follow these steps to recover it:
- Open the recycle bin on your computer.
- Find the Corel Draw file you want to recover.
- Right-click on the file and select “Restore.”
Method 8: Recovering Deleted or Saved Corel Drawing Files with WinfrGUI
To recover important files that have been accidentally deleted, you can use WinfrGUI. This reliable file recovery freeware can scan and recover various files, including images, videos, and emails. Here are the reasons why WinfrGUI is the best file recovery software:
- It effectively and completely recovers corrupted files from your PC, USB hard drive, and memory card.
- It supports recovering lost files from virus attacks, program failures, or unexpected shutdowns.
- There is a high success rate in retrieving data and file types without losing quality.
- Supports Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher and supports NTFS/FAT/exFAT/ReFS file systems.
To recover deleted or unsaved Corel Draw files using WinfrGUI, follow these steps:
- Download and install WinfrGUI
- Open the software and select the “Recover Deleted Files” mode.
- Select the location where you lost the Corel Draw file.
- Start the file scanning process by clicking “Start”.
- When the scan is complete, check the file before saving.
- Select the file, click the “Preview” button to see a preview image, and “Recover” to restore the file.
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Bonus: How to Repair Damaged Corel Drawing Files Online for Free
If the recovered Corel Draw file is still corrupted, you can try repairing it online for free using a special tool. Follow these steps:
- Go to the online file repair service website at https://onlinefilerepair.com/coreldraw
- Click the “Select File” button to upload the corrupted file.
- Find the corrupted CDR file on your computer and click “Open” to upload.
- Please provide your email address so you can receive the edited file or download link.
- Start the file repair process by clicking the “Upload File” button.
- Check your email for the link to download the repaired CDR file and follow the instructions.
Tips to Avoid Losing CDR Files
To prevent the loss of CDR files, consider these tips:
- Record your work regularly to avoid accidental loss.
- Back up your files to an external hard drive or cloud storage for quick access.
- Install reliable antivirus software to protect your computer from malicious programs that could make your files inaccessible.
In summary, Corel DRAW is a powerful vector drawing tool, but it is important to be prepared in case your file becomes corrupted or unsaved. Use the methods mentioned above to recover corrupted CDR files. We recommend using WinfrGUI to recover unsaved and deleted CDR files.
