File error: wrong file type

So my friend dropped my MacBook Pro the other day and broke my hard drive. Most of the data (well, 300 out of 500G) was recovered, but all I *really* cared about was the FEATURE LENGTH FILM I'd spent the last 4 months editing. And of course it was too big to fit on my external hard drive and I'm too broke to buy a new one, so if I can't get it open from the recovered data I'm going to have to re-edit the thing.
The file itself did seem to survive the data recovery process, but when I open the file, it gives me an error: "File error: wrong file type." I've played around with the extensions- first saving the extensionless file as a .fce (this is actually FCE, not FCP, but I thought people might have better answers in this forum), which didn't work, then tried saving it as a .txt, then resaving as .fce, which also didn't work. No matter what I do, it's still giving me the "wrong file type" error.
Is my data probably just corrupted and I'm screwed? Or is there anything else I can try to recover the project? Most of my source files seem to have survived (although they all lost their .mov extension), but the Final Cut file itself just won't open.
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
Amy

You might give the following a try...
1. open the .fcp file with TextEdit
2. save the file again
3. open with fcp
Frank

Similar Messages

File Error: Wrong File Type for Project File

Just had our 2nd LaCie 2tb hard drive crash. Just completed a project and was about ready to compress it when the drive wouldnt boot up anymore. I tried every program under the sun before eventually sending it off for data recovery.
$1700 dollars later I have all my files, except one little change.
My FCP project files are not recognizable by FCP anymore. In the get info box it says they are "Kind: Final Cut Pro Document" The preview picture is a gradient box with exec in the green text in the upper left corner. I tried adding the .fcp extension, but it still wouldn't open it. I keep getting the "File Error: Wrong File Type" when I try opening it with FCP.
Anything I can do to fix this?
Thanks

You might give the following a try...
1. open the .fcp file with TextEdit
2. save the file again
3. open with fcp
Frank

Receiving an export file error: wrong type

I have created a movie several times in FCP and then exported the movie to QT without any problems. Now all of a sudden, I can't get the movie to export correctly. After the 2 hour export, I'll check on FCP to find that the program has shut down without an "Unexpected Shut Down" message. I check for the exported movie which I find in the saved folder. I click to open and verify the completed job, but find that I get an error instead : "Error: Wrong Type".
The last successful movie I created was September 14th, prior to the QT 7.5.5 upgrade. I thought it was the upgrade, as I found out that FCP does not do well with the new QT version, so I reverted to QT 7.5, but I am still experiencing the same problem with FCP quitting and the movie not being able to read.
What is going on? Can anyone help?

Francois:
This is a crazy solution, but this happened to me last week and this solution enabled me to open my files again -- they were all greyed out and I thought I'd lost them. I took my drive in to an Apple Store Genius Bar without resolution and spend 2 hours online with ProApps (FCE/FCP) tech support, also with no resolution.
This fix is based on the fact that FCP when it is started, it automatically opens the project that was open when it was closed. First, in FCP save the current project (this can be any project -- I created a placeholder project -- to a dummy name -- I used "save me". Close FCP and delete the dummy name ("save me") project. Now rename the project that is greyed out and provides the File Error: Wrong Type message that you would like to open to the dummy name, so that it's now called "save me". Now open FCP again. Now save the recuperated file using the original name.
Maarten
Here's what you do.

FCP Files Will Not Open (File Error: Wrong Type)

I have put together a few pieces using FCP and then unfortunately my LaCie HD got wiped. I was however able to recover all of my files (thank God) but when I go to open any previous FCP files, I get the error message "File Error: Wrong Type" once FCP is opened. I am wondering if there is any way to open these files somehow so I don't lose my work. Thank you.

If they'll open in QuickTime, you could re export them, and thus rebuild them that way.
Otherwise... recapture them. I'm not sure they couldn't be fixed, but more than likely the recovery process messed up the resource forks of these files. Might search in the QuickTime forum here for a fix for that??
Jerry

File Error: wrong type can't open media file

After capturing my film using Final Cut Pro,"Capture Now" I can't open the film file. It seems the film was caputured onto my Mac notebook in a file format Final Cut Pro doesn't recognize or can't open. When I try to open the file the following error message pops up: "File Error: Wrong Type".
It seems the format of this media file is AV or avi (the name of the media file is "Untitled - AV". It's not a .fcp file.
I tried to open it with Quicktime or other programs, but without success, no program can open it.
I appreciate your help!

I followed the instructions in the article AppleCare Technical Support emailed: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302337 . It helped to delete the User Preferences and to remove receipts and to reinstall the entire Final Cut Pro Studio software. I think what really helped was to update the latest software versions (Final Cut Pro 5.1.4).
Thank you very much!
John Well-Off-Man

FCP File Error: Wrong Type

A EXT HD w/ 1TB worth of FCP Projects and it's media died on me. (no, none of it was backed up, please save me the lecture!)
Anyway, we sent it to one of the Drive Recovery places and they were able to retrieve about 95% of the files.
When I got back the new drive w/ the rescued files It seemed like it was all there until I tried to open one of the .fcp files and encountered this:
FCP File Error: Wrong Type
I checked the file's info to see if it was associated w/ FCP. It was...
I checked the Capture Scratch files and found that all of the Quicktimes did not have their ".mov" extensions. I added ".mov" after one of them and it opened successfully in the Quicktime Player. I tried moving this same file to FCP and encountered this:
File Error: Unknown File
As an experiment I took the same quicktime (which BTW is an HDV 1080i60 Quicktime) and dropped it into Compressor. I converted it to the same setting (HDV 1080i60) After the conversion I was able to pop it into FCP normally.
So what do you guys think? Is there anyway I can get these .fcp files to open? Am I totally screwed?
Thanks,
-B

Yes, a .fcp extension means it's a FCP project file. I'm not dragging/importing .fcp's into FCP, just trying to open them normally w/ no luck. It's the QT's I've been dragging/importing into FCP.
I've tried a few Resource Editors to change the way the .fcp project files are handled/read w/ no luck
Well, at least my QT's are intact...
-B

File Error: Wrong type

Hi,
I have been archiving some old finished videos (as self-contained QTs) on a server that is PC based. I have a feeling that this may be a problem. I'm right, right?
On a related note, I now have some QTs that will not open, with error messages like
'File Error: Wrong type.' (FCP)
and
'Error opening movie
The movie could not be opened.' (QT)
The fun part is that I cannot remember exactly which had been moved over there (I had a couple LaCies die on me and in a rush transfered a bunch of stuff back and forth trying to stay ahead of the crash), but now they're back on Mac based externals. But won't open.
Any advice is tremendously appreciated.
Thanks,
Ariel.
Dual 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1 LaCie Big Disk Extreme, 1 Maxtor 500Gb, FCPHD 4.5, QT Pro 7.1.3

Okay, thanks for the help. I'm pretty swamped right now, but by next Monday I will have gone through all of them. I will post back then with any info that may be of interest.
So, for the future, I should either stay away from non Mac OS formatted drives for my media, or zip them before sending them over. (by control clicking and archiving)
(sigh) Thanks, guys. I'm still just trying to figure out the cheapest, quickest way to archive my old stuff. I guess tape is the best way to go.
- Ariel.

File Error: Wrong Type with MPEG-4 Audio File

Help! I am trying to import an MPEG-4 Audio File into Final Cut Express2 but I keep getting a 'File Error: Wrong Type' message. Is there anything I can do to solve this problem. I really need this song for my video. PQu

iTunes - check your iTunes preferences:
Preferences > Importing -
- select Import Using AIFF encoding
- select Custom
- select Sample Rate 48.000 kHz
- select Sample Size 16 bit
- select Channels stereo
Then import your MP4 into iTunes
Then control-click on the track name in iTunes, select Show Song File, which will open a Finder window from which you can copy your AIFF file to any location you want it.

Message: File Error, wrong type

I have some folders listed on my scratch disc when I look in Finder. They say things like Waveform Cache file, autosave vault, audio render files. Inside there are files relating to a project I have completed. If I try to open them I get the message "File Error, wrong type".
It seems to me that it's OK to trash these as I cannot do anything with them. Before doing that I wanted to just check with the experts: is it OK to remove them please? Thanks for the advice.
Keith

If you're done with the project, it's ok to trash everything. If you plan to return to the project, you can delete everything except the actual project file and any media files associated with it.

Can't import LIVE TYPE files .ipr into FCP - FILE ERROR: UNKOWN FILE.

I have had this problem for a while and simply just worked around it. But now I am editing so much more that I want it the way it use to be.
The Problem is FCP 6 will not let me import LIVE TYPE files. I have to render them into an .mov 1st in livetype. I use to be able to just drag the file into FCP and render it there after I tweeked it. Now it won't, it gives me this error- FILE ERROR: Unknown File.
I have already uninstalled Live type along with its PLIST as well as FCP. Re installed and still keep getting the same error. I can't remember when it started, all I know is I want it fixed.
Thank you for any assistance anyone can offer.

What are the Project Properties settings? do they match the Sequence setting in FCP?
What elements are used in your LiveType composition?
Are you including images or background video?
If so, post the codec that the video uses. If there are images, the file type and color space.

HT2914 Hello: I am very much a novice with Final Cut. I am trying to import some video files from my desktop but keep getting an error message that says, "File error 1 file recognized, 0 access denied, 1 unknown". The file type is .mov, 35MB, 1920 x 1080,

Hello:
I am very much a novice with Final Cut. I am trying to import some video files from my desktop but keep getting an error message that says, "File error 1 file recognized, 0 access denied, 1 unknown". The file type is .mov, 35MB, 1920 x 1080, Codec MPEG-2 video linear PCM timecode, color profile HD (1+1+1). Can someone help? Thanks, Paul

You can't import MPEG-2 files directly to FCP X.
Can you play this file in Quicktime Player? If so, then you can use the free program MPEG Streamclip to convert this to Quicktime. Use the ProRes codec.

File Error - Unknown file when trying to import from HDD camera

I recently purchased a Panasonic SDR-H80 and am trying to get my widescreen footage into FCP. I converted the .MOD files to .m4v files in Handbrake, and they play and look fine in the Finder. However, when I try to move them into FCP, I get a dialog that says "File Error - Unknown file." I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Can anybody help?

I converted the .MOD files to .m4v files in Handbrake .... I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here
What you're doing wrong is using Handbrake and trying to use .m4v files in FCP. Neither is the correct process in preparing for editing.
Try using MPEG Streamclip and a format that actually works natively in FCP. .m4v is a final delivery format- not for editing. A search on this forum would have revealed that to you in a matter of seconds: http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?objID=c206&search=Go&q=handbrake
-DH

File Error: Unkown File.

I know it should not be this hard, but if anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong or point me to the other posts that don't come up when I search, I would greatly appreciate it.
I was trying to reproduce an instructional video and found my file source was missing. I am trying to recapture from the original tape shot in 2006. The camera reads the tape fine. The Log and Capture window works fine, the image shows up, plays, all buttons work. When I attempt to batch capture it tells me how much space I will need, then a window pops up with "Additional Items Found in which I have tried both Add and Continue. Then the Insert Reel window comes up with the tape number, time, 1 clip and Ready. I click continue it goes to the Batch Capture -PREPARING FOR CAPTURE then Creating files and next it immediately goes to Insert Reel window again with ERROR showing behind the 1 clip and File Error: Unkown File. at the bottom. The Show Details button is grayed out.
Clicking capture now in the Log and Capture window immediately gives me the File Error: Unkown File. message.
Capture clip, after I added the original in and out times in the Log and Capture window, goes to the Log Clip window so I can name it, then to the Batch Capture -PREPARING FOR CAPTURE then Creating files and next it immediately goes to File Error: Unkown File. error window.
I have tried two identical camera, one if which I originally captured it with and both had the same result.
I am importing via FW400 and I have tried going through a FW800 case that has a FW400 input.
Thanks

I have been watching which scratch disk I use. When I use one group, it started happening, when I used another group it didn't so it seems to be tied to one of my external hard drives. I will trouble shoot in a week to see if I can find out if it is a connections issue, though the disk works fine otherwise, or a space issue.
Thanks for the lead

File Error:Unknown File.

I am getting a "File Error:Unknown file" when i try and save my project. So i am not able to save any changes i make to my project. any thoughts?

Try FILE>Save Project As.
does that work?
Shane

"File error: unknown file" upon movie import

Got a DVD. Extracted the footage with Mac the ripper. Created an mp4 file with Handbrake. It plays fine in Quicktime at 720 by 480 and 23.98 FPS. I've tried importing it into FCP and I get the error, "File error: unknown file". FCP sequence presents are 24 FPS...I've also tried switching it to 23.98 FPS. I've re-encoded the movie in Quicktime to a .mov file with "DV/DVCPRO - NTSC" compression and it still will not import. Any suggestions?

Tried making an AVI in Handbrake. Handbrake just froze everytime and it would never finish.
I should also note that FFMpeg did not like the footage either and would not convert it to a file of any kind.
So I put the DVD into a consumer DVD player and used my Panasonic DVX100B camera to record the footage in VCR mode. The tape turned out fine.
BUT...
I am trying to capture the footage from another low end Canon camera. Usually there is no problem. However, with this particular footage from this cursed DVD, I get a "general error" when I try to capture the footage in FCP.
No matter what file format or media is used, this footage will not import into FCP. It must be watermarked to not like FCP.
Any further suggestions???

File error: wrong file type

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for