File that isn't opening correctly? Objects missing

Somethings happened to a file I've been working on... stuff is missing? No pattern at all. just missing all over the place and on different layers? When I saved out, everything was fine. I saved the file on my desktop, then saved it out to a virtual network drive for backup.

This was Oct. 7th after work. I was on vacation till today.

I'm hoping for a bit of reassurance because the fact that my preview in Windows Explorer shows the item I was working on before I saved. But when I open, this is missing along with a whole bunch of other stuff.

Is it still there, but hidden? The windows preview shows what I saved, so I couldn't have done anything to the file. Especially because both files I saved have the same preview...

Does anyone know what is going on?

The thumbnail is not an indicator of what is actually in the file.

Zip and attach the file here.

You saved the file in two locations and no matter which of these two files you open entities are missing?

Do you have AutoCAD set up to create .bak files when you save?

Were xref's attached to this drawing, and maybe they were moved while you were away?

The zip file is too large. I've never created a zip file, only extracted them, so maybe there is something I'm doing wrong. Ideas? The file is ove 4 MB.

As for .bak files, they are there. I've tried to do the steps for opening these files, by renaming the file with the .dwg ext. But the file doesn't open?

Never messed with the xrefs, so not sure what to do with that suggestion.

Are Xrefs attached to the drawing? Yes/No/I'm not sure?

Both original drawing files have missing entities? Yes/No/I'm not sure?

When you renamed the bak files to dwg did you drop the bak file extension and substitute the dwg file extension or did you just add .dwg to the end of the file name?

not sure

yes

just added .dwg to the file name, how does one drop the ext?

Renaming: Substitute .dwg for .bak like this...

Drawing1.bak gets renamed as Drawing1.dwg not Drawing1.bak.dwg.

I would assume that if you were working with Xrefs it would be apparently evident. How could you not know?

Who actually created the drawing?

Yes. renamed file correctly. The .bak ext is not actually viewable during the rename, just the filename, so I just add .dwg... When I try to open the file, AutoCad responds by becoming the prominent window, but no file actually opens.

As for the xrefs, no I did not use xrefs. This function is not something I've used yet.

And I created this drawing.

How do you know the file did not open? Is there a drawing file name displayed at the top of your screen?

Forget the back up file.

When you opened one of the drawing files you saved before going on vacation did you check to see if any layers had been frozen or turned off?

Did someone else work on the drawing while you were away?

I realized that my folder properties were incorrect, had the ext. hidden. Corrected this, and changed the .bak file to a .dwg file. It opened, but in the same manner as the original file with missing parts.

There are layers that are turned off here and there, and just one that's frozen, but this doesn't fix the issues. What I don't understand is that there are missing objects from multiple layers, objects that hadn't been altered for a few days prior even. I could understand losing the latest addition to a file between saves, but sparatic loss makes no sense.

Maybe you do NOT have the last version of the file you worked on/saved prior to going on vacation. Maybe you have an earlier version. Maybe one of your coworkers is having some fun with you?

I'm the only one with AutoCad. The date and time on the file shows it was saved that night when I left. And the other file I saved shows the same by a few mins.

I've tried to winzip the file a few times now, and the most it will compress down is 4.3 GB.

When you opened one of the original files did you do a Zoom > Extents?

Did you turn on any layers that were off?

Did you thaw any frozen layers?

Did you run an Audit on the file?

I've tried to winzip the file a few times now, and the most it will compress down is 4.3 GB.

Your zip file is 4.3GB?!?!? How is that possible?

I had not done the Audit.

It found many errors.... Here is the last section of what it found.

AcDbSortentsTable(C62)

Error for Entry (12E42) eInvalidInput

AcDbSortentsTable(C62) was not repaired.

Pass 2 15200 objects audited

Auditing Blocks

7 Blocks audited

Total errors found 1023 fixed 0

This doesn't look good.

Your zip file is 4.3GB?!?!? How is that possible?

Did I say GB? silly me. 4.3 MB.

'sad sad little chuckle to myself'

"0" errors fixed out of 1023. That sounds like "Taps" playing in the background doesn't it?

You could create a free account at Rapidshare and upload the file there. Then post a link to the download.