How to fix corrupt AutoCAD files in Windows 10/11

5 min. read

Updated on October 4, 2023

updated on October 4, 2023

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Having trouble nursing a corrupt AutoCAD file back to health? An AutoCAD file is one that has the .DWG extension, also known as an AutoCAD Drawing Database file. Such files store metadata, 2D or 3D vector image drawings you can use with the computer aided design (CAD) program(s).

These files can be transferred between programs because they’re compatible with several 3D drawing and CAD programs, though not all viewers can open each type of DWG file.

It can be miserable when a file appears to be lifeless, or when you have to kill it after it has brought your system down to its knees, literally.

Some of the symptoms of a corrupt AutoCAD file include:

A drawing that seems funny
The file works slowly
File doesn’t open
File hangs or crashes the AutoCAD program
A few commands won’t work
It appears to have some missing parts
Unexplained increase in size of the file
Display or regen issues
The corrupt AutoCAD file just won’t reveal itself when you try to open it

Eventually, all these elements cause the AutoCAD program to send you unexpected or unwanted messages.

These and other issues are caused by third-party apps within AutoCAD, DWG files created or saved by products that aren’t Autodesk or RealDWG, the program terminates while saving, or old drawings getting used all the time, over a few years.

Other causes include network faults such as file locking, latent data writing, transmission errors, storage media degradation by bad hard drive sectors, failing/defective RAM, OS problems, power surges, and outdated software.

For each of the above symptoms, and a few others, there are several causes you need to consider, each of which have solutions to help you clean, repair, fix, and recover your drawing.

1. Use Recover Command

Recover Command lets you restore the corrupt AutoCAD files directly if you either deleted or lost them. To do this:

Open a new AutoCAD drawing
Select file
Select Drawing Utilities
Select Recover or Recovery Manager, depending on your software version
Select the drawing
Click OK

2. Use Auto save feature

Open AutoCAD
Select Tools
Click Options
Click Files
Click Automatic Save File Location
Check the location of the autosave files saved under: C:Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp
Locate your CAD file by name
Check the date of modification of the files
Select the right version – the one that was deleted or lost
Change the file’s extension from .bak or .sv$ to .dwg
Try and see if you can use your AutoCAD file/files again. You can use a dwg file opening software, then convert the drawing to an older DWG version and try to open again
Go to your backup system. Restore the file from a previous time before it was corrupted

If the file opens, do the following:

Open the file
Purge Registered Applications by typing PURGE in a command line. Type R for Regapps and press enter. Type N when asked to verify each of the names to be purged, and press enter
Type PURGE gain at the command line
Check all the boxes and click Purge All
Type AUDIT at the command line. Type Y for Yes to fix errors and press enter
Save your drawing

— RELATED: Fix: AutoCad not Working in Windows 10

3. Other steps to take

Method 1

If the corrupt AutoCAD file persists, try the steps below:

Open the corrupt AutoCAD file or drawing and a new drawing
Press CTRL+A to select everything on the corrupt AutoCAD file, and press CTRL+SHIFT+C
The base point will be 0,0,0
In the new drawing, press CTRL+V
The insert point is 0,0,0
Save the new drawing

If it still persists, do the following:

Check that all the layers are ON, thawed, and unlocked
Detach all XREFs (external references) and that they have no circular attachments
Write Block all necessary information in the corrupt AutoCAD file to a new drawing using the command line.
Type WBLOCK in the command line
Go to Source > select Objects
Click Select Objects
Use a selection window to pick only necessary objects from the file (don’t type ALL)
Set the file path and name > click OK
Open a new blank file (drawing file)
Insert the file you created from the command line
Type INSERT in the command line and select the file
Uncheck the box “Specify On-screen”
Check Explode box and click OK
Type PURGE in the command line > click Purge ALL
Audit and fix the errors
Type SAVE AS and create a new file name

Method 2

Open a new blank AutoCAD file
In a command line, type RECOVER
Go to the corrupt AutoCAD file to let the program restore it
Type OVERKILL at the command line
Select all objects
Check or uncheck the properties to include/ignore
Click OK
Type DELCON at the command line
Select all objects
Type BREP
Select all objects
Type –SCALELISTEDIT
Type R for reset and Y for yes
Type FILTERS
Click Delete filters

If the file is unexpectedly large in size, use the DGNPURGE tool.

Were you able to find a solution among these listed here? Let us know which one worked for you by leaving a comment in the section below.

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More about the topics: AutoCAD, Fix corrupt files, windows 10 fix

Milan Stanojevic

Windows Toubleshooting Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he's one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.