Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 23 down vote favorite
15

After recovering my HDD, I ended up with a lot of files with no extension. Many of them are .bin files.

Is there any way to find out what file format they actually are?

Many of them have no information if I edit them with Notepad++ or Hex Editors.

share|improve this question

4 Answers

up vote 26 down vote accepted

Ahh, the dark arts of file identification

I rather like trid for this. It identifies and renames files if you choose, has a nice large database, and is totally independant of file, so you have two approaches at your disposal.

share|improve this answer
1  
You Saved ME, Thank You Sir – echolab Jun 11 '12 at 12:59
1  
learned something better while trying to help. wonderful and thank you! – johnshen64 Jun 11 '12 at 14:37
1  
Its a really neat bit of software. I've just been waiting for a chance to use it properly ;p – Journeyman Geek Jun 11 '12 at 14:46
2  
For amateur users like me ( cause took me some time to figure out ) , there is a window version ( I mean visual one ) TrIDNet which require TrIDLib also , again Thanks man all of my files are healthy , also after searching i figured out how to use batch mode and replace all extensions to right ones , Thank you – echolab Jun 11 '12 at 21:08
A bit late but, actually, TrIDNet (a .NET application) don't require TrIDLib (a Win32 DLL). – Mark0 Jan 9 at 14:04
up vote 7 down vote

There is also FileID which uses magicdb

http://www.optimasc.com/products/fileid/index.html

Explanation: FileID, TrID and File all work with magic numbers contained in the file which are supposed to be unique for each filetype, so all three programs are more or less equivalent. TrID is the most practical for windows users, while GNU/Linux ones simply use file.

share|improve this answer
up vote 7 down vote

You can try the file command for Windows

http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/file.htm

share|improve this answer
it shows this , what that mean data , what kind of data C:\Program Files (x86)\GnuWin32\bin>file file01929.bin file01929.bin; data , is there any more advance tool ? – echolab Jun 11 '12 at 11:49
1  
"Data" means it makes no sense to the file command. – David Schwartz Jun 11 '12 at 12:02
up vote 2 down vote

Another tool that may come useful is ExifTool. Contrary to what the name may suggest, it can identify and extract medatada from more than your usual photos / images filetypes.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.