Can the video file be encloded in the cfa file?

[geepondy]

In a Premiere Elements project, I later mistakenly deleted the source video avi file. Recently I am looking thru the Elements project directory and I see the cfa file for that video. The size of the file is over 1 gig, larger then the original video file so I'm wondering if somehow the video file is encoded in the cfa file and if so, how to extract it?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[ATR]

This response comes with NO prior knowledge of .cfa files found in the Media Cache Folder. Consider the following as neighbors chatting over the backyard fence. I did a crash “read” of the following link. Although the reference deals with Premiere Pro 2.0, I suspect that we can learn some basics about .cfa files from it.

http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=605027&rl=1

cfa files are conformed audio files in the Media Cache Folder. So, I cannot imagine how you could expect to extract a complete video from just audio files.

The following quotes from the link seemed to me to be highlights:

(1) “…it creates two unique files that associate themselves with the original audio file in your project.”
(2) “Keep in mind that if you move or rename a file that is referenced in the database, it will break the link to the existing conformed and peak files.
(3) “If it does not find the physical file specified, it deletes the associated CFA and PEK files that were created.

Is it possible that your source DV AVI is still in the computer? Have you done a complete search?

Also, check out Archiving your future projects.

ATR

[geepondy]

Thanks for the reply. I wonder why it is a over a gig in size, particularly if just audio? The original file I recall was not that big.

Yeah, I searched the hard drive and it's gone. I mistakenly deleted it along with other's before I backed them up. Lesson learned.

[javier]

You can always restore your computer to an earlier time before you deleted the files

[ATR]

Javier

Have you ever gotten a System Restore to work for recovering personal data files (documents, graphics, etc.)?

From the link cited below (question about difference between Backup and System Restore), System Restore (if it was turned on along the way) will monitor "core system files" and not the personal files generated in the workflow.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/en-us/management/sysrestore_faq.mspx

What do you think? Am I reading the link content correctly? I have used System Restore rarely, so I need to look into its uses and limitations.

ATR

[javier]

ATR

You are probably right about System Restore, my bad.

I got so used to GHOST for backups and restoring that I forgot it was not part of Windows