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Digital media serves a pivotal function by enhancing various endeavors, including events, promotional efforts, personal memory preservation, and more. Transforming vibrant experiences into digital graphical files helps preserve cherished memories, especially for one-time life events such as weddings, business launches, birthdays, promotional campaigns, and forensic investigations.
Losing crucial photographic images is a scenario nobody wishes to contemplate, considering they are captured for specific purposes. However, since photographic cameras, DSLRs, camcorders, smartphones, and other devices operate on various operating systems and utilize memory cards, data corruption and deletion can occur through various means.
Users have the upper hand when it comes to converting damaged image files into different formats, given the wide array of available options like JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, MPEG, PCX, MPG, GIFF, BMP, and more. However, due to the advancements in versatile image capturing devices, image viewer software, and display technologies, various image file errors have emerged over time. Among these, many users encounter difficulties when attempting to open the widely used JPEG image files and encounter a critical error message such as “Can’t read file header! Unknown file format or file not found.”
What is JPEG File and How the JPEG Image Files Get Corrupted?
JPEG, which stands for Joint Photographic Expert Group, serves as a widely embraced lossy compression method employed for preserving digital images. This format enjoys immense popularity and is frequently utilized by various devices, including cameras, handhelds, and DSLRs. It’s worth noting that the likelihood of .jpeg file corruption increases significantly when shared or accessed inefficiently.
Moreover, a fascinating aspect of photographic devices is their ability to capture and store .jpeg graphic images in two separate components. The primary element holds essential image metadata, such as shooting modes and capture date/time, along with a compact thumbnail image. In contrast, the secondary part houses the complete image data file.
Considering this fact, it’s important to recognize that JPEG file corruption typically occurs after the file has been transferred, rather than during its initial creation. Several primary factors can be directly linked to the occurrence of the “Can’t read file header! Unknown file format or file not found” error:
- Sudden removal of a memory card while saving JPEG files.
- Memory card or hard drive errors
- Accidental formatting and deletion of stored image files
- Memory coherence or interface errors
- Intrusions by viruses into memory devices or computer hard drives.
Continuously expanding the catalog of image file errors is inevitable, yet identifying the root causes of these issues stands as the foremost strategy to safeguard valuable photographic images. We can implement various preventive measures to mitigate the factors responsible for triggering image file errors, like the one stating, “Unable to read file header! Unknown file format or file not located.”
You can explore advanced methods to enhance the protection of JPEG file headers’ integrity. If you ever come across the error message “Can’t read file header! Unknown file format or file not found,” it is advisable to seek alternative ways to access the image instead of relying on the default JPEG image viewers.
- Attempt to transform the corrupted or unreachable .jpeg file into .bmp or .gif file formats using either MS Paint or third-party image conversion software.
- Utilize the hex editor to access a JPEG file and subsequently eliminate any extraneous data located at the file’s outset.
- Attempt utilizing the UNIX application to identify and eliminate access permissions from the JPEG file that cannot be accessed.
You can proactively mitigate potential causes of JPEG corruption by handling JPEG files with care and taking precautionary measures. Some of these steps include:
- It is advisable to temporarily halt all computer activities when burning a CD or DVD containing important image files.
- Make it a habit to format the memory card instead of individually deleting unwanted image files or using the delete-all option.
- Running memory diagnostics after upgrading your computer’s RAM is a wise step.
- Adhere to the customary procedure for removing or ejecting memory cards, which involves clicking the “Safely Remove Hardware” option prior to physically removing the card.
- It is suggested to restrict all computer-related tasks during the USB file transfer process.
If you’ve diligently followed all the troubleshooting and preventative measures but find yourself still encountering the “Can’t read file header! Unknown file format or file not found” error, it’s time to assess the extent and severity of the corruption affecting your JPEG files. In such a scenario, opting for a reliable third-party image recovery solution is a wise and expert choice.
Solution – Kernel Photo Recovery Tool
Kernel Photo Recovery is a powerful photo recovery software that is designed with the capability to recover image file formats such as JPG, PCX, MPG, GIFF, JPEG, PNG, MPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, etc. The software expediently recovers Permanently deleted photos from several external devices like Micro SD card, digital card, hard disks, USB drive, Memory sticks, etc. The tool boasts a distinctive function that allows users to save either specific images or the entire set of recovered images in one go. It offers compatibility with all Windows OS versions, spanning from older iterations to the latest ones.