Restore Project from Backup Files

Hi !

Well I'lm new at editing on DaVinci and consequently I just discovered the Database features today... to late.
I've been working on a big editing project for the last month and for some reason that are completely mysterious to me, while deleting an old project today, that main project got also deleted.
In the old habits of Premiere pro, I had the Backup save activated and using Recuvea I found the backup file and restored them. (with this long names such as Project.db.20180827110106)
However Recuvea couldn't find the "project" file in the local database location.

I've tried in many ways to trick Davinci at believing that my backups were legit using a new project, but it just won't do. So I'm left with these backup file that I can't restore.

So is there any chance that I can't get my work back ? Even with some old school terminal command of Hex file header rewriting ?

Any Help will be welcome !
Thanks !

[Dwaine Maggart]

Normally, you access the project backups by right clicking on the project in the Project Manager page, and selecting Project Backups.

There is no direct way to tell what the project backup files themselves go with, since they are normally tracked in the database.

If you think you know which of the backup files you found have the project you want, then this is how you can access it:

Since you mention using Recuvea, I'll assume you are on a Windows system.

Your default Disk database location is C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database\Resolve Projects

In a File Explorer window, go to this path:

C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database\Resolve Projects\Users\guest\Projects

In the Projects folder, create a new folder with a name that doesn't already exist in the folder. Lets call it test, but you can use any name you want.

In the test folder, copy your backup file. Lets say its the Project.db.20180827110106 file.

Once you've copied Project.db.20180827110106 into the test folder, eliminate the time/date info at the end. So that is looks like this:

Project.db

Now in Resolve, right click in the Project Manager window and select Refresh. You should now see a test project in the list. And you should be able to load it normally.

Hey Dwaine !

Thanks for your answer ! Well I did tried that but with no success (nothing shows up in the project manager). I also tried to create a new project and copy my backup file in the new backup directory, but again, it won't show up. Maybe there is something in the Project.db file that needs to match the folder name or some other sort of verification. Or is it because I'm still using the beta version ?

I should mention that in the mean time, I've re-created the whole editing and grading, but I'm happy to try other solution if that can help the community out !

Thanks again !
Cheers!

[Dwaine Maggart]

If you could provide a link to the backup file you tested this with, that didn't seem to work, I'd like to try it here, and see if there is some issue with the process I described, or if there is something different about your backup file.

Hi !

Sorry for the delay, I've been quite busy the last days.
Here it is :

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1i3E6T ... gmvt5k48Qs

[Dwaine Maggart]

The file you've provided is corrupt. That's why the process did not work as described.

Ah !

That's odd, I wonder what caused that...
Anyway, I guess that a wrap ! thanks for your help !
Cheers !

Ah !

That's odd, I wonder what caused that...
Anyway, I guess that a wrap ! thanks for your help !
Cheers !

Are you utilizing a surge protection device that also features power conditioning to smooth out varying AC voltages?

I've long suspected that not employing such devices on computer systems significantly increases the likelihood of encountering file corruption.

ResolveStudio 14.3...014 | MiniMonitor | DTV 10.9.7 | Win8.1 x64 | ROG G751JL, 2.8GHz Intel i7HQ, 24GB DDR4, 1TB HD, 500GB EVO 850, 2GB GTX965M | Mackie MCU Pro | Softube Console 1 Mkii | Shuttle Pro 2 | more...

Normally, you access the project backups by right clicking on the project in the Project Manager page, and selecting Project Backups.

There is no direct way to tell what the project backup files themselves go with, since they are normally tracked in the database.

If you think you know which of the backup files you found have the project you want, then this is how you can access it:

Since you mention using Recuvea, I'll assume you are on a Windows system.

Your default Disk database location is C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database\Resolve Projects

In a File Explorer window, go to this path:

C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database\Resolve Projects\Users\guest\Projects

In the Projects folder, create a new folder with a name that doesn't already exist in the folder. Lets call it test, but you can use any name you want.

In the test folder, copy your backup file. Lets say its the Project.db.20180827110106 file.

Once you've copied Project.db.20180827110106 into the test folder, eliminate the time/date info at the end. So that is looks like this:

Project.db

Now in Resolve, right click in the Project Manager window and select Refresh. You should now see a test project in the list. And you should be able to load it normally.

Thank you! This has really helped me!!

I have recently encountered a very identical problem with a very important project.. I had this issue where I attempted to put the GPU into an overclock state and it caused the booting of windows to fail, so after bios post it went to a 'system reset' page, it suggested I do this, keeping my old files but reinstalling windows I was like sure what could go wrong.. only to find out that Resolve won't open my project now because it was in a database and not a DRP or export.. because it deleted my resolve and plugins and all..
I have spent the last few days looking for a way to rollback my system but that won't work, I managed to uncover a project.db file from the project I wish to work with, though placing it in the directory (C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database\Resolve Projects\Users\guest\Projects) seems to do nothing..
am I out of options? resolve will not pick up on this .db file to open it..

[Dwaine Maggart]

Provide a link to the .db file and we'll take a look at it.

I had to put it into Gdrive, around 37 MB, let me know if it does not work out.. thank you, you were just the person I was hoping to speak with I've seen you all over the boards.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[Dwaine Maggart]

I don't know what that is, but it's not a Resolve project file. There are a bunch of URL's in it, so maybe a web browser cache file or similar?

Really? this is what it should look like!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... 8JkY59wcl6

[Dwaine Maggart]

Yes, it's a Project.db file. I'm just describing what's actually IN the file. It's not Resolve Project.db data.

I suppose it is a lost cause then.. ?

[Dwaine Maggart]

If that's the only file you have, yes.

are there any other files you might suggest I look for? I didn't manage to export it properly.. that's too bad!

[Dwaine Maggart]

You originally said: " I managed to uncover a project.db file from the project I wish to work with".

What does that mean? Where did you find it? Did you attempt to recover a deleted file with a file recovery utility? If so, that would explain the state it's in.

But if you have no other Project.db files, or .drp exports, or backups of the hard drive, then all your project data is gone.

Yes, that is all I could recover through EaseUS , I still have all the original files, though I wish I had known more about this before switching programs, I suppose it was quite sudden. I am used to working with premiere but I liked Resolve better, only to encounter problem after problem, which in the end don't matter seeing as every problem I overcame ended up being deleted entirely anyways.. so.. I don't know, maybe I will keep trying to use it, I doubt I will ever see money back but it's nice when it wants to be..

Yes, that is all I could recover through EaseUS , I still have all the original files, though I wish I had known more about this before switching programs, I suppose it was quite sudden. I am used to working with premiere but I liked Resolve better, only to encounter problem after problem, which in the end don't matter seeing as every problem I overcame ended up being deleted entirely anyways.. so.. I don't know, maybe I will keep trying to use it, I doubt I will ever see money back but it's nice when it wants to be..

Sorry, but failure to do backups or data corruption on your system is hardly Resolve's issue. The project.db is actually sqlite, one of the most used and tested embedded database engines on the planet. Chances that there are some undiscovered data corruption issues with it are quite slim. If you strip sqlite from your smartphone there wouldn't be much left.

Dwaine Maggart, just wanted to say thanks as your first reply in this thread just saved me over an hour of work. I started a new project and jumped right into Fusion to create some graphics and, despite the autosave notification appearing as expected, when it crashed I was unable to access the backups from the project manager. I just made a folder, renamed and copied in the Project.db file, and it opened right up. I wish there was more intuitive way to manually open backups... Anyway, thanks for explaining this!

Hey peeps, I have a similar problem. My MacBook died yesterday and I managed to get the hard drive out of it. It is now plugged into my new laptop and I'm trying to recover my projects.

I think I may have originally downloaded DVR (v15) from the app store. On my new mac I've downloaded v16.

I can't find the project files. There is no blackmagic folder in library/application support...

I tried to run DVR on the old mac harddrive hoping that it would open and I could export the project, but it comes up with this error message saying:
“Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve” is damaged and can’t be opened. Delete “Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve” and download it again from the App Store.

If I run DVR from my new mac, it opens as expected.

The last time I exported the project was April. So I've recovered work up until that point. But my last working day on the project was 22 June. So work between April and June is lost. I had DVR configured to save automatically so if my old macbook was still working, I'd be able to open the project and continue working from where I left off.

Does anyone know how I go about finding the project files on my old hard drive?

[Dwaine Maggart]

That's because nothing about the App Store version of Resolve is standard, in regards to file locations.

Assuming you were using the default Disk database, you should be able to find your project data in this location on the old hard drive:

/Users/<username>/Library/Containers/com.blackmagic-design.DaVinciResolve<Lite>/Data/Library/Application Support/Resolve Disk Database

Copy the folders in the /guest/Projects folder into the same folder on your new drive.

Hi Dwaine,
I have a similar problem - Resolve crashed when I was working on a .jpg-File in Fusion. Now trying to open the affected project resolve crashes each time. I followed your instructions (viewtopic.php?p=433865&sid=c8360a461b47574be8e455338ab2eaec#p433865) with no success. Could you please have a look at the database if it is corrupt or not? Would be very helpful - thanks a lot!
Dropboxlink: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tce7ynsldcph ... bBtsa?dl=0

[Dwaine Maggart]

I can't recover this project. Yes, it's doing something bad in the Fusion area.

Sometimes we can recover such a project by disabling the Fusion plugins, which will allow a project to be loaded, and the Fusion comps deleted to save the project.

But not in this case.

It also suffers from the same issue loaded into Resolve 16b4, so that's not an option.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Spoke too soon. Was able to fix it on a Linux system. I've reset the Fusion comp on clip 12 of the Reiher 1 timeline.

Probably best not to repeat whatever you did the first time.

OMG - it worked like a charm! You saved me lots of hours of work, I am deeply grateful - thanks a lot!

I promise, I will not repeat what I did

Hey Dwaine Maggart,

I just formatted my C drive and discovered my project files were stored on it. I was able to recover Database files for the project but after following your instructions of manually injecting the files into a new datbase it didn't make it show up.

Would you be able to check if the database for that project is corrupted?

Thanks in advance!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dAX5F_ ... sp=sharing

[Dwaine Maggart]

Sorry, the db file is corrupt and not recoverable.

Dwaine,

Are you able to recover a project from a Db file ?

PLEASEEEE HELP , On a tight deadline

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SYDWcg ... sp=sharing

Session I need - JV Mall covid 123

Story -

I was on Resolve 16 because I was waiting to upgrade until I finished a few jobs

Edited all day yesterday everything worked perfect as always. I saved the session and shut down teh computer

I come to work today and the session will not open / export / or do anything....

I upgraded to 16.2.3 just earlier to see maybe thru magic that would work but nothing

This is kinda unacceptable for something like this to happen

Additional videos I shot about problem

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18KLyhy ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OiXjAd ... sp=sharing

[Dwaine Maggart]

Sorry. Best I can do is get you the project with the second timeline. There must be some corruption in the first timeline.

The second timeline doesn't have much audio, so I'm guessing that's not the one you need. But here it is, if it's helpful:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/czvtgmese9yko ... D.drp?dl=0

Dwaine,

Thanks for imparting your wisdom here.

I have tried the steps that you have mentioned previously in this thread to recover a Project.db, but to no avail.

The project in question had worked for me yesterday, though after booting up this morning, Resolve Studio 16 fails to recognize the presence of my project--a music video edit and color grade. No fusion effects, just some basic time remaps and color.

Was hoping if you could help and/or confirm that the Project.db file is corrupted beyond repair.

Interestingly, I had been experiencing a similar problem with early color-pass versions of the same video project...

Thanks in advance.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[Dwaine Maggart]

Unfortunately, that file is completely bad data. There appears to be all NUL characters and no SQL data at all in the file.

So yes, its corrupted beyond repair. But I can't say what put it into such a state.

If you had Resolve Preferences - User - Project Save and Load - Save Settings - Project Backups enabled, there would hopefully be a backup of the project. Right click in an empty area of the Project Manager window and select Project Backups, to see what is available.

If you don't have that enabled, perhaps it would be a good idea to do so going forward.

For any important multi-day/week/month/years long projects, I would also recommend making a Project Export .drp at the end of each day of work, stored on something other than the system drive, in case anything bad happens to the project database.

Hi Dwaine, Came searching today because I have a project that, like so many others, was working perfectly last night. I had planned on doing render tests today, but when trying to open the project, it begins as normal, but then almost the instant resolve opens and the project and timeline are visible, it all crashes. Earlier versions of the project continue to open, but of course the latest represents several long days of work.

When reading your current note, I felt there was hope. I've wondered for sometime how one accesses the auto Project backups that keep being generated. I did what you said -- indeed I have the Project Backups enabled -- but when I access through the right click path you mention, through "Other project Back up" where there is an empty window, or "Restore project archive" where I can in the Finder go all the way to the outside folder, but then the contents are grayed out.

So, two questions here: 1) is there anyway to determine why this project will not stay loaded? 2) How do I access those auto backups since the latest would be very helpful now, and certainly something to know for the future.

It's Saturday afternoon so I don't expect an answer until Monday or so. It certainly is a longshot, but I noticed that the loop button in the color page no longer worked. That was yesterday before all this happened.

Thanks in advance for whatever insights you can provide.
Victor

Dear friends,

I had to bring in my iMac computer for repairs and ended up having to get a new one. While I had most projects backed up via drp or dra on an external hard drive through my free version of Resolve (I use the Studio version at school), there seems to be one that I forgot and now I am having a hard time restoring Resolve. I backed up beforehand via Time Machine and via Bacblaze, and am wondering what the proper way is to restore the application and its projects? Thanks in advance for your help!

All the best,
Vito

Hi Dwaine,
I've located and followed the instructions in the latest manual -- pages 109 to 111 -- and it comes as no surprise that they are more or less the ones you included here. And again, I follow every step, have had Auto Backups on since this project began, can see them in the finder in the Folder set up to hold them. But when I try to access through the described right click process the Project Backups window that open remains empty.

Hopefully this is a small problem (compared at least the the Dust Buster) and I've crashed enough to know this would be a very helpful tool to access.

Thanks as always,
Victor

If I can put my foot in, are you right-clicking the project you want to restore (and getting to "Project backups") or are you right-clicking the empty space between project thumbnails, which brings up "Other Project backups"?

If you're doing the latter, do the former instead. If you're already doing the former and the backed up projects you've confirmed exist in their designated folder aren't showing up, they can be restored manually. That process has been described a number of times here, including by Dwaine.

Hello Dwaine Maggart i need your help so hard! I've worked many hours about one project. Just wanted to show my parens some clips about holidas. It took many hours, then da Vinci crashed and i' ve lost everything.. i have some backups file but im not able to open that.. could u help me like u helped others before me? I would be so greatfull! It's not working the normal way, i was trying everything. I'm not a pro in that so.. maybe that's the reason.

Im giving u a link to a google disk, like others did. There is a folder with a few backups files.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l-gHWT ... sp=sharing

Thank you in advance and im praying for that, it took me ages..

[Dwaine Maggart]

Assuming the project name was Teneryfa 2020, szybki montaż do pokazu, you can find a Project Export .drp here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/a3mkb42w2sq14 ... u.drp?dl=0

Just Import the .drp

Hi Dwaine Maggart,

I was wondering if I could ask for your help as I'm experiencing a very similar issue to the ones describided here.

This afternoon I was working on a medium size project, a good amount of clips, some colour grading a a lot of motion graphics in the fusion tab. My 'live saving' setting was on and so were the other project backup settings (every 5min, every hour and so on...).

When I least expected, I start receiving that message saying that Davinci Resolve can't save the project, so just to be sure, before reopening, I went to 'Save as...' and save the project with a different name. When I tried to reopen it, however, I receive the message 'The project can't be opened'.

I tried opening both project, the original and the 'Saved as' copy, but none of them is working. The backups are also not working when I try copying them to the project folder and rename it. Any chance I could send you them so you can tell me if there is anything I can do to recover it?

Thank you.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Sure. Send away.

Thank you so much!

Here it is: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YBbIeE ... sp=sharing

I added the original project that crashed, all of the backups I have and a much older version, in case any of this is helpful.

[Dwaine Maggart]

Unfortunately, out of all those files, only the very old version was usable. Link that a drp of that is here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/976b8190xr0nu ... n.drp?dl=0

The error is that the disk image is malformed. I don't know how all the backup files could have been created with that error, but apparently they were.

I see. That's unfortunate, but I appreciate the help nonetheless.

Have a good one!

I can report that this also works under Studio version 17. I had discovered this technique on my own in 15, but wanted to also mention a new wrinkle.

I can add that this method of restoring a backup also works for projects that you've never actually saved. I had a situation where I had added a bunch of media, then created a timeline to review a few things -- then an unexpected lock-up. Might not seem like a big deal -- just some ingested files – but that's time and work too!

But the backup files were there, and I created a new project as Dwaine says here, copied over the db file to that new project's folder and everything was just fine.

[Dwaine Maggart]

In a normal scenario, if you have Project Backups enabled, and backup files are being created, you should be able to access those from the Project Manager page. Either right click on the project in question, and select Project Backups, or if you don't see anything there, right click in an empty area of Project Manager (i.e. NOT on a project) and select Other Project Backups, and see if there is something useful there.

Did you try either of those?

I'm having the exact same issue. Found the resolve file but after following the stepS the project file didn't show up in the project manager. How can I very whether or not my backup file is corrupt

Unfortunately, that file is completely bad data. There appears to be all NUL characters and no SQL data at all in the file.

So yes, its corrupted beyond repair. But I can't say what put it into such a state.

If you had Resolve Preferences - User - Project Save and Load - Save Settings - Project Backups enabled, there would hopefully be a backup of the project. Right click in an empty area of the Project Manager window and select Project Backups, to see what is available.

If you don't have that enabled, perhaps it would be a good idea to do so going forward.

For any important multi-day/week/month/years long projects, I would also recommend making a Project Export .drp at the end of each day of work, stored on something other than the system drive, in case anything bad happens to the project database.

[Dwaine Maggart]

That's a pretty good indication it's corrupt.

Hello,
Im hoping @Dwaine could help me too for this one.

I have a Synology Drive and somehow the atomatic sync has destroyed my db. (It used a different drive to sync).

I have taken this project backup file from my backup folder. I hope its the right one.
Your method did not work for me. After refresh the project doesnt show up.

Can you check if the backup is ok? And maybe even send a project export?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wyO_iD ... sp=sharing

Thank you so much