Community

Hi,

I need to edit a file in hex. Unfortunately the file is 60GB (it is a raw image of a hard drive) and therefore most hex editors will not open it.

I am able to open the file in Textpad happily enough, but it is opened as read-only. Is it possible to edit files in hex, in Textpad?

Many thanks

Emma

Emma,
as yet TP(textpad) cannot edit in hex mode - would be fantastic if it could.

I cannot offer any suggestion of an editor that will handle files 60Gb in size.

All I can suggest is to write a VBscript to read through the file and make the changes you need - you will need to have knowledge of a scripting language. Microsoft's help for scripting is good and has example code.

"http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950396.aspx"

You can write your script in TP and have syntax highlighting to help, I use TP for writing all my scripts,

Q.

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply - I did try the help files etc and was getting the impression that that was the case. Wouldn't it be great if you could edit HEX in Textpad??!! It would wipe the floor with the other tools!! 8)

Anyway, thanks again,

Emma

Hi Emma

...Editing Hex files in Textpad has been addressed for a long time ago, but it does not seems its likely to be implemented into an oterwise exelent peac of sw..

However, there are other options though, and if you do not mind spend an extra 40EUR (personal license) I would recomend x-ways winhex. This is a powerfull tool to handle hex files, disks, and computer ram. (you can download a trial, but I think it is file size limited, and your file isn't what I would call small).

WinHex itself theoretically supports file sizes up to several thousand GB (no typo). but practically, file sizes are limited by the file system. I guess you are running NTFS or linux file systems since you are dealing with 60GB images.

Winhex does also come with several tools for disk analyzis and other "need to have"-tools. I used this when i needed to create an FAT driver for an embedded system. (and to manipulate partition table and hidden files, and scoretables when playing games.. cheating? Nope, clever enginearing).

Note that you might wanna go for another license like professional or specialist to gain the features you want. Ask the X-ways team for which license is required by your neede operations. I however, have been using personal for some years.

By the way, when talking aboute wiping flores... If textapd would come with an built in houskeeper, it realy would wipe the flore, actaually...

Best regards
Vidar (z)