.PEM File Recovery

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .PEM file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

What is a .PEM file?

Base64-encoded certificate file, such as a PEM-encoded X509 certificate; used to authenticate a secure website; typically imported from a Unix-based Apache Web server and compatible with OpenSSL applications.

What Are Common Causes of ".PEM" Files Lost or Failure?

There can be several common causes of .pem file loss or failure. Some of them include:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete .pem files while organizing or cleaning up their file system.
  2. System errors: System errors, such as sudden power failures, hardware malfunctions, or software crashes, can lead to .pem file loss or corruption.
  3. Formatting or partitioning: If a drive or storage device containing .pem files is formatted or partitioned without proper backup, the files can be lost.
  4. Virus or malware attacks: Malicious software can infect and corrupt .pem files, making them inaccessible or unusable.
  5. Software or application issues: Errors or bugs in software or applications that handle .pem files can cause loss or failure.
  6. User error: Mistakenly renaming, moving, or modifying .pem files without proper knowledge or caution can result in their loss or failure.
  7. File system corruption: File system corruption, caused by disk errors or improper shutdowns, can lead to .pem file loss or corruption.
  8. Hardware failure: Physical damage to storage devices, such as hard drives or memory cards, can result in the loss of .pem files.
  9. Incompatible software or updates: Using incompatible software versions or applying updates that are not compatible with .pem files can cause them to become inaccessible or fail.

It is always recommended to regularly backup .pem files and take necessary precautions to prevent their loss or failure.

How to recover lost ".PEM" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".PEM" file may be deleted.

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".PEM" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".PEM" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".PEM" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".PEM" files, and select analysis type.

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

How to open file with ".PEM" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo privacy Enhanced Mail Certificate image file file?

Programs that open ".PEM" files

Windows
Microsoft IIS
Mac
Apple Keychain Access
Apache Web Server
Linux
Apache Web Server

Additional Information

  • File type: Privacy Enhanced Mail Certificate

  • File extension: .PEM

  • Developer: N/A

  • Category: Web Files

  • Format: N/A

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Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

What are the common causes of .PEM file corruption and how can I repair it?

There are several common causes of .PEM file corruption, including:

  1. File system errors: Issues with the file system, such as bad sectors or disk errors, can lead to corruption of the .PEM file.
  2. Improper shutdown: If the system or application using the .PEM file is not closed properly, it can result in file corruption.
  3. Malware or virus infections: Malicious software can damage or corrupt files, including .PEM files.
  4. Hardware failures: Problems with storage devices, such as hard drives or memory cards, can cause file corruption.
  5. Software conflicts: Incompatibilities or conflicts between different software applications can lead to corruption of .PEM files.

To repair a corrupted .PEM file, you can try the following methods:

  1. Restore from backup: If you have a backup of the .PEM file, you can restore it to replace the corrupted version.
  2. Use file repair tools: There are various file repair tools available that can help recover and repair corrupted .PEM files. These tools scan and attempt to fix any errors in the file.
  3. Convert to a different format: If the .PEM file is not critical and can be converted to a different format, you can try converting it to a different file format and then back to .PEM. This process may help repair any underlying issues causing corruption.
  4. Reinstall or update software: If the corruption is specific to a certain software application, try reinstalling or updating the software to resolve any compatibility issues or bugs that may be causing the corruption.
  5. Seek professional help: If the above methods fail, you may need to consult a professional data recovery service or contact the software/application support for further assistance.

It is always recommended to regularly backup important files to prevent data loss and corruption.

Are there any specific tools or software available for repairing .PEM files?

There are no specific tools or software available for repairing .pem files because .pem files are simply encoded certificates or keys in a specific format, typically used in cryptography and secure communication protocols like SSL/TLS.

If you encounter issues with a .pem file, it is usually related to the content within the file rather than the file itself. In such cases, you may need to troubleshoot the specific problem or regenerate the .pem file from the original source or certificate authority.

However, there are various tools and software available that can help you work with .pem files, such as OpenSSL, which is a widely used open-source toolkit for SSL/TLS protocols. OpenSSL provides a range of commands and functions to manage and manipulate .pem files, including generating, verifying, and converting certificates and keys.

Additionally, text editors or IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) can be used to view and edit .pem files, as they are essentially text-based files.

Can you provide step-by-step instructions on how to repair a corrupted .PEM file?

To repair a corrupted .pem file, you can follow these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Backup the Corrupted .pem File

Before attempting any repairs, it is crucial to create a backup of the corrupted .pem file. This ensures that you have a copy of the original file in case anything goes wrong during the repair process.

Step 2: Open a Text Editor

Open a text editor on your computer. You can use any text editor you prefer, such as Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (Mac), or any other advanced text editors like Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code.

Step 3: Copy the Corrupted .pem File Content

Open the corrupted .pem file using a text editor. Select all the content within the file and copy it to your clipboard.

Step 4: Create a New Text File

Open a new text file in the same text editor. Paste the content you copied from the corrupted .pem file into the new text file.

Step 5: Save the New Text File

Save the new text file with a .pem extension. Make sure to choose a different name for the repaired file to avoid overwriting the original corrupted .pem file.

Step 6: Validate the Repaired .pem File

To ensure the repaired .pem file is valid, you can use OpenSSL or any other tool that supports .pem files. Run the validation command to check if the repaired file is correctly formatted and functional.

For example, using OpenSSL, you can run the following command:

openssl x509 -in repaired.pem -text -noout

Replace "repaired.pem" with the name of your repaired .pem file.

Step 7: Test the Repaired .pem File

If the validation process was successful, you can now test the repaired .pem file by using it in the intended application or service. For example, if the .pem file is used for SSL/TLS certificates, you can try using it in your web server configuration.

If the repaired .pem file still doesn't work as expected, you may need to seek further assistance or consider obtaining a new .pem file from the original source.

Remember, the success of repairing a corrupted .pem file depends on the extent of the corruption and the nature of the file itself.