How to fix InDesign CS5 Error code 5? – InDesign File Repair Blogs

“I was working in InDesign and I am trying to open CS5 file but it is displaying error 5 code. I have a 30 page InDesign CS5 file and I have already spent 5 hours to fix it but got no success. After finishing the document when I attempt to open the file it display the error message saying: “Cannot open “xxxxxxxxx.indd. The file “xxxxxxxxx.indd” is damaged and cannot be recovered (Error code: 5).” So, please help how to fix this error message as it has taken 2 months to build this file.”

Well, here are some solutions mentioned below that you can try to fix the InDesign CS5 error code 5 message:

Solution 1- Update your Mac OS to Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later

Well, if your Mac operating system is lower than OS X 10.2.8 then update it to Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later as this can help you to fix the above error message.

Solution 2: Re-create the InDesign preferences files

Sometimes corrupted InDesign preferences files can make InDesign to behave improperly. If the error is due to preferences files then you can re-create them. Follow the below steps to re-create the InDesign preference files:

Note – If you re-create the InDesign preferences file then it will restore the setting to their defaults.

• Close InDesign
• Now rename the InDesign Defaults file and InDesign SavedData file (For e.g to InDesign Defaults.new, InDesign SavedData.new)[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/Version 5.0.
• After this start your InDesign. It will create the new preferences files.

However, if the problem is not solved then you can restore the previous preferences files by deleting the new files and renaming the old preferences files back to its original names. If you are still getting the error code then it is confirmed that the problem is not with the preferences files.

Solution 3 – Install InDesign with base fonts

Note – Before performing this process remove the Fonts from Fonts folder in the Library folder.

In order deactivate fonts or to remove fonts from Fonts folder and install InDesign, follow the below steps:

• Start Font Book from the Applications folder and open a new Window in the finder.
• On the left of All Fonts click on the Triangle
• Now from the Collection column, click on Computer and then mark all fonts from the next column
• On the bottom of the Font column click on Disable button.
• Lastly, install InDesign

Solution 4 – Delete adobefnt*.lst files

You can also try to fix the above error message by deleting the adobefnt*.lst files. Below follow the steps:

• At the Finder, select File>Find
• Now type Adobefnt.lst/ or Adobefnt05.lst/ Adobefnt06.lst, choose the system drive and then hit on Return
• Select all the displayed Adobefnt.lst, Adobefnt05.lst, and Adobefnt06.lst and delete them all
• Start InDesign

If the problem still occurs then you can follow the next solution.

Solution 5 – Run InDesign in Safe Mode

• In order to start Mac in Safe Mode, follow below steps:
• Restart your Mac and as you hear the chimes you must immediately hold down the Shift key
• Once the Apple logo display release the Apple logo. When you run the Mac in safe mode, the word safe Boot will appear.

Solution 6 – Use InDesign File Repair Tool

If none of the above methods works then you can take help of third party InDesign File Repair Tool that can fix the InDesign CS5 error code 5 messages. Moreover this software repair and recovers corrupt InDesign files from Mac hard drive. It supports INDD file repair of CS5, CS6 and creative cloud. It is very simple and easy to use. Below find out step by step guide that will show you how to repair corrupt InDesign file to fix the InDesign CS5 error code 5.

Steps to fix the InDesign CS5 error code 5

Step 1: Download and Install InDesign Repair Tool. Here, the main software interface shows about the features and capabilities. Click ‘Next’ to proceed further.

Step 2: In this section, you can click the ‘Select File’ button so that you can browse the desired destination in your Mac and then select the corrupt INDD file.

Step 3: Or, you can also select the individual volume or hard drive in order to check for all INDD files. After the INDD files are listed, you can select the troubled one and click the ‘Repair’ option.

Step 4: In the progress bar, you can see the process is on.

Step 5: The software opens up the repaired file with Adobe InDesign to show its preview when the file is repaired.

Step 6: When you click on ‘Save’, the InDesign Repair tool then save the repaired INDD file to the default location or to any other specified location.