Unable To Open Bigfile Bigfile000 Updated -

Published by: Tech Rescue Team
Reading Time: 6 minutes

If you are reading this, you have likely just encountered a frustrating pop-up message on your screen: "Unable to open bigfile bigfile000 updated" (or a variant like bigfile.000). This error typically appears when working with encrypted container files, virtual machine disk images (VHDX/VMDK), large database backups, or segmented archive files (like those from WinRAR or 7-Zip split archives).

This error stops you dead in your tracks. You cannot access your data, mount your virtual drive, or extract your backup. Below, we will dissect exactly why this error occurs, what the ".bigfile000" extension means, and the step-by-step solutions to fix the "updated" conflict.

Photorec (part of TestDisk) ignores the filesystem and scans for known file signatures.

sudo photorec /d /media/recovery/ /log

Select the partition, choose [Whole], and let it carve. You will lose the original filenames but may recover the content.

If bigfile000_updated was just generated by another process (a database dump, a video render, or a simulation), that process may still hold an exclusive lock on the file.

Solution:

Before applying any "updated" patch, manually copy the entire bigfile directory to a backup location.

If you want, I can convert this into an incident report template, a one‑page troubleshooting sheet, or include exact commands tailored to your OS (Linux, macOS, or Windows). Which would you prefer?

How to Fix the "Unable to Open Bigfile bigfile000" Error After an Update

If you’ve just downloaded a major update for a game—most commonly titles like Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, or Hitman—and are now staring at an error message saying "Unable to open bigfile bigfile000," you aren’t alone.

This error usually triggers when the game’s launcher or executable can’t find, read, or verify the integrity of its primary data archive. Here is a straightforward guide to getting back into your game. 1. Verify Game Integrity (The #1 Fix)

Most of the time, this error occurs because a few kilobytes of data were corrupted during the update download. Instead of reinstalling the whole game, let your launcher fix the specific file. For Steam users: Right-click the game in your Library. Select Properties > Installed Files. Click Verify integrity of game files. For Epic Games users: Find the game in your Library. Click the three dots (...) and select Manage. Click Verify. 2. Disable the Game’s Dedicated Launcher

In many Square Enix titles (like Tomb Raider), the error is actually caused by the "Exclusive Fullscreen" setting or a bug in the pre-game setup window.

When you launch the game, click Options (if available) before the game actually starts.

Uncheck "Exclusive Fullscreen" or "DirectX 12" to see if it bypasses the file check error. unable to open bigfile bigfile000 updated

Alternatively, try launching the game directly from the .exe file in the installation folder rather than through the Steam/Epic shortcut. 3. Check for "Read-Only" Attributes

Sometimes an update changes folder permissions, preventing the game from "opening" the file because Windows has locked it.

Go to your game’s installation folder (usually SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\GameName). Right-click the main folder and select Properties. At the bottom, uncheck Read-only.

Click Apply and choose "Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files." 4. Free Up Disk Space

The "bigfile000" is exactly what it sounds like—a massive archive. If your drive is at 99% capacity, the game may fail to "unpack" or open the file during the post-update initialization. Ensure you have at least 10-15GB of free space on the drive where the game is installed to allow for temporary cache files. 5. Antivirus Interference

Occasionally, an aggressive antivirus update might flag a newly updated bigfile000 as a "suspiciously large modified file." Temporarily disable your Real-Time Protection. Try to launch the game.

If it works, add the game folder to your antivirus Exclusion List.

In 90% of cases, Verifying the Integrity of Game Files solves the problem by redownloading the specific corrupted segment of the bigfile. If that fails, checking your folder permissions or disk space are your best secondary bets.

The error "unable to open bigfile bigfile.000" typically occurs in games developed by Crystal Dynamics or Eidos, such as Marvel's Avengers , Shadow of the Tomb Raider , and Rise of the Tomb Raider

 . It usually points to corrupted or missing game data after an update . Recommended Fixes

Verify Integrity of Game Files: This is the most common and effective solution.

Steam: Right-click the game in your Library > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files... .

Epic Games: Click the three dots next to the game > Manage > Verify.

Microsoft Store/Xbox App: Go to the game's page > Manage > Files > Verify and Repair .

Delete and Re-download Specific Files: If verification fails, manually delete the problematic files to force a clean download. Published by: Tech Rescue Team Reading Time: 6

Navigate to your game installation folder (e.g., SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/Shadow of the Tomb Raider) .

Find and delete all files named bigfile.000 through bigfile.011 (often with a .tiger extension) .

Run the Verify Integrity tool again to re-download the clean versions .

Check Disk Space and Permissions: Ensure you have enough free space on your drive (at least 10–20 GB extra) and that your antivirus is not blocking the file access . Add the game folder to your antivirus Exclusion List .

Reset the Store (Microsoft Store version): If you are using the Xbox app on PC, some users find success by using a PowerShell command to force a refresh of the store scripts and files .

The error message "unable to open bigfile bigfile000 updated" is a critical technical failure typically associated with the Crystal Dynamics engine, used in titles such as the Tomb Raider reboot series and Marvel's Avengers. It occurs when the game client cannot access or read its primary data archives, effectively halting the software's ability to load assets. Causes of the Error This error generally stems from one of three issues:

File Corruption: During a patch or update, the "bigfile000.tiger" archive may become partially corrupted or incomplete.

Permission Conflicts: The operating system or security software (like Windows Defender) may block the game's access to its own installation directory.

Hardware Failures: Underlying disk errors or failing sectors on a hard drive can prevent the reading of large, monolithic data files. Primary Troubleshooting Steps

To resolve this issue, users should follow these sequential steps:

Verify Game Integrity: On platforms like Steam, right-click the game, select Properties, go to Installed Files, and click Verify integrity of game files. This forces the launcher to compare local data against the server and redownload missing or broken chunks.

Administrative Privileges: Ensure the game executable is running with administrative rights to bypass permission locks. Right-click the game's .exe file, select Properties, and check Run this program as an administrator under the Compatibility tab.

Disable Background Security: Temporarily disable antivirus software or add the game folder as an "Exclusion" to prevent the scanner from locking the bigfile while the game tries to open it.

Update Drivers: Ensure your GPU drivers and DirectX versions are current, as outdated system APIs can sometimes fail to hand off file-reading tasks correctly.

If these steps fail, a full reinstallation of the game is usually required to ensure a clean, unfragmented copy of the "bigfile" archives is written to the disk. Are you seeing this error on Steam or a different launcher? Select the partition, choose [Whole] , and let it carve

How to FIX Shadow of the Tomb Raider Not Launching/Not Starting

How to Fix the "Unable to Open Bigfile bigfile000.updated" Error

If you’ve just downloaded a large update for a game like Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, or Marvel’s Avengers, nothing kills the excitement faster than a crash-to-desktop followed by the error: "Unable to open bigfile bigfile000.updated."

This error typically indicates that the game engine is trying to access a patched archive file that is either missing, corrupted, or locked by your system. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting back into the action. 1. Verify Integrity of Game Files (The Most Likely Fix)

Most of the time, this happens because a "delta" update (a small patch meant to update a larger file) failed to merge correctly. Instead of reinstalling the whole game, let your launcher fix the specific file. On Steam: Right-click the game in your Library. Select Properties > Installed Files. Click Verify integrity of game files. On Epic Games Store: Find the game in your Library. Click the three dots (...) and select Manage. Click Verify. 2. Manually Delete the ".updated" File

Sometimes the game creates a temporary file (bigfile000.updated) during a patch and forgets to rename or delete it, causing a conflict.

Navigate to your game's installation folder (usually under SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\[Game Name]). Look for a file named bigfile000.updated. Delete it.

Attempt to launch the game. The engine should revert to using the original bigfile000.tiger (or equivalent) or trigger a small, clean redownload. 3. Check Disk Space

"Bigfiles" are exactly what they sound like—often 5GB to 20GB each. If your hard drive ran out of space during the update, the ".updated" file will be truncated and unreadable. Ensure you have at least 30GB of free space on the drive where the game is installed to allow for file unpacking and patching. 4. Disable "Read-Only" Attributes

If your system permissions changed, the game might be unable to "open" the file because it doesn't have permission to write to it. Go to the game’s data folder. Right-click the folder and select Properties. Uncheck Read-only at the bottom.

Click Apply and choose "Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files." 5. Antivirus Interference

Some aggressive Antivirus software flags large .updated files as suspicious because they are modified rapidly during a patch.

Temporarily disable your Antivirus or Windows Real-Time Protection.

Try launching the game. If it works, add the game's installation folder to your Exclusion List.

The "bigfile000.updated" error is almost always a patching glitch. By verifying your files through Steam or manually removing the temporary .updated file, you force the game to re-sync its data.

Are you seeing this error on a specific game, or did it happen immediately after a Windows update?

Based on the diagnostics, apply the corresponding solution.