i just could not open an illustrator file any more as it looks damaged and could not be repaired
OK.
My sympathy.
adobe’s web site
You might want to start at the Illustrator help site….
Look here: https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/245/858214 http://www.techrepublic.com/forums/questions/recovery-of-illustrator-file-is-it-possible-to-do/ I hope it will help
Trust nobody that posts spam, including yourself.