Need help recovering corrupt .3dS files and backups.

[Nimmy]

OK this is just about any animators worst case scenario
it's 6 days before the animation is due, and we are just about to start the rendering (yeah not a lot of breathing space), I just made my final touches on one of the models when I saved it, and 3ds MAX, surprisingly (not) said it's gonna crash, and asked if it should backup my file, now considering the fact I saved I hesitated but I said yes anyways
well after it crashed and I started it over I tried opening the file
didn't work, same with the recovery file (Said it can't open it)

well luckily I had a back up file I opened that one, made my changes and saved as a new file, then 3ds max8 did the same problem, and BOTH the backup file and the newly saved ones don't work AND none of their recoveries

I have no more backups, meaning an ENTIRE model is GONE, well I have some early starts, but not much,

what can I do to fix the .MAX files? is this a known problem?
I'm really stressed out because of this

if your wondering what action I did was, "scale uniform" down a bit then re-align that object (it was a robot claw, teaser =)
then save, then it crashed

now I tried making a new file (just a cube) and when I saved it, it worked
so I'm kinda...I dunno what to do

please help THANKS!

I'll check this forum frequently but in any case:
my MAIL and MSN: Nimmysonny@yahoo.co.uk
ICQ:96992374
AIM:NimrodHaShikor

please help me guys, this could destroy our animation and I promise to give you credit where credits due.

cheers!