I've just upgraded to CD2017 from CD6 (bought in 1995). Most of the .cdr files show an error dialog when I try to open: "invalid fill ID". When I click on "ignore", CD2017 crashes, invites me to tell Microsoft.
If I open the same file in CD6, copy the content & try to paste into a new doc in CD2017, it crashes just the same.
Would love to hear of any workaround to save my extensive set of files.
I've just answered my own question! But it may help some other bewildered soul somewhere.
In CD6 I saved as .CMX, then opened the CMX file in CD2017 and saved again, overwriting the CD6 version. Haven't checked thoroughly but it seems full intact and working now.