Protection problem

I have a relatively gigantic problem. Recently I was working on a map and experimenting with WinMPQ. I opened my map, worked on some of the units, then saved it. Shortly after, I saved over my 4 backups. I then proceeded to test the map. After the map loaded all it did was sit there.... as if there were no triggers.

Curiously, I opened the map in the World Editor only to find that all the triggers had been deleted. These triggers were complicated, LONG triggers which I had been writing for 2 weeks; at least 3 hours a day.

I opened all of my backup maps finding that their triggers were deleted also ( I had saved over them not knowing that the triggers were not there. ) This is a big nightmare.

All I have left now is an older version of the map ( which isn't that old ) but it is PROTECTED! I can't open it in the World Editor... so basically my question is: Is there a file I can delete using WinMPQ to ' unprotect ' my map without damaging it too badly?

PLEASE HELP ME, This is over 3 weeks of my work that I do not want wasted... :(

heh, i deleted a file from my corridors version when i protected it, and forgot to make a backup.. i thought it would unprotect it.. but it just made the game not load at all :(
i would also like the answer of this question

I'm not completely sure but I think there is No way to Unprotect maps...

when a map is "protected" files that the WE uses are removed so it cannot be opned anymore, there is no way to retreive the lost GUI triggers this way, if you did not resave the map, the war3map.J file should still be in the mpq. that file contains all your triggers, however... they are all custom text now, and there is no way of gettin the GUI back, i had this happen to me a while back, it was a problem then, but thats when i started messing with jass, and now thats all i use... If you can understand / follow jass. Your triggers are not lost... But the GUI triggers are gone for good.

If you really want the gui triggers back, you can try to figure out the War3Map.wtg file format, and recreate it ;)

I remember trying to do that once, but iirc the format was illogical and would have required knowing how many paramaters each function took, so i dropped it :D

i don't this it's safe to discuss unprotecting maps, but even if your telling the truth people would know how to unportect and then there would be millions of edits of PROTECTED maps... so,.. thread closed sorry.

thast the thing i was saying though, there is no way to unprotect a map, the GUI triggers are gone for good