Try looking for charactername.bak (or .bac?) files in your save folder and rename the extension .b2s (overriding the corrupted file). That did the trick, thanks a lot! I was afraid the backup would have been overwritten already because of my efforts trying to restore the char with hero editor but the oldest .bak file was the original one!
I've been using it for about 6 years now. One thing you could do is go to the Search bar of your Start menu, type up your single player character name, and see if your computer can find it. I just tried it (I typed Palligator, the name of my Zealot), the the .d2s file showed up. See if that helps you find your characters.

These files intricately capture a player's in-game progress, from their character's location to critical decisions made in the storyline, ensuring seamless continuity when they resume play. With the evolution of online gaming platforms, [PC] Diablo II Savegame Save Game file downloads have surged in popularity. Players frequently click on the

Start up ATMA. Go to the File menu, Select "Load D2S file". Navigate to where you installed Diablo II (usually C:\Program Files\Diablo II) Go into the "save" folder. Look for the .d2s file with the same name as your character. Load the file. Alternatively, you can. Start up ATMA. Go to the "Configure" menu.
Start at Level 32 (v. 1.07 or higher): 1.) Create a shortcut for Diablo 2: LoD on your desktop. 2.) Right-click the shortcut and select 'Properties.' 3.) At the end of the target line, add…
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diablo 2 save game location