P: unknown error while writing metadata to this photo

OK - got the original file, I think (51.7KB).

Anyway, Lightroom choked on it, but exiftool can read and update metadata in it.

I'd guess the problem is due to an incompatibility between Adobe Premiere Elements 8.0 or Elements Organizer 9.0 and Lightroom, or something like that.

I think Lightroom needs to be robustened metadata-wise, thusly:

- Do better (even if it means going along with stuff that does not meet current spec...).
- Confess when its done its best and that still isn't good enough (provide informative error message).
- Have an option to repair (non-raw) photo files: e.g. rewrite file to spec, salvaging whatever metadata is possible, and warning user of potential metadata loss...

I get the same error with the file you posted.

The problem appears to be in the IPTC section of metatadata. If you delete the IPTC:keywords field with the freeware "exiftool":

exiftool -iptc:keywords= "dean1965 - copy.jpg"

and then import the file, the problem no longer occurs. The keywords also appear in the XMP metadata section, so you're not losing any information by deleting the IPTC:keywords field (LR gives preference to the XMP:keywords field over IPTC:keywords).

It appears that you used Photoshop Elements 9 previously to manage this file. Did you use any other software, or juse PSE 9? The PSE Organizer has many bugs when it comes to metadata -- this is the first I've heard of this problem, but if indeed this is caused by the Organizer, it doesn't surprise me.

http://dtalbertphoto.smugmug.com/Othe... see if that works there is a option to save the orig file. this is a scan of a old picture.

Can you post a link to the original? - it seems this one as I'm able to lasso it from this web page, is not straight from camera - or is this a scan, or a previous save...?

the above jpg is a example. I created a new catalog, imported just this photo, added metadata and attempt to save it to the file - I get the error.

Consider posting an offending photo so others can verify. My hunch is incompatibility between Lightroom and another program that has written the file (metadata).

Adobe: better "illumination" when this sort of error occurs would help.

this is a usb attached drive that is never removed - mirrored 1 tb drive used for storage of the photos. I update many files which sit in the same location without issue. my system specs are below:

Lightroom version: 3.6 [795620]
Operating system: Windows 7 Ultimate Edition
Version: 6.1 [7601]
Application architecture: x64
System architecture: x64
Physical processor count: 8
Processor speed: 2.9 GHz
Built-in memory: 8183.0 MB
Real memory available to Lightroom: 8183.0 MB
Real memory used by Lightroom: 266.7 MB (3.2%)
Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 250.9 MB
Memory cache size: 153.1 MB
System DPI setting: 96 DPI
Desktop composition enabled: Yes
Displays: 1) 1920x1080, 2) 1280x1024
Serial Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Application folder: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6
Library Path: C:\Users\Dean\Pictures\Lightroom\full_photo_library\full_photo_library.lrcat
Settings Folder: C:\Users\Dean\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom

Is the image file on a removable drive or other non-local fixed disk?