Lightroom Classic refuses to open (preview cache error), even on clean install

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
October 18, 2019
3 replies
665 views

After not opening LR for some time, I wanted to export some photos, so I opened it. Or at least, I tried. None of the photos were showing (everything was grey, *everything*). So, I was led here: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/lightroom-gives-error-preview-cache.html. I followed that, and deleted the files, and restarted Lighroom.

Now, I got the error message version of that: "Lightroom encountered an error when reading from its preview cache and needs to quit". Great. Now what? I tried the solution and the problem escalated. I thought maybe ok, my catalog is corrupted -- I have a backup. I restore the backup, and try to open Lightroom again -- same error.

Ok, maybe the backup is bad? I'd be really sad though. I launch LR while holding down some combination of control/alt/shift to get the open catalog window, and I chose to create a new default catalog (note that at this point I copied my entire existing Pictures/Lightroom folder elsewhere). Guess what -- same error, when creating a default catalog. The new catalog does get created, but LR doesn't even open far enough to do anything with it.

Next step? Ok, I uninstall everything -- creative cloud and lightroom, and I use the "Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool" to make sure it's gone. I restart. I re-download LR from the website, and install it.

Oh, something new this time: "Lightroom cannot create a catalog named <bla bla>". Of course I'm not on a network drive, it's literally C:/Users/<username>/Pictures. Googling tells me I should try running LR with admin rights, and I do -- and that gets past that error. And then I'm back at the same error about previews.

I have no idea what's going on -- this is literally on a fresh install of lightroom, it's creating a new catalog -- there's NO PREVIEWS TO SPEAK OF. The only thing left to do is reinstall Windows, and no way I'm doing that.

As far as I know, I did not update Lightroom between the last time I opened it (when it worked) and just now when I tried (I disabled auto-update). I do believe there were one or two windows updates during that period.

What in the world is going on?

Lightroom Classic 8.4.1

Creative Cloud 5.0.0.354

Windows 10 1903

This topic has been closed for replies.

GoldingD

Legend

Long read, lots of attempts, multiple problems. So do not get pissed if I rudely overlooked something in plain site.

1. Reccomend that you avoid putting any catalog, or any photos in any standard Windows default folders. Pictures comes to mind. Documents as well, etc. Microsoft had an update issue and some people with files in a Pictures got (insert cuss word here)

2.Recommend not placing catalogs or photos in your account folders . Slim possibility of MS Fing that up.

Make a folder of your choosing, on a hard drive, call it anything that MS Windows does not use, say for example Photography.

This has two advantages, avoids MS Fuos, creates a new folder without any user rights issues.

This will take all of say 3 minutes to try out, and if it fails? No biggie, got to at least try.

note: typing this in via an iPad while sitting on my rear end, watching TV. So bound to be errors. Will have to get off my rear end and fix that, soecifcaly directory's to avoid.

ManiacJoe

Inspiring

Almost sounds like a file system permissions problem.

Have you done any Windows updates lately?

What happens if you put the catalog into a folder outside your profile's folder, say "c:\lr_catalogs" ?

JP Hess

Inspiring

It sounds like your preview cache has become corrupted. Open the folder that contains your catalog and locate a folder With the extension lrdata, and delete that folder and ONLY that folder. Then try to run Lightroom again. Lightroom should start and begin building a new previews folder. If you have more than one catalog, it will be the folder that has the same name as your catalog, but with that extension.

Z

zhiayangAuthor

Participant

Not to be rude, but I'm not sure if you've read the contents of the post. I have removed (moved) the entire Pictures/Lightroom folder elsewhere, so as far as the catalog is concerned, LR is starting on a clean slate.

There is nothing to delete, and I have tried many (many many) times to delete that folder and start from a fresh catalog. Does not work.