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cindyh83512444
Inspiring
April 24, 2020
Answered

LR was unable to prepare the selected file

After the lastest update for LR Classic V9.2.1 Windows version, I am unable to use any plugin's. PS, Affinity, Nik, Topaz ...all give me this error "Lightroom was unable to prepare the selected file at..It will not be opened. All plugins were working prior to update.

 

How do I fix this error?

 

Thanks

Cindy

 

 

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cindyh83512444Correct answer
Inspiring
May 5, 2020

It was an issue with the external drive. Copied files from bad drive to new WD External drive, renamed drive letter to same as the old, opened LR and pointed catalog file to new location --- opened a photo > right click > Edit in > Dfine....WORKED, tested again usin Affinity photo and a different file...worked fine that time.

 

So the issue was with the external drive and nothing to do with LR or the external editors. Thanks everyone for helping and pointing me in the right direction to figure it out.

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26 replies

lesp67390386
Participant
May 20, 2022

I had this issue. My 4TB drive was filled to the max with files so i took about 100 gig off and viola, no error.   That simple.

Make sure your harddrive is not MAXED out on drive space.

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Laidbak2
Participant
June 24, 2021

I'm having this problem right now and something told me to check the drive and it is FULL.  So check to see if the external drive you're working off of is close to being full or not because when I want to edit it creates a duplicate file which it's looking for space to put that file at. 

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Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 5, 2020

Hopefully you will have it working eventually.

Next diagnostic-

Recreate an 'Additional External Editor' preset for one of the external programs (eg. NIK Silver Efex) as a totally new 'Edit-in' preset.

Double-check that the correct file format is set in Preferences for this new entry.

Try again.

 

If 'Edit In' Photoshop (the default) is not working, then a re-install of Photoshop is often recommended.

Also curious- Why would you be using a drive that is labelled as a "Backup" drive for photos in the Catalog?

 

 

 

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Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.6, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.7, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
cindyh83512444Author
Inspiring
May 5, 2020

I had already removed and re-added all the external editors...that didn't help. The name of the external drive is the default of the drive...I just never changed it.

 

However, I do have another external drive that I tested with and the photo's on that drive work just fine in LR - I can import, right click and select an editor and it opens just fine.

 

So it has something to do with the Seagate external drive....it might be going bad. I will copy all the files from the Seagate to the WD drive and then test again to see what happens....but that's going to take a while...lots of gig's to copy!

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    cindyh83512444AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2020

    It was an issue with the external drive. Copied files from bad drive to new WD External drive, renamed drive letter to same as the old, opened LR and pointed catalog file to new location --- opened a photo > right click > Edit in > Dfine....WORKED, tested again usin Affinity photo and a different file...worked fine that time.

     

    So the issue was with the external drive and nothing to do with LR or the external editors. Thanks everyone for helping and pointing me in the right direction to figure it out.

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    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 5, 2020

    Your screen-clip of the error message shows that the file you are trying to 'Edit In' has full-stops in the Folder name.

    ....Eagles Nest\4.23.2020\DSC_3800.NEF

    Another diagnostic-

    Can you try moving this image to another folder in Lightroom that does not have the full-stops, and try the 'Edit-in' again.

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    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.6, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.7, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2020

    Created a new folder on my external drive, moved a couple of photo's to it, imported to LR and tested....did not work...got the same error

    However, when I look at the security of the folder I created on my external drive...it is showing as Read Only....even after unchecking the Read only....apply....close folder and reopen...the Read Only is checked.

    So I am thinking this is an issue with my external drive and not LR....but what...that is the question now!

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    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    May 5, 2020

    Not at my PC, but will comment

     

    In that screen, click on the Security tab.

     

    Will look for link with directions.

     

    Just playing with that Read only box will not solve much.

     

    see:

     

    https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/set-file-folder-permissions-windows/

     

     

     

     

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    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 4, 2020

    While researching this error message- one link suggested that the error occurs when the folder with the images is set to 'Read only'. Check that the external drive and all image folders have full Read/Write permissions.

    'Read only' would prevent the new 'exported' file being 'saved' to the folder.

    https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/set-file-folder-permissions-windows/

     

    Also does the external drive have sufficient free space? (maybe even 20% of its rated capacity?)

     

     

     

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    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.6, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.7, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2020

    That was the first thing I checked and I do have full control over the Pictures folder as well as the main drive itself, and my drive is no where near full.

     

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    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    May 3, 2020

    If the previous worked, export another. This time within Lightroom Classic, try Edit In (sekect original when propted)

     

    Does that work.

     

    If that worked, tey another, this time select edit a copy when prompted (with or without, not important)

     

     

     

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    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2020

    The edit in from with LR does not work....doesn't matter if it's a jpg, tiff or raw file....that's where the issue lies.  Thanks for helping me ...I do appreciate it.

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    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    May 3, 2020

    1. Can you accomplish a simple export, without editing in external editor? Can you simply export to a TIFF file?

     

    2. After that export, outside of Lightroom Classic, can you use one of those third party programs to edit. DxO NIK ColorEfex for example (not all NIK apps can run on their own)

     

    This is a diagnostic, not a workaround.

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    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 5, 2020

    Yes I can export the file from LR as a tiff, then open in my 3rd party apps -- Affinity Photo, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex Pro ....all worked fine outside of LR on the tiff.

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    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    May 5, 2020

    So, not a folders rights issue with Lightroom Classic, or the external editor.

     

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    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    April 25, 2020

    Corrupted file? If that's the case, you need to find a backup, or the original on the camera card.

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    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 3, 2020

    Files are not corrupt -- External hard drive is working fine, double checked that and even ran a scan to verify. I get this error no matter which photo I try and open - whether I try from my desktop or the external drive....could it be the LR catalog is corrupted?

     

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    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    April 25, 2020

    Using smart previews? If so, is the hard drive the original photos are on connected? On?

     

    P.S. apparently using attachments on this community site is even worse than previous, try to not attach files, just paste the image in a reply.

     

     

     

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    cindyh83512444Author
    Inspiring
    May 3, 2020

    External hard drive is connected, all programs work seperate from Lightroom using the external drive, just when you try and right click on the photo in LR > select Edit > select which program I want to edit in....I get this error. External drive has all the correct permissions so it's not a read/write issue...I did double check that. It doesn't matter which plugin I try and use - Affinity Photo, any of the NIK collection like Color Efex, Topaz DeNoise....none work.

     

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