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Electric_power15C3
Electric_power15C3
Participant
March 17, 2025
Answered

Damage (deletes) photos

  • March 17, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 294 views

I am running LRC v14.2 and Win11. Since I have 2 computers I have my catalog on external harddisk. This solution has been working fine for a long time, however lately (v14 ?) I have now discovered that LRC damage (delete) my original RAW photos in a way that I loose them. They are deleted from my disk.

 

I put my raw files in different folders and add them in to the catalog. In the library module I rename the pictures, then I go to Develop module for adjustment and export them as JPEG photos. All this is working fine. The problem is that in my previos folder all RAW files has been deleted and the RAW files from last folder is copied in to that folder.  In the libary module I can see the picture, but in Develop module it says "The file could not be found"

Correct answer dj_paige

Yes, the drive can have letter G on Desktop and D on laptop. That could be the cause of your problems, and is easily fixed. However, you say

 

When I use windows explorer I can not find the missing photos.

 

So there's something else going on here otherwise you would find the photos using Windows Explorer. Did you use the search feature in Windows Explorer to search all folders on this external disk?

 

I have not moved or deleted photos inside LrC or using windows explorer.

 

Unfortunately, this is not relevant. You could have accidentally done something without realizing it. In fact, if the files can't be found, then the only explanation is that the user deleted them somehow.

2 replies

GoldingD
GoldingD
Legend
March 18, 2025

And at this point it should be asked, where are your backups of the RAW photos.

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
March 18, 2025

Lightroom Classic does not delete your photos by itself. If somehow you (accidentally?) told LrC to delete the photos, or if you deleted them (accidentally?) outside of LrC, then your photos are deleted. Restore them from your backups.

 

In the libary module I can see the picture, but in Develop module it says "The file could not be found"

 

This could also happen if the photos were moved, renamed or deleted outside of LrC, or if the folders that they are stored in have been moved, renamed or deleted. Please search your entire hard disk(s) using Windows Explorer for these files.

 

Electric_power15C3
Electric_power15C3Author
Participant
March 18, 2025

It is very strange. They disapear when I use LrC. I have not moved or deleted photos inside LrC or using windows explorer. When I use windows explorer I can not find the missing photos. 

My catalog is on external harddrive. Can the issue be related to use of Desktop and Lap Top, when I connect the external harddive. The external harddrive will have letter G on Desktop and letter D on Lap top? 

dj_paige
dj_paigeCorrect answer
Legend
March 18, 2025

Yes, the drive can have letter G on Desktop and D on laptop. That could be the cause of your problems, and is easily fixed. However, you say

 

When I use windows explorer I can not find the missing photos.

 

So there's something else going on here otherwise you would find the photos using Windows Explorer. Did you use the search feature in Windows Explorer to search all folders on this external disk?

 

I have not moved or deleted photos inside LrC or using windows explorer.

 

Unfortunately, this is not relevant. You could have accidentally done something without realizing it. In fact, if the files can't be found, then the only explanation is that the user deleted them somehow.

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