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T
Thornton102
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2019
Answered

Import hangs

  • July 8, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 1700 views

When I try to import anything into a catalog, LR stops responding right after I press the "Import" button.

I've tried rebooting the machine, importing into a new catalog, importing into another catalog and reinstalling (but keeping my preferences) LR.  So far nothing's worked.  If anything, things have gotten slightly worse and I give up after a few minutes.  I looked around in my AppData file but didn't see anything that jumps out.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Sahil.Chawla

Sahil,

Would deleting anything from the AppData directory help?  I did a search for huge files and there were no obvious ones.  I feel like I've researched and tried everything except using a 3rd-party app to clean up the AppData dir.


Thanks for sharing the info, deleting from AppData might not help in this case.

Could you please remove any of these external devices like hard drive, camera, card reader, phone and tablet connected to your computer and check if Lightroom still locks up as soon as you click import?

Also, try creating a new catalog and then try importing from the local drive and see how it goes.

6 replies

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 10, 2019

By the way, another members non related issue reminds me to inquire

Have you made sure that some attached device, like a multi card reader, another reader, a tablet, a smartphone (apparently Android creates issues) etc. is not causing issues?

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 9, 2019

As your issue is slow imports as opposed to absolutely hung or a crash, perhaps some import performance links, mind you if it takes all day to import say 20 images, then something other than performance is going on

https://improvephotography.com/51701/import-photos-lightroom-faster/

one thing to get out of the above link is what else is running, and turn this off, apparently Chrome

anither point is to copy the images to your hard drive then ADD them to your catalog. Mostly this frees up your SD card and reader quicker

https://havecamerawilltravel.com/lightroom/lightroom-tips-ways-speed-importing-images/

talks about limiting your preview creation during import, gets that SD card and reader free quicker, you still have to put up with preview creation once you work with the imports.

talks of metadata presets, saves you steps, does not speed import up.

talks of minimized importer, I have never tried.

https://www.creative-photographer.com/how-to-save-time-importing-photos-into-lightroom/

much of what is in previous

Adds mention that converting to DNG can slow import down

Adds creation of Smart Previews can slow import down

Adds embedded and sidecar previews (camera dependent)

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 8, 2019

By the way, and this because of what my just previous inquiry could imply, do you have another SD card reader to try. AND a different SD card to try. Getting at problem with card reader or card?

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 8, 2019

Were you importing from your SD card or had you copied the images outside of lightroom onto your hard drive

If the first (Copy) try the second (ADD)

T
Thornton102Author
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2019

I copied them off of a USB drive I had into the final directory using Windows Explorer.

I purged my cache to no effect.

I press the "Import" button and nothing happens except for the turning blue circle.

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 8, 2019

First up, which are you trying to accomplish:

a) Copy

b) Copy as DNG

c) ADD

d) Move

Second up, have you tested/checked the hard drives involved,

The hard drive your catalog is in

The hard drive you are placing the images in.

And how about testing the RAM (RAM problems can show up in LR before showing up in other apps, RAM problems can cause all sorts of issues)

Refer to item 10 in: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/standard-lightroom-troubleshooting-steps/

T
Thornton102Author
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2019

I don't get that far.  I seem to be able to do anything else in LR, though.

GoldingD
GoldingD
Brainiac
July 9, 2019

Believe it or not, it does import things correctly, only incredibly slowly!  It took about 30 minutes to complete and each step was very slow.  Displaying the source directories seems to take the longest.

To test it after I imported the photos, I restarted LR and tried again.  Again it's incredibly slow!

I don't have a lot of presets and I can easily reinstall them.  Should I do a complete reinstall using the Windows "Add or remove programs" app?


Should have asked, somehow I assumed, how many images were you importing?

Sahil.Chawla
Community Manager
Sahil.ChawlaCommunity Manager
Community Manager
July 8, 2019

Hi there,

That shouldn't be happening, let us help make it right.


As the import is hanging in Lightroom, could you please let us know the exact version of Lightroom you're using?
Also, what operating system are you working on?

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,
Sahil

T
Thornton102Author
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2019

Hi,

I'm using LR Classic May 2019 release (version 8.3) running on Windows 10 Home version 1809.  One of the things I tried was to move the files into the desired directory on an internal HDD (D:\) and importing from there.

I've reset my preferences in "Lightroom Classic CC 7 Preferences.agprefs," turned off my graphics card, increased my cache size.

Some threads I looked at:

Not Responding​

Import button in LR does not respond, so cannot import photos

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