Lightroom Classic crash and catalog corruption when used with Google and Synology NAS Drive clients

[Dan Roman]

Lightroom Classic 12.5 Release Camera Raw 15.5 Build [202308091523-68a7abd6]

Windows 11 Pro, Version 22H2, OS build 22621.2283

Issue:

Running Lightroom Classic with a real-time sync for file backup, in my case Google Drive client for backup to the cloud and Synology NAS Drive client for local NAS backup, results in Lightroom crashes and catalog corruption.

Step 1:  With Google Drive client and Synology NAS Drive client actively syncing, open Lightroom Classic.

Step 2:  Everything appears to work correctly while using Lightroom.

Step 3:  Exit Lightroom Classic, a crash can occur when attempting to exit Lightroom.

Step 4:  When Lightroom is started again the catalog that was in use is reported as being corrupt and must be scanned and repaired.

Expected Result:  Lightroom Classic should exit without crashing or corrupting the catalog.

Actual Result:  Lightroom Classic crashes on attempting to close the catalog and corrupts the catalog.  Happens fairly consistently but not 100% of the time.

Current Workaround:  Pause Google Drive client and Synology NAS Drive client syncing before running Lightroom Classic and resume sync after Lightroom has successfully closed.

Possible Cause:  It appears that during the closing process Lightroom releases files and then tries to open them again.  If the sync client opens the file(s) before Lightroom attempts to reopen them then Lightroom can't lock the file and apparently crashes.  Lightroom should not close files it is not actually done updating or processing to avoid a sync client from thinking the file is closed and should be backed up.  This appears to be a more recent behavior because this did not appear to happen as recently as a few months ago and I have been using both drive clients to sync backups for a couple of years.

[GoldingD]

I assume, as you are using Onedrive (cloud) , and  you are using your NAS, to create two sets of backups, that you are not using the LrC backup option when you close LrC, correct?

Also, I assume that OneDrive is only syncing, that the catalog is not actually on OneDrive, just a copy. Are you sure OneDrive is behaving?

[Dan Roman]

I am not using OneDrive but Google Drive (both cloud) and the NAS to create a cloud backup and local backup on my NAS.  I have the LrC backup option set to run once a month but this is not being executed when the error occurs.  The pictures/videos and catalogs are on my local desktop hard drive, they are not in the cloud or on the NAS.

I have not had problems with any other software and the sync clients, including PhotoShop, Premiere, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, etc. or with any other office or productivity apps.  This appears to be unique to LrC.

[GoldingD]

A bit off track, not a OneDrive user, and I suspect when I see members system info via LrC, that the library path that includes the words OneDrive in it, might refer to sync. or does it mean the catalog is on the cloud?

I normally assume that library path looks like:

Library Path: W:\Active Projects\Photography\test\test-v12.lrcat

not what some members with issues have:

Library Path: C:\Users\alle1\OneDrive\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

I know that you are looking for a solution to your problem, but this bugs me, and it sounds like you know your OneDrive, whereas normal members might be stumbling on that thanks to MS. (tyically new members)

[Dan Roman]

My catalog path is indeed local, not on the cloud, and is in the form C:\Users\user\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

[Dan Roman]

Some more detail.  I discovered that LrC can crash on startup with Google Drive doing a sync.

The error from LR was:

Google Drive sync was running but my Synology NAS Drive sync was paused.

There were Lightroom files showing up in the Drive sync queue, but I am not sure if they were there before or after the error message window from LR popped up.