LR Classic Preview Cache Error - cannot delete db-journal file

[AGPhotos]

My PC Specs - Windows 11, Lightroom Classic V13, RAW files on External HDD. 

I received this error today morning - Lightroom encountered an error while reading its preview cache and needs to stop. 

As per earlier suggestions - I have tried to delete the Lightroom Catalog-v13 Previews.lrdata folder - however, there are two files which are not being deleted - previews.db-journal &  root-pixels.db-journal - with the error stating Adminstrator permission is required. The Security settings of this file already has ALL permissions (including Delete) to Everyone/Admin.

I have deleted all the remaining files in the Previews folder.    

Any idea how to resolve this problem ? 

[F. McLion]

Just to make sure: Did you stop LrC before trying to delete? Eventually, even restart the PC before trying to delete?

[AGPhotos]

Yes - LrC was not running while trying to delete. I even restarted the PC - same issue. 

However, the first time the error occured, i closed LrC and restarted it, instead of waiting for LrC to stop by itself. Maybe thats the reason for the journal files to remain in the folder ?? But the question still remains - what next ? 

[F. McLion]

The journal files are usually only there while LrC is running and vanish as LrC is closed.

While LrC is not running, check the file properties for a write-protection you can clear.

If that is not the case, I'd try with Windows started in safe mode.

And next, install MS Powertoys and use File Locksmith to see "who" is blocking it.

https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/powertoys/file-locksmith

[AGPhotos]

Thanks for the reply - i started Windows in Safe Mode. And was able to delete the Lightroom Catalog-v13 Previews.lrdata folder successfully. Then restarted the PC and tried LrC - but i am facing the same issue - Lightroom encountered an error while reading its preview cache and needs to quit. Lightroom will attempt to fix this problem the next time it launches.

What should i do next ? Would deleting the helper.lrdata folder help ? 

[F. McLion]

Please post the first 3 blocks (approx. 55 lines) from the system information in the help menu.

[AGPhotos]

Sorry for late reply.. was out of town. 

Unfortunately I cannot proceed using LrC due to the error. Would reinstalling the App resolve this problem?

Please post the first 3 blocks (approx. 55 lines) from the system information in the help menu.

By F. McLion

[F. McLion]

That could maybe help.

First, please try resetting the preferences: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/setting-preferences-lightroom.html

This helps with all sorts of issues, and they are not being reset when uninstalling and reinstalling.

[AGPhotos]

Ok i tried opening an earlier Catalog - and could manage to copy the 3 Blocks from System Info as under : Does this help ? Even opening the old Catalog, got the same error - hence, it is an App issue, not a Catalog issue I guess. 

Lightroom Classic version: 13.1 [ 202312111226-41a494e8 ]
License: Creative Cloud
Language setting: en
Operating system: Windows 11 - Home Premium Edition
Version: 11.0.22621
Application architecture: x64
System architecture: x64
Logical processor count: 16
Processor speed: 3.1GHz
SqLite Version: 3.36.0
CPU Utilisation: 2.0%
Built-in memory: 14188.0 MB
Dedicated GPU memory used by Lightroom: 64.0MB / 6012.0MB (1%)
Real memory available to Lightroom: 14188.0 MB
Real memory used by Lightroom: 1150.0 MB (8.1%)
Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 1202.9 MB
GDI objects count: 739
USER objects count: 2332
Process handles count: 3976
Memory cache size: 0.0MB
Internal Camera Raw version: 16.1 [ 1728 ]
Maximum thread count used by Camera Raw: 5
Camera Raw SIMD optimization: SSE2,AVX,AVX2
Camera Raw virtual memory: 26MB / 7094MB (0%)
Camera Raw real memory: 27MB / 14188MB (0%)
System DPI setting: 120 DPI
Desktop composition enabled: Yes
Standard Preview Size: 1920 pixels
Displays: 1) 1920x1080
Input types: Multitouch: No, Integrated touch: No, Integrated pen: No, External touch: No, External pen: No, Keyboard: No

Graphics Processor Info:
DirectX: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU (31.0.15.3197)
Init State: GPU for Image Processing supported by default
User Preference: GPU for Image Processing Enabled

Application folder: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Lightroom Classic
Library Path: D:\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog-v13-2.lrcat
Settings Folder: C:\Users\Ashit Gandhi\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom

[AGPhotos]

I tried to reset the Preferences - no luck - same error. Should I try uninstalling and re-installing now ?

[AGPhotos · Accepted solution]

Ok - so i have now uninstalled the App and re-installed the latest version V13.1. I also shifted the Lightroom Folder from External HDD to C Drive. (Maybe that was the problem - Lightroom Catalogs on the External HDD ??)

I can now open the LrC successfully. 

Thank you so much for your help and patience in guiding me through this process.  

[F. McLion]

Catalogs are commonly used on external drives (i.e. USB), that should not be an issue. Personally, I prefer internal SSDs.

Catalogs on a network drive does not work, even if mapped to a drive letter.

Photos can be put wherever you like them to be, and the drives can be on- or off-line with some limitation when they are offline.

Your system information looks ok, except that the Nvidia GPU driver is outdated.
Latest here: https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/216927/en-us/

[AGPhotos]

Great - thanks again for your inputs !! I have now updated the Nvidia driver 🙂