Problems to edit recovered NEF files

[Paula Bastos]

Hi everyone,

A few years ago I had a small accident with an HD with photos from NEF files, but I managed to recover part of the files and was using/editing them normally. However, after some software update, I don't know which, I can no longer edit the NEF files recovered (viewing and reading succeed without problem). The error when editing is something like "Unexpected end of file". I tried several recovery software, but none of them solved the problem. Is anyone else with this problem?

As requested:

1. Lightroom version 12.3

2. OS: Windows 11

3. Open the NEF file in Lightroom and try to edit it.

Thanks

[Paula Bastos]

Just to complement my first message with an example, here is a file that I already worked on in the past (you can see because of the edited icon):

 But now, if I try to open the same file and I got this (sorry it is Portuguese, it means something like "Unexpected end of file"), and I cannot work with it anymore.

[Bill Sprague]

Windows 11 comes with Microsoft's "Photos" program.  On my computer it will open RAW files.  Can you open the troublesome files in Photos?  If not, the files may be damaged.  If you can, their may be a different issue.  

When you write "I can no longer edit", do you mean in the Develop module or Edit In Photoshop?

Edit:  I was typing too slow.  Can you describe what you mean by "open"?  In the Library module?  The Develop module?  Photoshop?

[Paula Bastos]

It occurs the same in Photos from Windows, I can open the picture but it appears with this message explaining that is something wrong.

What I mean about editing is what you said, is no longer develop it in Lightroom or open in Photoshop.

Still, I tried both files, the actual file and the backup file, and with both I had the same results. Also, this is occurring just with the recovered files and not with all the files in the same folder.

[Paula Bastos]

What I mean with "Open" is to visualize the file, so, Bridge, Lightroom library or any other visualization software/function works ok, only if I start to develop the picture it shows the problem.

Remembering that I was able to work with all these files before, and I am using my old backup now. So I think it's something that happens with any update, whether it's Windows or Adobe.

[Bill Sprague]

Since the files won't open in multiple programs, my assumption would be that the files themselves are damaged.  If it were due to a software update, these forums would be flooded with that issue.  Additionally, updates are to the software, not the data files.  An update would not change the file.   

If it were me, I would be looking for pending hardware failures.  Disk drives fail.  I hope you have backups of your important files.

[Paula Bastos]

Thank you for your help, I already found the error, check the messages below, so I guess I will need to work with an older Lightroom until I get a solution for this.

[D Fosse]

Could it be that you edited them before this disk incident?

"Unexpected end of file" normally means a corrupted or damaged file.

With a corrupt raw file, the embedded jpeg preview is often fine. That's just a small part of the file. Windows "Photos" is not a raw processor! It doesn't open the full raw data, only the embedded jpeg.

[Paula Bastos]

No, it was not before, the accident with HD was in 2019/20. The bird picture that I mentioned was developed and saved as JPG on Oct/22.

[D Fosse]

Well, clearly the file is damaged in some way, even Windows Photos says that.

Maybe a newer Process Version reads sections of data that an earlier didn't. If you can't access the file in Develop to try an earlier PV, try to synchronize settings from a different file.

Either way...well, I'm sure you understand the importance of backups now. Sht happens.

[Paula Bastos · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your comments, but I already found the error (not the solution), I did a bunch of tests and that is the result:

Windows 10 - Lightroom 12.3 - Not possible to develop the pictures.

Windows 11 - Lightroom 12.3 - Not possible to develop the pictures.

Windows 10 - Lightroom 11.5 - Possible to develop the pictures.

Windows 11 - Lightroom 11.5 - Possible to develop the pictures.

So, clearly is some problem with Adobe and any robust codec to read NEF files that they used to use. I will try to use this version 11.5 until they have any solution, or if I can somehow export/transform those files to be read in a more recent version.

Do I have any channel to inform this bug or here is it fine?

[Keith Reeder]

Your conclusion that you've proven LightRoom to be the problem, is flawed: the files are showing as damaged in Windows Photos too, so  blaming a particular version of LightRoom makes little sense.

More likely that LightRoom 11.5 is still able to display previously-generated previews, whereas 12.3 is trying to generate new previews, and failing because the RAW files are damaged: as D Fosse points out, "Unexpected end of file" means that the file is damaged.

[Paula Bastos]

I know the file is damaged, as I wrote at the beginning, they are recovered files, but I was able to open and work with them normally. Only when Lightroom updated that I was not able any more to work with them. Sorry, for me it is clear that Lightroom downgraded in the way that it reads NEF files. 
But already found the solution, using the previous version I am able to work again with them.

Also, the test that I mentioned, was creating a full new catalogue with dedicated folders, not possible to have any "previously-generated" previews as you mentioned, it is indeed a Lightroom issue.

[schaakspeler]

I got the same problem when I thought to go to the other LR Catalog. Icat. It asked me to upgrade. So after I upgrade the file it has changed into NEF files. What happened is that files where not there anymore and the working module said "I cannot find it anymore. In Dutch" kan bestand niet vinden". Is there somebody who can help me? Thks Thomas

[dj_paige]

@schaakspeler 

Please start a new thread and describe the problem in detail. Include screen captures if possible (use the "Insert Photos" Icon; do not attach files). People will be happy to help you in a new thread. Do not continue discussing this in this old thread.

[schaakspeler]

First sorry for my bad English. What I have done is to change Lightroom Catalog 2-2-v13-3-4 in LR Catalog 4 and so on. The system ask then to upgrade what I have done. But all my raw foto's has been changed in NEF and if I went to the develop module LR cc couldn't find the pictures. Now I don't know how to work on my pictures anymore. 

Thomas

[dj_paige]

Start a new thread, please. In the new thread, please provide full set of details.