exclamation point with black circle->corrupt image files in LR, how to fix?

Report · Apr 05, 2020

Hi,

For the first time I have about 30 images that have an exclamation point in a black circle. It is not the white exclam point that makes you point LR to the correct location of the file. The images say that the file is corrupt and can not be edited. They can not be opened in pictures or photoshop. Adobe support tried to make a new catalog and reimport from the location on the hard drive and that didn't work either. I saw online that someone said it could be fixed by opening the photos in a new file. I don't exactly see what that means as I don't see how to open LR images in a "new file". Has anyone experienced this and found a fix? Does anyone know how to keep this from happening again? I've never had this happen before. Images from the same session are fine. Not sure why only about 40 are affected. Also, on the day I imported them a couple weeks ago they were fine and I was able to edit and use them. Same card, same camera as I always use and have used since then. Any help is appreciated!

chris

Report · Apr 05, 2020

Screen Shot Please.

I personally have never seen, or don't remember seeing, an Exclamation mark in a Black Circle.

A Exclamation mark in a segmented square yes but not in a Black circle.

Try looking here.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic/multiple-lightroom-errors/m-p/10111611?page=1

Report · Apr 05, 2020

this is the exclamation point and also posted is the message at the top of the image. This error will not direct you to redirect LR to the image location. Never seen this before and not sure why it's only on about 30 of the images from that day and not on the rest from that day.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

Did you look at the link I included above?

In that conversation the OP had hard drive problems, wrong format of HDD. Once he corrected that and copied his images over to the new and properly formatted drive those exclamation marks went away.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

I did see that link, thank you for that! As you said, his issue seemed to be related to the format of his external hard drive and something with him moving between an old and new computer. I have used this drive for several months with no problems, so didn't think that would be my solution, but it did make me think that there is something fixable there even if it's not the same issue. I have been on with Adobe support twice and both times they have controlled my screen to evaluate the problem, but no success. They just concluded the files were corrupt. They can't be opened from the location on the hard drive. One time they made a new LR catalog and tried to reimport from the hard drive, but the images still had the exclamation point. I thought I would try on here to see if anyone had any ideas or experience with it. I would like to know how to at least prevent it again by knowing the cause if possible, even if I can't get those images back.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

The cause is almost definitely a bad sector or other problem on your hard disk where the photos are stored. Run diagnostics to evaluate the health of your hard disk.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

The files got corrupted because of a Hardware Fault. About the only hardware is the drive and or the cable connecting the drive to your computer.

In my many many years of using a computer and my many many years of using LR and taking digital images I have never had any files become corrupted on there own. It is always caused by a hardware problem.

And before you say it "It Is NOT LR that corrupted them".

Report · Apr 05, 2020

I don't know if it was in this particular instance, but my computer sometimes takes forever to import photos. After it was done "importing photos" and when it was on the "2 processes in progress" portion of the import process I finally stopped it. I don't at all remember if that was associated with these photos in question here--I just recall I did do that one time in the past--but if it had been, would that be a cause they were corrupt? I'm just trying to think of different possibilities.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

"I'm just trying to think of different possibilities."

I consider this a waste of time. Both Just Shoot Me and dj_paige have pinpointed the only reasonable cause.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

wow, sorry to waste your time. Before I get a new computer and new hard drive, both of which are relatively new, just checking to see if there are any other options. All of this is new to me, so I apologize I'm not sure which questions are going to be wasting your time. I appreciate all the input so far.

Report · Apr 05, 2020

Any piece of electronics can fail at anytime. Just because they are fairly new does not mean they have not developed problems.

You are not wasting our time. You are wasting your time.

I suggest you get another new drive and copy all your images over to that new drive, replacing the corrupted images with the backups you have of them. If no backups then the new drive is just what you need. To make a Second Copy of all your images as a Backup and a source to replace other images that may become corrupted.

Report · Aug 16, 2021

Also here for the exclamation mark in the black circle.

Also here to say dj_paige & Just Shoot Me are pretty douchey helpers. The same people who say "I personally have never seen" are the same ones saying what is and isn't a waste of time - typical.

Anyhow my drive is fine and I have the same exc. mark + black circle error, but only *ONLY* on video files of MP4 format *after* a drive clone; and the cloned drive in question isn't the same drive the catalog is stored in. Ergo the issue is above the "pay grade" of dj_ and JSM (again, douchey).

Shame the forums aren't better supported.

Report · Aug 17, 2021

nickynqns

Please post your own brand new discussion.

Why?

The above post is a good year old, Many members ignire old postings that get other members piling on.
The above posting does not appear to have been solved, or at keast the OP never replyd as such
It is unlikely the above posting involves your current version of LrC
It is unkown what the OS was, as such, who knows if your OS is the same

When you create your please, please include the following

Adobe product and version number
Operating system and version number
Error message(s) (if applicable)
Computer hardware, such as CPU; GPU; the amount of RAM; etc.
Screenshots of the problem (if applicable)

System Information. Most efficiently accomplished by the following SOP (mine, not Adobe)

"Please post your System Information as Lightroom Classic (LrC) reports it. In LrC click on Help, then System Info, then Copy. Paste that information into a reply. Please present all information from first line down to and including Plug-in Info. Info after Plug-in info can be cut as that is just so much dead space to us non-Techs."

Also, please read the Community How To Guide, (ref 1)

And, see the Community Guidelines, (ref 2), specifically part 1.

(ref 1): Adobe | Community How-To Guide - Tips & Best Practices

(ref 2): Adobe | Adobe Support Community Guidelines

not an Adobe employee

Report · Aug 17, 2021

Learn to spiel.

Lobby the mods to lock threads after 6 months; otherwise the purpose of Forums on the Open Internet is that if they're Open, they're open for business, for conversation - deal with it.

Also, just because you ask questions doesn't mean anyone is obligated to answer; especially if you *you, not me* cannot even do a modicum of research to find out the issue is real.

Have a great life.

Report · Aug 17, 2021

Auf Wiedersehen

Report · Apr 05, 2020

"I have about 30 images that have an exclamation point in a black circle. It is not the white exclam point that makes you point LR to the correct location of the file. The images say that the file is corrupt and can not be edited"

The files are corrupt and cannot be used. You need to restore backups of these photos. You also need to run diagnostics on your hard disk (the one with the photos) because it may be starting to malfunction.

Report · Mar 21, 2024

Hey there!

I had the same issue and was able to fix it by recovering the files from my nas. The problem poped up after redirecting old photos from the nas to LR. Files were corrupted but I was able to restore them from the other mirror of the NAS RAID. Maybe that can help the one or other person.

Cheers!