Tiff files keep corrupting

[peaksels]

Hi, 

I work in Photoshop a lot and have worked with tiff.files for a while. Lately, I often save my .tiff files and then the next time I open them, I get a message saying that either layers are corrupt, or the whole files is corrupt (also happens with .psd and .psb files sometimes). Sometimes it gives me the option to open the file flattened, but then I obviously lose my layers which makes futher editing or changes. 

When opening the file, often layers just look completely messed up, all kinds of colors and weird color artifacts. 

I'm using an external ssd to work on and save files to, photoshop is fully updated to the latest version - working on a 2019 Macbook Pro with 16gb RAM - tiff.files usually up to almost the limit of 4gb size. 

Anyone having similar issues, workarounds, etc. Getting annoying now that every 3rd file I save from Photoshop is corrupted after saving...

[D Fosse · Accepted solution]

File corruption is always caused by failing hardware.

Never save directly to an external drive. Save locally, then copy over. I don't know if there's a particular problem with the drive - but if there is, saving directly to it increases the risk by orders of magnitude. Loose and worn cables and connectors can be enough.

Not to say there can't be other failing hardware components, like e.g. RAM or GPU. Do you get any corruption if you save only to your local drive?

[peaksels]

Thanks for the information - I have always used external drives to work and save on, never really had the problem until now. But good shout, will save locally from now on - can't say if it will happen again until I work with it for a while, but will update this feed with that if it solves it. Thanks!

[Trevor.Dennis]

I've pretty much given up using external storage as I have had too many failures over the years.  These were mostly ED My Book USB3 drives up to 2Tb, but I did have some Samsung.  These were all mechanical HDDs.  I have never had an SSD, NVMe type drive fail, and I have had a lot of them.

[D Fosse]

I have always used external drives to work and save on

By @peaksels

It works until it doesn't.

I do use a couple of external drives for backup purposes, but I never save to them. Files are only copied.

It doesn't have to be the drive itself failing. It can be connection dropouts. So I have another strict rule: While data transfer is in progress, I don't touch the drives or the connecting cables. I don't trust the shallow USB3 connectors, which seem quite flimsy, especially in combination with stiff and inflexible cables.

[peaksels]

'it works until it doesn't'  - isn't that the truth!

Have switched now to only saving locally, seems to work. Like you, I also always left harddrive and cables completely untouched when saving or transferring, but it harddrives seems to have been the problem in the end. 

Thanks for the help and tips all