Frustration - Iphoto corrupting image files during import (?)

To begin with, I'm a recent convert from Windows to the Mac. I'm running a mac mini at home, and a Macbook with Boot Camp at work (in addition to my desktop pc). All of my software is up to date...
I take alot of pictures with my digital camera (canon powershot). Saturday I took about 300 pictures, took the SD card out of the camera, put it into my Sandisk card reader, imported the pictures into iphoto and everything worked great. I chose to not delete the pictures after the import as I wanted to bring the card into work and upload the pictures on my pc.
The next day (Sunday) I took another 70 or so pictures. I was able to view all of the pictures on my camera that I had taken over the past two days.
I go to do an import , taking the exact same procedures that I took on Saturday (and that I always do). The first thing it does is identifies that there are duplicate pictures. I choose the option of "don't import duplicates" and apply this to all of the other duplicate pictures.
At the end of the import, I got an error message saying that some of the files were corrupt. Now, there were pictures from Saturday that were still on there (and readable/viewable). However, every picture that I took on Sunday was "unreadable" and did not show up in iphoto. I put the card back into the camera, and now I can't view the pictures (they show as "corrupted data".
I then pulled the SD card details up in Finder, and the "corrupt" files still show sizes of 2.4mb to 2.8mb, consistant with the good pictures. It shows the file's "Kind" as JPG Image... I double clicked on them and Preview comes up saying something to the extent that the file is corrupt,
I've taken the Sandisk card reader, plugged it into my Macbook (using iphoto in osx) and was able to view one or two of the pictures from Sunday.
Once I got to work this morning, I plugged the sd card into my Windows machine and it too says the files are corrupt. It shows them being on the card, it shows the file sizes, but I can't open the pictures in anything...
If this was a one time deal, I'd be thinking it may be something I've done to cause the problem. However, this is the third instance I've "lost" all of my photos because of them becoming corrupt during an import into iphoto. There definately appears to be a pattern.
I have somewhere around 8,000 pictures inside iphoto that I've taken and had no problems with. I mention this to illustrate that I'm not doing anything differently than I've done before. I have another 14,000 on my old Dell that I need to move over, but I'm questioning if I should do that now.
Does anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be? Is anyone else experiencing (present or past tense) this problem? Where I'm new to the mac, I understand that I might be doing something wrong. However, I've imported photos to the software (what seems like) hundreds of times, the same way each time. This makes me want to rule out user error...
One other question, I'm saving the "corrupt files" with the hope that there's a software program which will "fix" the files. Do you happen to know of such a piece of software? I'm hoping that I can get them fixed at some point.
Where I'm taking pictures of my kids, its extremely frustrating to find out that the pictures (memories) I was hoping to make prints of are now "gone". Its almost like rolling the dice when doing a photo import any more. Most all of the time it takes, but every now and then the pics are lost...
I'm hoping to identify the problem (either user error, procedure or software issue) and fix it as I really like the mac.
Any help/suggestions you might have for me would greatly be appreciated!
Mac Mini   Mac OS X (10.4.10)   Also running Macbook 10.4.10

The Chainsaw
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
First: the corrupt files: download Graphic Coverter, a shareware which is often successful where other software isn't. But first, if the Mac will let you, copy the files off the card to the Mac.
I'm in this board a while now, and I can't recall an issue of iPhoto corrupting images on import. After all, it's just a simple file copy, at heart. I would be more inclined to suspect the card. DO you have more than one? Does the problem also occur with the other cards?
Try use Image Capture to download the pics to the Mac first, then import them, see does that help. Image Capture is in your Applications folder.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

  • Corrupt image files cause upgraded iPhoto to crash

    I have been spending some time trying to find and remove corrupt image files from my iPhoto library. These are not just scrambled images when viewed they crash any and every program you view them with. Including Finder. I accidentally put one on my desktop and finder went into a auto restart cycle I could not stop. until I removed the file with pathfinder. I have found about 30 of these so far (my library is about 25,000) Many of these are in the data file but some are not. They are of all types (jpg,tiff,psd) Thorsten Lemke, (Lemke Software) tells me it is a quicktime issue.
    Here is a link to one of these files. Warning it will crash safari if you try o view it.
    http://vincentdavis.net/try/try.jpg
    Here are my questions.
    1. is there some way to fix these
    2. is there some efficient way to find and remove/fix them?
    3. how did this happen? I had no problem before update (that I knew of)
    Thanks
    Vincent

    I did try the link, and as you said - it crashed Safari. However, I have google searched and also searched the Apple Support sites for 'fix corrupt images' with no luck. I'm sorry but I think the only way of knowing is to try and open each of them.
    However, I did read on Macworld's site once that sometimes photoshop or other image editing programs can open the corrupt files.
    Sorry for not being much help here - I hoped that my first suggestion would have done the trick.
    Sam

  • Attempting to upgrade to Firefox 3.6 (using an ancient Mac OS 10.3), but received an error message (corrupt image file) when downloading - any way to correct this with my current OS?

    I'm currently trying to update a few programs on my good old (VERY old) Mac Powerbook, but I ran into an error when downloading Firefox version 3.6...I'm currently running Mac OS X 10.3.9, which isn't compatible with the most recent versions of Firefox (or anything, for that matter), but it should still allow an upgrade of version 3.6; however, once the file finished downloading, an error message popped up indicating there's a corrupt image file. Is there any way to work around/correct this problem, or am I stuck with my old version of Firefox until I bite the bullet and upgrade my OS??? Any help is greatly appreciated!!

    Firefox 3.6 requires at least OS X 10.4, the last version of Firefox that runs on OS X 10.3.9 is Firefox 2.0.0.20 available from https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/2.0.0.20/mac/en-US/

  • No preview images from raw files during import any suggestions?

    Lightroom will not display preview images during import of raw images. Any images in other formats display fine but with raw images I get a gray window the size of the preview image and the words "preview unavailable for this file". Adobe tech support has been no help they don't what is going on. Running Windows XP 64, Lightroom 3.3. Any suggestions?

    I have the same problem when pluging the camera directly to PC. But if I use the card reader, everything is normal. Win7 64bit.

  • Will iPhoto recognize duplicate image files on import?

    I was wondering if when importing image files into iPhoto 09 there are 2 files with the same name and EXIF data will iPhoto not import the dupe or at least warn that there is a file by the same name already in the catalog?

    It will warn you and ask you what you want to do.
    Regards
    TD

  • Aperture 3.6 - wrong image selected during import

    Aperture 3.6
    OS X Yosemite 10.10.1
    MacBook Air
    I run a program at a guest ranch where we import photos from our guests into Aperture. We see multiple devices and have this issue randomly on many of them.
    Lets choose an iPhone for the example. Connect the iPhone, go to import, select the device, choose 'Uncheck All'.
    Now when scrolling through the images, the guest will select a photo, and at times the image next to it will be checked as well without being selected by the guest. Sometimes it it the first or second image that is automatically selected during import.
    Any ideas?
    Best,
    Lee

    Problems with the UI can sometimes be resolved by removing the Preference file.
    See Get help with Aperture 3 - Apple Support , scroll down until you see
    Reset the user preferences
    and follow the directions. Note in step 5 Restart your computer if you're using OS X Mavericks that will apply if you are running Yosemite also.
    regards

  • Corrupted image files in Lightroom?

    I opened up Lightroom this morning and noticed that some of my files from a recent shoot look like this:
    Are they corrupted?
    If so, how does that happen? I've never seen this before and I have thousands of images in LR.

    Thanks. I read through a few of the other threads. I found one comment that might be applicable to my situation:
    Good - most often this tell-tale/signature-looking corruption is due to hardware - transfer hardware if corrupt upon first rendering (true raw rendering, not initial preview display), hard disk if corrupt after first rendering. And sometimes ram.
    I think this may have had something to do with how I got these files onto my computer. I shot the pictures while visiting family. I had my Macbook Pro with me, which is not my main image editing machine. I imported the files into LR4 on the MPB from the 5D3 using the USB cable.
    When I returned home, I moved the files from their location on the MBP to a USB flash drive, and then imported them from the flash drive to LR4 on my Mac Pro (which is my main image editing machine).
    The corrupted images are only from this group. So I'm hoping that it was the transfer to and from the flash drive that caused this, especially since I've never experienced it before and don't see it in any of my other images.
    Fingers crossed!

  • LR5 "move" corrupting image files

    I recently used LR5 to move image files from an old hard drive to a new hard drive. I formatted the new hard drive prior to moving the images onto it.
    Instead of the “copy” or “add” function, I used the “move” function, only to find that a fraction of my images were moved to the new hard drive.
    When I opened the image folders on the new hard drive (they do not exist anymore on the old hard drive since LR physically “moved” the files), it appeared all of the images were there. But when I used PhotoMechanic and Bridge to view the images that weren’t appearing in LR, I was horrified to see both RAW and JPEG files were corrupted (banding, discoloration).
    The files come from a really important project I have been working on since May, and now I am terrified to use LR at all in the event the program corrupts my files again.
    Interestingly, when I open the images on Adobe Bridge and click "purge cache for selection", the thumbnail briefly appears normal, then returns to the corrupted preview. 
    Has anyone experienced anything like this, and is there any way to save my files? I fear I have totally lost faith in LR.

    As Jim and Rikk said, the corruption and maybe the lost files is probably a hardware failure.   As far as the lost files, there are reports on the forum every couple of months where people lose files doing a MOVE on import or MOVE in LR of imported files from ONE PHYSICAL DRIVE TO A DIFFERENT PHYSICAL DRIVE.  Moving files on the same drive seems to be OK.  I don't know if this is an obscure bug that shows up because of permissions or something but it has been reported.

  • Unable to open the export file during Import ABAP phase on tar(System copy)

    Hi Experts,
    We are encountering the following error during Import ABAP phase on target system as we are performing system copy on target system as part of hardware migration(Data center migration).
    Scenario:
    Sourrce system -  BI- ABAP(7.01), Win 2003 x64 unicode,Oracle 10.2.0.4
    Target system - BI-ABAP(7.01), Win 2008 R2 unicode, Oracle 11.2.0.1
    Actually on source system the data has been generated using migration monitor by using table splitting option and transferred on target system thru ftp option.
    During Import process while selecting the Database installation type we have selected the installation method as "Standard systemcopy/Migration(load based)" and not checked the option "Start Migration montior Manually".
    As far as my concern this error has nothing to do with this selection.please correct me If i am wrong.
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe: START OF LOG: 20110428082000
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe: sccsid @(#) $Id: //bas/701_REL/src/R3ld/R3load/R3ldmain.c#5 $ SAP
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe: version R7.01/V1.4 [UNICODE]
    Compiled Feb 24 2009 23:41:07
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe -dbcodepage 4103 -i test_MIGKEY.cmd -l test_MIGKEY.log -K
    DbSl Trace: ORA-1403 when accessing table SAPUSER
    (DB) INFO: connected to DB
    (DB) INFO: DbSlControl(DBSL_CMD_NLS_CHARACTERSET_GET): UTF8
    (TFH) ERROR: Unable to open
    10.207.3.59\d$\ftproot\import_sap\BWS\ABAP\DATA\ARFCSDATA.TOC
    (TFH) ERROR: OS error message: Invalid argument
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe: job finished with 1 error(s)
    T:\usr\sap\BWS\SYS\exe\uc\NTAMD64\R3load.exe: END OF LOG: 20110428082003
    Kindly revert with resolutions and suggestions and any hint to the oss notes as we haven't found anything specific to this error.
    Regrds,
    Dheeraj

    \\10.207.3.59\d$\ftproot\import_sap\BWS\ABAP\DATA\ARFCSDATA.TOC
    Please check if above said file located under specified path where SAPINST searvhing for it ie at
    10.207.3.59\d$\ftproot\import_sap\BWS\ABAP\DATA. if this file dont exist them it may be the case that your export is not proper.
    Also check if user from which you have started this SAPINST is able to access
    10.207.3.59\d$\ftproot\import_sap\BWS\ABAP\DATA.
    Thanks..
    Mohit

  • Mavericks Preview corrupts image file

    I am running Mavericks on iMac circa 2011.  I can use Preview to open 16 bit tiff image files which are 1 or 2 MB each.  Because the pixel values are small, I use the Auto Level button within the Adjust Color tool to see a decent image.  However, if I then close the file by clicking on the x on the top left corner of the image, the saved image will now have zeros in the entire image.  That is, opening it again will not show anything even with the Adjust Color tool   I checked by opening it with MATLAB and sure enough, everything is zero.  This does not occur if I do not try to adjust the image contrast using the Auto Level tool.   This also does not occur if I hit the 'Reset' button within Adjust Color before closing the file.  Please help!

    The startup drive is failing, or there is some other internal hardware fault.
    Back up all data on the drive immediately if you don't already have a current backup. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.
    Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.
    If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.
    Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair
    Apple also recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.
    *An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

  • Corrupt Image file stuck in Camera roll - please help

    I downloaded a background the other day for my iP4, and went to import it to iPhoto today. It apparently is corrupt (it says it's a JPEG but iPhoto says it can't be read) and also is unopenable on the phone itself. So it basically wont leave my Camera Roll nor will it open on the phone or on the computer.
    I downloaded iPhone Explorer for my Macbook and "deleted" the file and its data in MISC but now it is just a black thumbnail. The photo whether how it originally looked as a thumbnail or the black thumbnail it is now can never be opened on the screen. Therefore I never could delete it from the camera roll "normally" and still cannot.
    I just restored my phone hoping the Camera Roll would perhaps delete itself. Sadly, it did not, but it was worth a try. Is there a way to access a previous backup from let's say last week before I saved this photo? A delete from iPhoto also isn't working.
    Also, the phone was never jailbroken, etc. It's in tip-top shape, except for this annoying corrupt file.
    Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

    Photos in the Camera Roll are included with your iPhone's backup. When restoring your iPhone with iTunes from your iPhone's backup, what is available in your iPhone's backup in regards to the Camera Roll is restored with it.
    iTunes has a single backup for the iPhone which is updated as the first step during the iTunes sync process. A new backup is created when restoring your iPhone with iTunes and I believe a new backup is created when installing a firmware update. The previous backups remain available to select.
    Go to iTunes > Preferences and check under the Devices tab for the available backups.
    You may need to end up restoring your iPhone with iTunes as a new iPhone or not from your iPhone's backup.

  • "unsupported image file" when importing RAW images from Olympus E-PL1

    When I try to import images save in RAW format on the camera, the images import but they can't be displayed (all I get is a warning triangle with the words "unsupported image format" below it, though in the import preview the images are displayed properly.
    EDIT: just noticed that the E-PL1 isn't listed as being supported, just the E-P1 & 2
    Message was edited by: drathquark

    Apple have just included RAW support for the Olympus E-PL1 with the Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.3 - iPhoto can now import RAW files from the E-PL1.

  • Occasional Unsupported Image Format during import, why?

    Once in a while when importing from my camera (Sony A99) RAW format, I get the Unsupported Image Format on a few pics of the batch. It's random so I'm not sure when it would happen. The only way I find that will fix those images is launch aperture into repair "repair database". It's not a deal breaker as I don't lose any files but it's bit annoying and not sure why this is the case. Any ideas how to permanatly stop this?

    I see this regularly ( one or two files, every other time I import?) with the built-in SDHC card reader on my rMBP.  What I do is simply note which files are corrupt, immediately re-import those files, and then delete the corrupt ones (sorted by date, they are side-by-side with their non-corrupt twin).  Iirc, only once have I had to re-re-import a file that failed to import properly on the first try.
    I reformat (in camera) each card every time I fill it (and recommend this practice), but IME (casually observed and not tested) the problem originates with the built-in card reader, and not with the card.  How are you importing?
    Perhaps only a coincidence, but I use Sony cameras.  I don't recall this ever happening with a CF card though.  (The rMBP does not have a CF reader.) 

  • Corrupted Frame files not importing correctly to RoboHelp and can't save MIF as FM

    Hi,
    I have Adobe Technical Communication Suite 3.0, which has FrameMaker 10.0.2.249 in it.
    I created a user guide in FrameMaker, some of the chapters for which I imported from Word, and little bits of text here and there of which I copied and pasted from Word.
    a) When I created a RoboHelp project and imported the Frame files, a little bit of content disappeared. A sentence here, a bulleted item there, not all the content I copied and pasted.
    b) I thought I would save the Frame files as .MIF and then reopen them in Frame to get rid of any corruption. They saved as .MIF just fine and they open again with Frame just fine. However, when I try to Save As .FM, I get the message that .MIF cannot be saved as .FM.
    I checked the extension in the Save As box and it has no mention of .MIF.
    What to do? Any suggestions either for a) or b)?

    This is a bug in the Save As dialog. If the filename is yourfile.FM, you
    can choose MIF as the filetype in the Save as Type box, FrameMaker
    changes the filename to yourfile.mif and saves as mif.
    But, for some reason, if you have a filename of yourfile.MIF and choose
    FM in the Save as Type dialog box, you get that error message and the
    save doesn't happen. The workaround is to delete the MIF extension in
    the filename. Then the save works fine and the file is renamed with an
    FM extension.
    In other words, saving FM to MIF works as expected. FrameMaker renames
    the file extension and saves in the new format. But, in a MIF to FM
    save, FrameMaker refused to rename the MIF extension. (Maybe there is a
    reason for this?) You have to delete the extension or the save won't happen.
    I'm going to report this as a bug.
    Mike Wickham

  • Lightroom won't allow me to add file during import - only copy

    I'm trying to import items to my catalog.  When I choose items from my hard drive that are NOT in dropbox, Lightroom offers me the "add" and "move" options for the files.  When I choose files that are anywhere within dropbox, it only offers the "copy" import functions.  I don't want second copies of these files - I already have them imported into my computer.  It will let me import and copy TO the Dropbox files, but won't just add from them.
    One detail (that shouldn't matter, but maybe) ... Windows believes that dropbox is indeed stored on the local hard drive but only through a junction trick within Windows.  The folder is actually on a very large SDXC card permanently resident on the computer.  Windows doesn't even know this as a result of the trick being used - so Lightroom shouldn't care.  Like I said ... Lightroom lets me import and copy TO those locations but when selecting files already there it makes me copy them.  I've been using Photoshop and CR forever and this has worked fine.  Trying to use lightroom for the improved elegance of the CR feature set and the ability to non-desctructively make and save raw level changes but can't tolerate duplication of thousands of raw images.
    Help!

    Thanks for the input.
    Lightroom allows me to copy TO that location on an import but not import FROM it?  So I'm allowed to import and end up with stuff there, but not allowed to start with it there.  No sense at all in that design.  That's downright restrictive and really offers no particular benefit.  Hey, Lightroom designers ... change that!
    This computer is a powerful ultrabook with a 512 SSD which is as big as reasonably and cost-effective available with the addition of a 256 SDXC card to handle the additional extra capacity I need.  Not too many other reasonable options out there.  This computer is constantly on the go and the addition of an external drive hanging off of it simply isn't manageable.
    Any other tricks out there?

Maybe you are looking for