Fixing raw corrupted file

tecboy · May 23, 2014

Is there a way to fix a raw corrupted file?

480sparky · May 23, 2014

Not easily.

That's why I always ingest to two locations. If I have a corrupt image, I simply import the copy.

KmH · May 23, 2014

tecboy said:
Is there a way to fix a raw corrupted file?

No. Use the backup Raw image file.

If you don't have a backup or still have the original on the memory card - you're SOL.

Light Guru · May 23, 2014

KmH said:
tecboy said:

Is there a way to fix a raw corrupted file?

Click to expand...

No. Use the backup Raw image file.

If you don't have a backup or still have the original on the memory card - you're SOL.

Yup that about sums it up.

tecboy · May 24, 2014

It is not the end of the world. I have billions of raw files. This is the first time it happens to me. I have synchronized backup drive, so there is no way I can recover.

KmH · May 24, 2014

Life's a beach.

bratkinson · May 27, 2014

tecboy said:
I have synchronized backup drive, so there is no way I can recover.

I'll assume from your comment above, the RAW file(s) on your CF card have already been erased. If not, simply recopy from the CF card.

It sounds like you have a RAID system on your computer. And your situation is exactly why RAID is of little use to individuals, in my estimation. Any errors are immediately replicated. There's no 'undo' capability. That applies to virus-infected computers as well. Fully automatic cloud backup capabilities essentially falls into the same category.

That's why I manually do my backups on an 'as needed' basis, including making multiple backups to different devices during my processing of a shoot. This includes keeping separate files from each 'phase' of my post-processing, so by the end of all my processing, I have 4-5 versions of each photo, plus backups. There are complete 'sets' of the versions on my SSD (operating system + 'in process' shoots), a set on the hard drive, and a set on USB thumb drives in my pocket, in case of major computer failure. When I'm done with the shoot, the SSD and HD are completely replicated, and a backup of everything to a USB hard drive normally kept off site. Then the shoot is removed from the SSD.

Like you, I've been burned not realizing a file was corrupted by a RAM problem until too late to recover from any source. So I've revised my post-processing steps to ensure that I always have something to recover from, even if it's only the JPG SOOC (I shoot RAW+LJPG).