EOS 10D user stumped using PS CS Raw images

[puma]

I'm stumped and I'm hoping someone can help.
> I've recently decided to start shooting more in RAW format. I'm also
> trying to download and save most of those images (-along with their
> extracted JPEG's..) to a CD instead of my hard drives. My question
> is...when I try to open the files to manipulate them in PS CS, all of
> the files have a "lock" icon next to them. When I try to edit/save
> them- a box pops up that says "Could not save b/c file is locked. Use
> the Properties command in the Windows Explorer to unlock the file." I
> thought I understood the instructions, but when I got to the
> Properties tab none of the choices seems appropritate. Any
> suggestions?
>

[AJSJones]

My guess is that since the crws are on a CD they cannot be changed and that's why they show up as locked (and why you can't unlock them) : PS CS will "remember" the settings in the converter and it does this by modifying the metadata in the file, while not affecting the image data, and thus the file needs to be altered. If PS cannot write this new information to the original file, it seems you get the message you get! I'd recommend keeping the originals on the CD you have (as a backup) but it seems you need to have them on a re-writable medium to be able to process them. If you have a CD-RW device, you might be able to get the best of both worlds. If not, you have to transfer them to your HD...

Andy

[Tito948]

I'm stumped and I'm hoping someone can help.
> I've recently decided to start shooting more in RAW format. I'm also
> trying to download and save most of those images (-along with their
> extracted JPEG's..) to a CD instead of my hard drives. My question
> is...when I try to open the files to manipulate them in PS CS, all of
> the files have a "lock" icon next to them. When I try to edit/save
> them- a box pops up that says "Could not save b/c file is locked. Use
> the Properties command in the Windows Explorer to unlock the file." I
> thought I understood the instructions, but when I got to the
> Properties tab none of the choices seems appropritate. Any
> suggestions?
>

Keep in mind Puma, when you write to a CD the images are "READ ONLY" so if your going to burn RAW images to a CD for archiving, make sure all the post processing is done before you write to a CD-R/CD-RW. If you are going to edit them at a later time, just like AJ said your gonna have to transfer the image/s back to your harddrive for editing. Only ZIP drives allow writing and archiving at the same time. But to me ZIP disks aren't too practical with the large sizes RAW images can be. There's a 750 ZIP drive that's out there that you might be interested in. But I don't think it's worth it for image archiving. The disks might be too costly.

Hope this helps,
Tito

[Hoof Hearted]

Just one more point on this...

Yes when you copy files to a CD the Read Only attribute is set, but if you subsequently copy them back to your hard drive then this attribute remains set. So you have to go in afterwards and clear it.

[karusel]

Good one. But then again, you could just use the 'save as' option, right? 8)

[puma]

Wow...ok then- all of you have provided me with great advise. Thank you!