CR2 file problems

OK... for two weeks I have been having intermittent problems with CR2 files that appear corrupt or will not decode to JPG format in Digital Photo Professional.

I have finally replicated the error in as small of a test scenario as possible. Any help or suggestions as to how I can pin down the root cause would be TREMENDOUSLY appreciated!

1. I shot 314 files in RAW format on a 2 month old Sandisk Ultra II card. The card was formatted in-camera before the shoot.
2. I copied the CR2 files to a new directory on a brand new and freshly formatted internal hard drive.
3. I opened DPP and instructed it to batch process all of the files to JPG format on the same drive in a new directory.
4. DPP gave me 6 "Decoding Failed" errors.
5. The CR2 files in question open with no errors in DPP as well as Photoshop with ONE exception.
6. The one exception will not open in either program and is described as being corrupt.
7. I had to re-copy the one exception from the memory card to the hard drive and then it worked perfectly.
8. A second attempt to individually batch process each of the CR2 files in question produces no errors.
9. HOWEVER. Many of the JPG files that appeared to process correctly actually are garbled and missing data when viewed.

Personally, the only conclusion that I can come to is that DPP is the cause of the problem. However, for all of 2008, we followed the same workflow and did not encounter ANY of these errors. They just started creeping up in the last two weeks. Before anyone asks, yes, I did uninstall and re-install DPP.

Help?

This is often traced back to a faulty card reader, or sometimes a card. You can't say it's DPP until you try another RAW converter. Copy the same file to another computer using a different card reader and use different software to view it.

I have software to fully test CF cards, I don't have the link on my right now. PM me to remind me to post the link for you later if you want it.

Here's the testing software.

Give us more detail about how you're getting images off the cards. Camera and cable? Memory card reader? What software are you using to download the images?

Ok.... I think I have really narrowed it down now.

I followed the same procedure but on a different PC with a different card reader. Same software, same OS. The results were flawless. No errors. No problems at all.

So, just to be definitive, I am copying the files from the card to the original PC over my network. I will then run the same batch process in DPP.

Hopefully there will be no errors and I think I can definitively say that the problem is the card reader!

To answer your questions.... on the original PC with the errors, I have been using a Sandisk USB 2.0 CF card reader. I simply use Windows Explorer to copy>paste the CR2 files. On the second, error free, PC I used the card reader built into the case.

CRUD.

I copied the files from the second, error free, PC to the original PC via our network. I then ran a batch in DPP on the original PC and it produced 10 errors this time!

Why do the errors appear randomly? Why do they only appear on one of the PCs?

The only other test I can think to run is: I'm re-copying the files from the #2 PC to the one with the errors. Then, I'm going to run the batch over our network from the #2 PC.

Now I am thinking that it is DPP again. Unless there is something inherently wrong with the PC.

UGH.

Could be bad ram. Run memtestx86 - google for it, it's free so don't get suckered into paying for it. It usually has to run for hours or even overnight.

Hmmmm... now that you suggest the RAM....
I looked under the computer properties and it is supposed to have 4GB but only displays 3.17?

That's normal, it's because you're running a 32 bit os. Just run memtestx86 overnight and see what it says.

Thanks again. I figured it was a 32 bit thing but our other 32 bit pc actaully shows all 4GB. Is that just a difference in the BIOS version or something?

Anyway, running memtest now.

It will vary from machine to machine, but in reality no 32 bit machine can address all 4GB. It's to do with memory mapped IO, the more ram the video card has the less normal ram the system can address. The reason is kinda complex, but google will tell you more.

Memtest runs in dos mode, fingers crossed it's this as it's an easy fix.

Well..... I guess there are no easy fixes.
Memtest86 ran all night and completed 4 full passes with 0 errors.

Just a shot in the dark but are you running any anti virus software and is it different on both machines? Try running the batch with your AV disabled.

I am running antivirus on both machines... I'll give it a shot with it disabled because I am totally baffled at this point.

1. I just copied the files over the network from the good PC to the bad PC. (eliminates card reader as a cause. the same CR2 files batched perfectly on the good PC.)
2. I ran the batch from the good PC over the network with the files reading from and writing to the bad PC. (eliminates DPP as a cause since it is using the install on the good PC)
3. The batch produced one error. "Decoding failed". Different file than any of the other times.

I can't figure out how this could be so completely random. I've eliminated every cause except the antivirus (ESET Nod32) so I guess I will give that a shot and let you know the results.

mminnig wrote in post #7459580
I am running antivirus on both machines... I'll give it a shot with it disabled because I am totally baffled at this point.

1. I just copied the files over the network from the good PC to the bad PC. (eliminates card reader as a cause. the same CR2 files batched perfectly on the good PC.)
2. I ran the batch from the good PC over the network with the files reading from and writing to the bad PC. (eliminates DPP as a cause since it is using the install on the good PC)
3. The batch produced one error. "Decoding failed". Different file than any of the other times.

I can't figure out how this could be so completely random. I've eliminated every cause except the antivirus (ESET Nod32) so I guess I will give that a shot and let you know the results.

If the AV isn't doing anything (and it may not) then I think you have to start considering either some hardware issues (run some stability tests other than memtest) or a corrupt OS perhaps.

what stability tests should I run? I have until the end of next week (30 day window) to return this new PC to Dell.