Error Code -36

[Dude_Here]

Lightroom Version Number

8.2.1

Operating System

1. macOS 10.14 Mojave

Hi All,
I am new to this forum and was looking for a little guidance if possible. So the long and the short of it is my older iMac is on its way out so I just purchased a new Mac mini and am in the process of transferring my library via my 2tb ssd drive. when I tried dragging my Lightroom Classic Catalog with all of it's sub files I get the dreaded"file can't be read or written" (error code -36).

I looked this up and tried everything and cannot get this fixed. the folder itself is 4gb. I am able to drag only Lr Classic Catalog.Ircat file, but will that suffice on my new computer when I launch it or do I need the other files from the aformentioned folder?

Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction!
Jeremy

 

[Paul McFarlane]

Hi Jeremy and welcome!

Don't panic, the .lrcat file is the essential one, others (Preview files) get built on demand if they aren't there. The only exception to this would be if you were missing or had some corrupt image files, as you could create a lower res copy from the previews.

This Blog may help explain:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/find-move-rename-catalog/
Also I suggest download Moving Lightroom to a New Computer

 

[Dude_Here]

Thank you so much Paul! That makes perfect sense. What doesn’t make perfect sense is that error. I got the same one later last night transferring image files from my old hard drive to my new. External HD in anticipation of the file move. Urggghh so frustrating.

Anywho, I will certainly read up on you links tonight and tomorrow. Thank again!
Jeremy

 

[LouieSherwin]

Jeremy,

Maybe this will help.

error-code-36-on-a-mac-what-causes-it-and-how-to-fix-it

I would be absolutely certain that you have a complete backup before you attempt running the dot_clean tool. It does mention that you can use it on a folder by folder basis so you can run it on only the folder where the error is occuring.

-louie