Extreme random distorted color banding across image files!

H
Posted By
harrillj
Oct 11, 2003
Views
382
Replies
8
Status
Closed
Please help. It is as if there is a virus that is randomly destroying my image files. When I display them in Photoshop there appears thick or thin bands of bright flat colors, completely destorying the file. If I save-as another file format, the color bands are saved with the file. Not happening to all the files, it appears totally random. In some cases a file was OK one day, then bad the next time I opened it. One batch of 20 files may have 2 to 4 files with this problem, other folders have none. The problems are affecting both images taken months ago and brought over on the new PC and ones that were recently taken.

All pics were taken with a Canon EOS 10D.

I ran virus scans and have no virues. This is a new PC I recently built running XP Pro SP1. It is a P4 3.0 GHz with 2 gig og DDR400 ram.

Any help would be greatkey appreciated. I am afraid to open any images.

Thanks
Related Tags
banding color distortion extreme file image random

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HD
hot_denim
Oct 11, 2003
…show us one of these images.
L
LenHewitt
Oct 11, 2003
Sounds like file corruption. Could be HDD, IDE controller or cables….

Worth running a full scan disk and ensuring the HDD cables are fully plugged in.
HD
hot_denim
Oct 11, 2003
try opening with other image editor (if in suitable file format) and see what shows.

Dont be afraid to OPEN, as this will not cause a modification to the data (if not virus). Just dont re-save, or move the files.
HD
hot_denim
Oct 11, 2003
as a precaution to do RIGHT NOW.

Use WINZIP or something to ZIP up all the files into a archive file format. If there is a virus thats after image files, the archive file will protect it/conceal the files. If there is curruption taking place, if it happens to the zip file then Winzip WILL tell you.

Archiving is a Read operation to the source files, (so unless virus intercepts the read request and attempt modifiction) there will be no modification to the source data, even with bad hardware.
DM
dave_milbut
Oct 11, 2003
I agree w/len. sounds like some sort of corruption. check all the cables to make sure they’re secure. check all cards and memory dimms to make sure they’re seated properly and fully. especially in a new machine. "some settling may occur".
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harrillj
Oct 11, 2003
Thanks to all. Another forum also suggested that I look at the ram, as it sounded like a ram problem.

I see the same problem in my RAW application called DSLR by Capture One.
DM
dave_milbut
Oct 12, 2003
could also be ram. here’s a good rule of thumb for file distortions:

Chris Cox – 01:17pm Feb 7, 2003 Pacific (#7 of 15)

If you zoom in and they go away, it’s probably the video card.

If you zoom in and out and they change, it’s probably bad RAM.

If the image looks fine, you save it, then reload it and it’s corrupted – then it’s probably the hard disk.
QP
Q_Photo
Oct 12, 2003
I had the same problem on my last (old) computer. I added a second HD. Photo files saved on second HD files are fine, problem never occurs. Still can’t save to C drive. Makes me believe it is a bad HD. In my case Photoshop even gave me a message saying it was hard drive or cable to HD problem.

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