This randomly happens when I try to copy a batch of files from a source device to my MacBook Pro and vice versa. So frustrating as the generic icon files cannot be opened. Is there a fix??
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13
It sounds like this file is getting corrupted during the transfer. I've seen a few reports that a few users are noticing Monterey is corrupting files during a transfer when using the Finder, but the command line is fine (it does not appear to be widespread). Are you using any anti-virus software, cleaning apps, or third party security software as that may be interfering with the normal operation of macOS and perhaps modifying the file in the process.
Or this could indicate a hardware issue of some sort such as a bad SSD or bad memory or Logic Board, or an issue with the external drive or cable/adapter, or the laptop's ports. Or maybe the file system is corrupt.
How about transferring the file from the iPhone to your laptop via AirDrop? Does the file display fine on the iPhone?
You need to figure out where this corruption is occurring. From what you posted here, the only time you have a problem is when transferring the file from an external drive onto your laptop. If you are using different drives, then it would mean a cable, adapter, dock, hub, or the laptop's ports are bad. If AirDrop has the same issue, then it likely means your laptop's Logic Board is bad since recent Macs have integrated memory & SSDs.
It sounds like this file is getting corrupted during the transfer. I've seen a few reports that a few users are noticing Monterey is corrupting files during a transfer when using the Finder, but the command line is fine (it does not appear to be widespread). Are you using any anti-virus software, cleaning apps, or third party security software as that may be interfering with the normal operation of macOS and perhaps modifying the file in the process.
Or this could indicate a hardware issue of some sort such as a bad SSD or bad memory or Logic Board, or an issue with the external drive or cable/adapter, or the laptop's ports. Or maybe the file system is corrupt.
How about transferring the file from the iPhone to your laptop via AirDrop? Does the file display fine on the iPhone?
You need to figure out where this corruption is occurring. From what you posted here, the only time you have a problem is when transferring the file from an external drive onto your laptop. If you are using different drives, then it would mean a cable, adapter, dock, hub, or the laptop's ports are bad. If AirDrop has the same issue, then it likely means your laptop's Logic Board is bad since recent Macs have integrated memory & SSDs.
If you right-click on the file and manually select the app to open it, is the video play or the image displayed? If not, then it means the file may be using a codec that is not compatible with macOS or the app you are using to view the file. Not all .mp4 or .jpg files use the same codecs as there are so many settings the source device may have used to create these files.
If you cannot open these files with the generic icons even by right-clicking & manually selecting the app, then you may want to try using VLC since this app can display just about any image or video file out there (much more than the macOS built-in apps support).
It is also not clear whether your picture is showing the contents of the source or destination drive. I believe thumbnail images may not be available when using some file systems such as FAT or exFAT, but maybe @leroydouglas can confirm.
matara53 wrote:
This randomly happens when I try to copy a batch of files from a source device to my MacBook Pro and vice versa. So frustrating as the generic icon files cannot be opened. Is there a fix??
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/a6b97837-fd74-493f-881c-351f5e8a2496
What "source device" ...(?)
The current stable release of Monterey including bug fixes, is macOS 12.5
Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support
Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support
The current stable release of iOS including bug fixes, is iOS 15.6
Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
I still don't understand how/why this happens. It is totally a random occurrence. The original file that is being copied is perfectly fine and readable. The MacBook Pro will copy most files just fine, but then it randomly turns a file into the generic, unreadable file on the destination folder. I've had to copy (click & drag) the said file by itself to overwrite the generic file. Lately, I've been having to do this several times to get the generic file removed as it does not go away on the first few attempts. I have also found that using the copy feature in the edit menu will solve the problem, but not always. Very frustrating. Unfortunately, I'm now using a PC with Windows to manage my photos. No problems there.
The screen capture is a picture of the destination folder on my MacBook. I copied the mp4 files from my GoPro’s SD Card. I’ve tried VLC, but it doesn’t work. Converting the file with a conversion app doesn’t work either (can’t read the file). I will also add, that copying photos from my iPhone (using iMazing app on the MacBook) through to an external hard drive, creates the same problem.
The only remedy I’ve found is to copy the said file by itself individually and overwrite the generic file… a painstaking process when the issue happens with multiple random files.
Thanks for response, HWTech. I appreciate the explanations. Looks like I will have to do some deep troubleshooting on the matter. Although, this issue occurs with any external device as I have many and I use different SD cards from different devices as well as different external hard drives with their own cables. The issue occurs on all receiving devices, whether it be the MacBook Pro or an external drive or USB card. And it is always random, there is no logic to which file it chooses to make a generic. Also, I don’t always use the same port of the two on the MacBook when plugging in the devices.
I am now finding that files originally copied correctly, and that show the regular thumbnail, will appear normal for a few days. Then I'll open the same folder several days later and find that a previously good file (usually at the top of the list of files) is now changed to the generic icon and cannot be opened. I've lost some pretty important files as a result. Growing increasingly frustrated with MacBook Pro and the latest OS!!
Any external drive, SD Card, etc. Anything that records/stores jpg or mp4 files.
MacBook Pro convets jpg and mp4 files to generic icons that can't be opened
