FCP crashing with 1 library after SSD disconnected

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Level 1

5 points

FCP crashing with 1 library after SSD disconnected

Hello everyone!

I was working on a big project (around 1.2TB of 4K multicam footage) for a client and was doing last passes after 100-120h of work going into it. After opening it one day my Nvme SSD (Format: Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) disconnected for a second and after that I can't open the project without crashing.

I have tried I think everything found on the web to solve this, but no success. So I was wondering if maybe someone can help me figure this out without having to go trough this work again.

First what I have tried:

Copied the whole library to another SSD
Cleared all FCP settings to default (to clarify - all other libraries open just fine)
Tried to open the backups
Tried changing the original media (located on the same SSD) path, so it would at least give me a timeline with unlinked media
Deleted Chrome & CleanMyMac that are reported to have issues
Reinstalled FCP (10.7.1)
Used Arctic to delete the 'Optimized media' & 'Stabilization & Optical flow data' & 'Render files'
Possibly something more that I'm forgetting, as I've dealt with this for days now and exhausted all options that googling gave me

I also have some reports:

(I think text only would be prefered, but I didn't know how to add code to this post without it not allowing me to post or making it too long. It just says "an error occurred while uploading this log, try again later". So if some mod can help me include it here without it being a txt file, let me know. Thank you)

And for some reason Artic has a 'warning' that tells me like the file is made in another computer and asks me if I should try to open the file. Weirdly I'm using the excact same computer, with the same name, with the same username - but according to Arctic, it's different?

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Sep 3, 2024 6:33 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 3, 2024 6:51 AM in response to djelton

This "is in use by ... " message could be due to the library not having been properly closed, just as the message says.

Here is a procedure that might help, if this is the only issue (but not if there is some other form of corruption in the library). Anyway, it won't hurt.

1) Quit FCP

2) Locate the problem library in Finder, control-click, Show Package Contents

3) Press Command-Shift-period to make Finder show hidden files (they show in grey)

4) Delete the files and folder whose names start with .lock and close the contents view

5) Double-click the library to open it.

Does it work?

I am very surprised when you say you "tried to open the backups" - presumably without success.

Which backups are these? The ones that FCP makes automatically? They should be in a folder under

Movies/Final Cut Backups

and named after your library.

They do not contain the media, but should readily open. What happens?

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Answer 2

BenB

Level 6

12,643 points

Sep 3, 2024 6:58 AM in response to djelton

I used to see this more often when FCPX was brand new, but not in many years now. Inside the Library package in the Finder, is a file that tags when things are open, etc. But Luis has you on the right path.

FYI, CleanMyMac is garbage and will potentially destroy your system. I've personally seen it happen a lot. Never put that back on your system, please.

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Answer 3

djelton Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 3, 2024 7:13 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you Luis for the super fast reply. Yes I'm thinking it has to do with the SSD disconnecting (I'm usually on Samsung T7's, but decided to try nvme inside an enclosure.. never again, as for some reason it needs power trough the dongle, otherwise it's just randomly disconnecting).

Now.. I tried the process you suggested about deleting the .lock files and still no success. Just opens, crashes and gives me the error report.

Same thing happens with the backups, but they're not in the movies folder as I moved all project related media to the same SSD to a folder called "FCP_backups". I'm guessing the fact that they were on the same problematic drive is causing issues with loading the backups as well?

By now I have made copies of the backups and library to another SSD, but the problem still exists.

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Answer 4

djelton Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 3, 2024 7:16 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Wow, people are so active here so while I posted a reply to Lous, Tom also suggested an option.

Yes, I have tried removing the 'CurrentVersion.flexolibrary' as well, forgot to mention that in the original post.

I also tried removing 'CurrentVersion.fcpevent'; ' Temporary.fcpevent' & 'Damaged.fcpevent'.

I tried removing just one of them and all of them. So I've tried a combination of things with them :)

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Answer 5

terryb

Level 4

2,638 points

Sep 3, 2024 9:51 AM in response to djelton

If you moved the FCP backup location to the SSD and that SSD is failing, I'd copy the FCP backups onto another drive ASAP. Make sure you have all the project media on another drive also.

I'd try disconnecting the SSD and opening the most recent backup (that you just copied from the SSD). If it fails, open one that's older until you get to one that successfully opens. Once you have a library that opens, relink the media that's been copied to another drive. This assumes you left media in place when importing and didn't copy into the library itself.

If FCP is crashing, you should also reset FCP preferences. This may also be causing problems.

Hopefully CleanMyMac hasn't damaged your system, requiring a reformat and reinstall of MacOS.

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Answer 6

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,015 points

Sep 3, 2024 7:09 AM in response to djelton

After you've done what Luis suggested, you might also try making a copy of the library and going into it and dumping flexolibrary file.

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