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Before you download
Confirm that you can sign in, estimate the archive size and choose a local disk with ample free capacity. Avoid downloading directly to a nearly full system drive. Keep a simple record of the date and destination.
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Download and import are different steps
Downloading retrieves files from NIKON IMAGE SPACE. Importing means opening those downloaded files in Photo Archive Rescue, a Windows photo library or a storage provider. Finish and preserve the Nikon download before importing or reorganising anything.
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How Nikon’s bulk download works
Use Nikon’s official workflow and current instructions. Photo Archive Rescue does not sign in, download, scrape or control your Nikon account. Its work begins only after the files have reached your Windows PC.
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Why you should keep the original downloaded archive
The downloaded ZIP is the closest local evidence of what Nikon supplied. Keep it unchanged. Do not delete it after extraction and do not use the only copy as a workspace for renaming or folder experiments.
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How much free disk space do you need?
Allow space for the original ZIP files, extracted contents where required and a separate rescued destination. A practical target is comfortably more than twice the download size, with additional headroom for temporary files and future backups.
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What if the download arrives in multiple ZIP files?
Keep every download together and name the containing folder clearly. Photo Archive Rescue opens one ZIP file or one extracted folder at a time, so inspect separate downloads individually and keep their results clearly identified.
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How to import the ZIP into Photo Archive Rescue
The Windows application opens one downloaded ZIP file or one extracted folder at a time. Its workflow inventories the archive, reviews issues and exact duplicate content, previews a separate destination, copies files without changing the source and checks the result. Contact Capsa Nigra support for help getting started.
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How to inspect the archive
Begin with inventory: counts, formats, sizes, dates and items needing attention. The aim is to understand the archive before reorganising it. Unsupported or unusual items should remain visible for review.
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How to check photographs and Nikon RAW files
Review issues separately from missing metadata. NEF and NRW recognition does not mean a damaged file can be repaired. Keep any unreadable or unusual item and investigate while Nikon still provides a source.
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How to preserve metadata
Preserve original files and distinguish embedded capture dates from Windows created or modified dates. Photo Archive Rescue reads available capture dates, dimensions, camera and lens information, exposure details and GPS information where present. Missing fields remain clearly identified as missing.
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How to identify exact duplicate files
Exact duplicates contain the same bytes even when their filenames or folders differ. Treat this separately from photographs that merely look similar. Do not delete duplicates until you understand why each copy exists and have independent backups.
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How to create and verify a second copy
Choose a separate destination, preview the organisation plan, copy without altering the source and verify every expected item. Presence and size checks catch omissions; SHA-256 fingerprints establish byte-for-byte source and destination equality.
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How to import the verified files somewhere else
Import the verified destination rather than the only Nikon download. A local photo library can open or index that folder; an external drive can receive another copy; and Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox can upload files or folders through their websites or desktop applications. Check the chosen provider’s current capacity, privacy and original-file handling, and keep an independent local copy.
EVIDENCE / SOURCES
Sources and boundaries
- NIKON IMAGE SPACE service termination noticeNikon CorporationSchedule checked 13 September 2026.Open source ↗
- Upload files and folders to Google DriveGoogleOfficial file and folder upload instructions.Open source ↗
- Upload photos and files to OneDriveMicrosoftOfficial web and desktop upload instructions.Open source ↗
- Upload files and folders to DropboxDropboxOfficial web and desktop upload instructions.Open source ↗