# Unable to load CT Files

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 14, 2022, 3:47am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219 "2022-11-14T03:47:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cepehde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@cepehde](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cepehde)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 3:47am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219/1 "2022-11-14T03:47:28Z")

</div>

Operating system: Windows 10  
Slicer version:5.0.3  
Expected behavior: Load CT files  
Actual behavior: Error about data base

Have not had issues over the last couple of years loading CT scans. Received error message below and thought was the particular study. Tried other studies that have worked in past and now getting this message.

Getting following message:

“Could not create a DICOM database with default settings. Please create a new database or update the existing incompatible database using options in DICOM browser”

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/slicer/original/3X/3/4/3414e6b75f1ef0aab40f79980eb8e40e6f381d6e.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pieper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/pieper/32/8_2.png) [@pieper](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/pieper)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219/2 "2022-11-14T15:59:38Z")

</div>

The yellow box in the upper right is saying it can’t create files in your `G\` drive, but your file browser indicates that’s a DVD. Use the button to select a writable location.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lassoan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/lassoan/32/13_2.png) [@lassoan](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/lassoan)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219/3 "2022-11-14T18:06:40Z")

</div>

Probably the source of confusion is the difference between these folders:

- DICOM database location: a writeable folder where essential metadata about inspected DICOM folders are stored - this must be somewhere on a local disk (e.g., in your user or Documents folder). You need to select this the first time you load DICOM images by clicking on `Select database folder` in the box highlighted in yellow.
- Folder containing DICOM files you want to load: these can be anywhere, on a read-only and/or remove drive. You select this when you click on `Import DICOM files` button or drag-and-drop a folder to the application window.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cepehde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@cepehde](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/cepehde)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/unable-to-load-ct-files/26219/4 "2022-11-15T12:26:08Z")

</div>

Thank you for the help ! Solved my problem.

Collin