External Image File Missing and Path has not Changed

[Carcar]

I spent ages inserting external reference images onto my CAD drawing from various different folders and none of those images have moved or changed folders. However when I reopened my file all of the images are just a grey block with the file name in the centre, but I cant view the image. In the reference manager I tried to change the path to absolute but it says the absolute path cannot be assigned. How can I fix this without having to reattached all the images I've already uploaded? It is a monumental waste of time to reattach all those images now and they will probably just go missing again once I save and reopen, so would like to avoid this happening in the future?

 

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by Carcar
Uploaded Wrong Reference Image

[tombu]

Did you reopen your file by double-clicking it in File Explorer or with AutoCAD?

The DWGPREFIX (System Variable) stores the drive and folder path for the current drawing when you open a drawing with AutoCAD. 

If you open your file by double-clicking it in File Explorer DWGPREFIX will reference the folder path for the last drawing opened with AutoCAD which would prevent an Xref Relative Path from being found.