# Error loading old project
**URL:** https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194
**Category:** FMOD Studio
**Created:** [August 27, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194 "2022-08-27T23:27:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rontt](https://qa.fmod.com/u/rontt)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2022, 11:27pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/1 "2022-08-27T23:27:23Z")
I have old project from Studio.02.00.00 and I am trying to load it in 2.02.06. It asks if I want to migrate it to the new version. I answer yes and it bring up this error
`Invalid Studio file /path/FMODStudio/Metadata/._Master.xml`
I don’t have a `._Master.xml` file. (I have show hidden files on)
Any idea how I can get this project to load?
---
### Author:  [@jeff\_fmod](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jeff_fmod)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2022, 2:00am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/2 "2022-08-29T02:00:40Z")
That `._` prefix looks like the one you get when you move a project from an Apple file system to a Windows file system. Is the rest of that `/path/` inside a directory called \_\_MACOSX? Do you have any other files prefixed with `._`?
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### Author:  [@raxersound](https://qa.fmod.com/u/raxersound)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/3 "2025-03-29T10:12:15Z")
Hello Jeff!
I’m another user, and I’m having this problem. I have this project on an external drive. I work on Mac and Windows with this external drive. In my case, there is no “\_\_MACOSX” folder inside my external drive, and the file “.\_Master.xml” is non-existent inside the path that the error says.
I don’t have any more files starting with .\_
What should I do next?
Thank you!
---
### Author:  [@jeff\_fmod](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jeff_fmod)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/4 "2025-04-03T23:02:47Z")
Can you please upload this old project to your [FMOD Profile](https://fmod.com/profile#uploads) so I can try debugging this?
You should be able to merge these doubled files on your hard drive by connecting the hard drive to your mac and running this command from the terminal:
```auto
dot_clean -m -n "/volumes/your hard drive/fmod project directory"
```
Can you please upload your project, and then give that command a go?
---
### Author:  [@DignifiedDonut](https://qa.fmod.com/u/DignifiedDonut)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/5 "2026-01-04T12:10:34Z")
Hiya Jeff!
I’m another user who had the same problem more than 3 years later to the original poster. Just messaging to say the terminal command fix you provided worked for me in case anyone comes across this in the future.
---
### Author:  [@jeff\_fmod](https://qa.fmod.com/u/jeff_fmod)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://qa.fmod.com/t/error-loading-old-project/19194/6 "2026-01-04T21:44:54Z")
Thank you! I have always wondered if that actually fixed the problem, but have never had anybody confirm.