Need help processing RAW files

[Moglet]

Thought this was one of the best places to ask this, I've got some files on my external HD that were taken in August last year, they are RAW files taken with my D50. However I can't open them! I'm trying to use Photoshop CS and it's refusing to open them saying there's an error with the plugin.

The plugin was (I believe) the Nikon NEF LE plugin that came on a disc with the camera, but since I got the camera 5 years ago the software to install the plugin with PictureProject isn't compatible with MacOS 10.5. I've tried copying it across from my iBook seperately but it still refuses to work.

Any ideas on how I could open these files? The only solution I can see is to open them on my old iBook which has the plugin on it and then copy them across, which isn't ideal at all. I'm a bit annoyed that I can no longer open my own files simply because of problems with Nikon's software.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

You've got Photoshop CS? Can you not install Adobe Camera Raw? It may be that you don't have the right converter installed for ACR however, as I think the list is quite aggressively trimmed, so you could potentially download it from Adobe or Nikon's sites.

 

[wfooshee]

I never used CS, but have used CS2, and needed nothing from Nikon to open them.

You could use Nikon's ViewNX or NikonTransfer programs (free downloads at Nikon's site) to convert them, but when they get to Photoshop you won't have all the things you can do while they're still RAW.