MICHEL-PLEASE SEE BELOW IS RED CAPS. jenniferlaufer  wrote I finally successfully restored my catalog from my external drive to my new computer and upgraded from Photoshop 10 to Photoshop 2018. When I look at my new “Pictures” folder on my new computer everything looks the same except that I have three new folders that weren’t there before: My New Catalog (63.6), My New Catalog 1 (235 MB), Program Data (64.8MB). In the past, my catalog was stored on my external drive. The location of the two catalog folders is logical if you have selected the default Windows 'My Pictures' as the destination master folder in the restore process. That's not what I did advise: I would have created first a 'My New Catalog' just under the C: root folder, not under the default 'My Pictures' folder (restore to 'custom' location, not to original location'). Anyway, that can work both ways. The catalog folder with the suffix 1 is the PSE10 version, it contains a 'catalog.pse10db' database. The other one is the 'converted' to PSE2018 version. My guess is that it is smaller than the original because the thumbnails cache has not yet been reconstructed. What I can't understand is why you have a 'Program Data' there! Can you compare with the original computer? It's very small. ON MY OLDER WINDOWS 7 COMPUTER I FOUND C; PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/ELEMENTS ORGANIZER (377 MB) AND C; PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS  (1.59 gig) ON MY NEW WINDOWS 10 COMPUTER I HAVE TWO PROGRAM DATA FILES; 1) C; PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/ELEMENTS ORGANIZER (285 MB) AND C; PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS (256mb) 2) C; MY PICTURES/PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/ELEMENTS ORGANIZER (64.7 MB) AND C; PROGRAM DATA/ADOBE/PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS  (108k) Should I create a new catalog and save/back it up it on my external drive? Once I do that, can I delete the My New Catalog (63.6) and My New Catalog 1 (235 MB) folders on my laptop Pictures folder? First check that you can work as usual with the 2018 catalog (I would let the thumbnails be recreated in background task and check the folder size after that). HOW DO I LET THUMBNAILS BE CREATED IN BACKGROUND? As mentioned before, check that you have the same (or nearly the same number of files shown in the organizer). HOW DO CHECK THIS? Then you can delete the catalog folder with the 1 suffix. For the 'Program Data', no hurry. You can check that there is another 'Program Data' folder just under the C: root drive. You may try to check if there are image file there. WHERE WOULD I FIND THE IMAGE FILES? jenniferlaufer  wrote Is there a way for my catalog to be automatically updated as I add new photos to my Pictures folder? That feature is called 'watched folders' (under the file menu). You have options to let the organizer scan your folders to find photo files not already in the catalog. Is there a way to automatically back up my catalog to my external drive? There are external tools to 'sync' the contents of a drive to another one, such as the Windows Synctoy. I do use it after each editing session to save my pictures folders AND my catalog folders. Much faster than a full or even an incremental backup, but I do know that if I have to restore after a crash, the links in the catalog will be broken and I'll have to 'reconnect' everything. It's useful together with periodic organizer backups. Should the newly created Program Data folder in my Pictures folder remain there? See above.If it does not contain photo files (jpegs...), rename it and see if everything goes well and see if that does not create 'missing' files in your catalog. Then you'll be good to delete it. jenniferlaufer  wrote Will the Save Metadata to my Files function ensure that I still have my file data and album info in my Pictures folder if my catalog gets corrupted? What exactly does that function do? That writes the tags, captions, notes, ratings into the metadata header of your jpeg files. Those will be available when you import them in a new catalog or if browse those photos in the Windows explorer or another editing software. What can't be saved is mainly: - albums - stacks and version sets - creations. ... View more

I finally successfully restored my catalog from my external drive to my new computer and upgraded from Photoshop 10 to Photoshop 2018. When I look at my new “Pictures” folder on my new computer everything looks the same except that I have three new folders that weren’t there before: My New Catalog (63.6), My New Catalog 1 (235 MB), Program Data (64.8MB). In the past, my catalog was stored on my external drive. Should I create a new catalog and save/back it up it on my external drive? Once I do that, can I delete the My New Catalog (63.6) and My New Catalog 1 (235 MB) folders on my laptop Pictures folder? Is there a way for my catalog to be automatically updated as I add new photos to my Pictures folder? Is there a way to automatically back up my catalog to my external drive? Should the newly created Program Data folder in my Pictures folder remain there? Will the Save Metadata to my Files function ensure that I still have my file data and album info in my Pictures folder if my catalog gets corrupted? What exactly does that function do? Thank you. ... View more

Correction: We're NOT talking about a few. ... View more

Hi Michel, In answer to your question, I have fewer photos in the restored catalog in the MyPictures folder. We're talking about a few, it's actually a difference of several hundred. Once you respond, does it make sense to delete my photos and catalog and on my new computer and start over? I have several copies of my photos elsewhere (external drive, old computer, etc.) and have not added any photos. Thank you. ... View more

Did you see my questions above? Thank you. ... View more

Sorry See below. Thank you. Here are my answers to your questions above: Yes I have a backup. Yes my old computer stills works with my old Elements and catalog. I believe I only have one drive on my new computer (and old computer for that matter). I also have an external drive. Yes, I have plenty of space on both my computer and external drive for a temporary duplication of my photo files. I can't think of any compelling reasons to keep all of my photos under the default PICTURES folder, particularly if I can avoid this complexity of restoring the catalog without missing hundreds of photos that were on my computer before. Thank you and I'll await for you to recommend an appropriate workflow for transferring/restoring my catalog and all of my photos. I would wait to delete the new folders created on the new drive from the previous restore. Better to be sure you have a correct new restore before that. JUST SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE THREE COPIES OF MY PICTURES FOLDER (MY OLDER COMPUTER, MY EXTERNAL DRIVE AND CLOUD BACKUP) I ALSO CREATED A BACKUP OF MY CATALOG ON TO MY EXTERNAL DRIVE PRIOR TO MOVING TO THE NEW COMPUTER - plug in the external drive with your previous backup folder to the new computer. - Create a new master folder on the new computer, just under the 'C:\'  root directory; for instance C:\MyPhotos. - start the organizer on the new computer, and choose 'Restore', select your folder on the external drive as the backup source, select the options to restore on custom destination (not 'original' one) and navigate to the C:\MyPhotos folder as the destination, select the option to keep the original folder structure. WHEN I OPEN UP ORGANIZER ON THE NEW COMPUTER, THERE ARE PHOTOS FROM WHEN I RESTORED THE CATALOG BEFORE BUT IT DIDN’T GO SO WELL BECAUSE THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS MISSING. I’M PROPOSING I START FROM SCRATCH AGAIN. IS IT A PROBLEM THERE ARE PHOTOS IN MY NEW ORGANIZER IF I FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDED PROCESS? ALSO, I SEE A RESTORE CATALOG OPTION (NOT SIMPLY RESTORE AS YOU MENTION)—IS THAT THE ONE I AM SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE? AS I MENTIONED, I HAVE A LOT MORE PHOTOS IN MY PICTURES FOLDER ON MY OLD COMPUTER AND EXTERNAL DRIVE THAT I WANT TO MOVE OVER TO MY NEW COMPUTER. YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL BUT THIS IS JUST SO COMPLICATED. ALL I WANT TO DO IS MOVE OVER ALL OF MY PHOTOS TO MY NEW COMPUTER WITH METADATA, ETC. INCLUDED? - Start the restore process. All the files in your original catalog should be restored with the same picture folder tree, and the catalog will be converted The catalog folder should also be restored under the C:\MyPhotos master folder. To open the new catalog, you can: - use the catalog manager and browse to the new catalog location (in 'custom' location, not 'catalogs accessible to all users') - or simply double click on the catalog.pse16db file to open the organizer with that catalog. If everything goes well, use your explorer to compare the newly restored structure with the structure of your first attempt. No risk at that point to delete the folders which now are now duplicated. Tip: With a 'custom' master folder like this, use your preferences in the organizer to specify the new folders to be used for storing downloaded or scanned pictures. When you'll import new files they will go there. ... View more

Hi Michael, See my questions in CAPS below. Thank you. Pam ... View more

Thank you. Here are my answers to your questions above: Yes I have a backup. Yes my old computer stills works with my old Elements and catalog. I believe I only have one drive on my new computer (and old computer for that matter). I also have an external drive. Yes, I have plenty of space on both my computer and external drive for a temporary duplication of my photo files. I can't think of any compelling reasons to keep all of my photos under the default PICTURES folder, particularly if I can avoid this complexity of restoring the catalog without missing hundreds of photos that were on my computer before. Thank you and I'll await for you to recommend an appropriate workflow for transferring/restoring my catalog and all of my photos. ... View more

OK. Thanks for clarifying that. I’m sure there were some PDF files, etc. that were not restored that I would like to keep. Given that, is this an OK process? 1. Delete the folders on my new computer that appeared after the catalog restore. They are found under C:/Users/laufe/Pictures: Camera Roll, My New Catalog, My New Catalog 2, ProgramData, Saved Pictures, Users/Pam (includes folders Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos-these are not my Documents, Pictures, etc. folders that appear under Users/laufe) 2. Move My Pictures folder from my old computer to my new computer 3. Redo catalog restore onto my new computer (the catalog is saved on my external drive as before) Should I check to restore to original folder locations if I do it this way? ... View more

Thank you. If I run into any issues with installing the Adobe Photoshop Elements 15, will there be phone support available and if so for how long? Does the warranty/support begin when I activate the software? Thank you. ... View more

Thank you. I am now storing a full catalog backup on an external drive as you suggested. Is it OK to keep My Pictures folder on my computer? The reason is I have various photo folders and files I would like to view via Windows Explorer from time to time. Will the My Pictures on my computer and catalog backup on my external drive always be in synch as long as I conduct incremental backups? ... View more

OK thank you. What about my separate My Pictures folder? Do I transfer that as well? ... View more

I'll be transferring the data from one laptop to the other laptop via high-speed network cable. I created a full backup on my hard drive and I see a folder with thousands of files with names (e.g. B0000359)that don't directly correct correlate with the photo files that are stored in My Pictures folder. This backup folder also contains other files, such as catalog.buc and backup.tly. Do I transfer this "backup" folder and all of the files in My Pictures folder from my old to new laptop? Thank you. ... View more

Thank you. I need to backup my catalog to another location on my hard drive because I do not have an external drive or DVD reader. When I move to a computer, I will be doing a direct data migration from my old (current) to new computer. How do I ensure that all of my photos and metadata will be transferred properly to the new computer? I have plenty of space on my computer. Thank you. ... View more