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OnThePond
Participant
June 11, 2024
Answered

catalog missing folders

  • June 11, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 694 views

I've somehow messed up my Lightroom catalog after the latest update. I've searched and Googled and tried for hours to figure out how to fix it but I am hopelessly lost. Can anyone help me get my catalog back please? 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Bill Sprague

Windows can change drive letter assignments.  Google for Microsoft instructions on how to change the drive letter to what you want.  If you change your external drive to a letter much further down the alphabet, Windows won't change it.   In other words, change the external drive to something like "L" with Windows tools and then use the Lightroom tools to re-assign the drive/folder location. 

2 replies

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 11, 2024

The answer from @Bill Sprague will be the correct answer.

Windows can give any externally connected (usually multiple) drives (or USB devices!)  any letter (D: E: F: G:, etc) in the order that they are connected to the PC.  - Unless you specifically rename the drive with a letter further along the alphabet (eg. P: Q: R: S:, etc).

If the drive with your photos cchanges its letter (for any reason) then Lr-CLassic will lose the link to the photos & folders (ie. 'Missing')

Some informative links-

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

DRIVE LETTER CHANGE RENAME | Microsoft Docs

 

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
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OnThePondAuthor
Participant
June 12, 2024

Thank you @Rob_Cullen and  @Bill Sprague !!

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 11, 2024

"Messed Up"  How?  More details of what you did.

"Missing Folders"  Where? Are they showing in the Folder panel with question marks [?]  ?  Did you delete or move them with File Explorer?

"get your catalog back"  From where. Did you delete the catalog entirely? Backups are meant for this purpose- Restore a catalog from backups.

MISSING FILES AND FOLDERS-(Computer Darkroom)

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

Restore photos from backup catalog

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
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OnThePondAuthor
Participant
June 11, 2024

Hi Rob,  Thank you for responding. My Lightroom catalog has always been my 😧 drive, but after the update, there was no longer a D drive. My computer did not recognize a D drive and had somehow renamed that drive to E. I couldnt find my  D drive anywhere. Lightroom panel was still calling it D but had all the question marks. I didnt do anything but allow the update. Its not ever happened before so I wasn't sure how to fix it. I did finally figure it out. Although, my D drive is still missing somewhere in etheral space. 🙂 
Thank you again for your willingness to help me. Its greatly appreciated. Have an awesome day!

 

B
Community Expert
Bill SpragueCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 11, 2024

Windows can change drive letter assignments.  Google for Microsoft instructions on how to change the drive letter to what you want.  If you change your external drive to a letter much further down the alphabet, Windows won't change it.   In other words, change the external drive to something like "L" with Windows tools and then use the Lightroom tools to re-assign the drive/folder location. 

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