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philipn95815980
philipn95815980
Inspiring
March 12, 2017
Answered

Getting adjustments back after macOS clean install

  • March 12, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1527 views

I plan to clean install macOS on my iMac. I have the whole drive backed up, so I should be able to get to any Lightroom files that presently exist.

But I'm confused as to how the non-destructive aspect works, especially with regards to putting everything back together again.

The NEFs in the Finder don't have the careful adjustments I've made, of course.  But if I put back all the files in my Lightroom folder from the backup, with paths remaining identical, will all my adjustments just re-appear?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer dj_paige

The catalog file contains your adjustments. You need to restore a backup of your catalog file, restore the backups of the original photos to their exact previous location, and all of your edits and user-provided metadata will be intact.

2 replies

Just Shoot Me
Just Shoot Me
Legend
March 12, 2017

The edits are stored in the LR Catalog file so make sure you save, backup, the catalog file just before you wipe the drive. Do not depend on Time Machine to Restore your system back to it was or even place or replace some files on your drive. Make a Copy of the Catalog file on an external drive of some type before you wipe the internal drive.

If you have the option set to Auto write changes to XMP enabled the edits, but not collections or certain other things, are also store in a XMP Sidecar file. So if you see XMP files in the folders with your images back them up as well as the images.

Please remember that 99.999999% of drive backup programs, Time Machine or any of the other imaging/backup programs, backup all the JUNK you are trying to get rid of.

philipn95815980
philipn95815980Author
Inspiring
March 12, 2017

I don't use Time Machine - couldn't really use it for a clean install in any case!  I shall be clean installing Sierra from a flash stick, and then placing important files back manually from a clone on one of the external backup drives, so no re-installing "junk" (the idea being to get rid of that).

Just Shoot Me
Just Shoot Me
Legend
March 12, 2017

Well you are right about using TM for a Clean install. Unless you created a separate TM backup of a clean install of the OS and program and never added anything to that separate TM backup.

But you can Restore your system from a TM backup once you boot the Mac to the Recovery console.

dj_paige
dj_paigeCorrect answer
Legend
March 12, 2017

The catalog file contains your adjustments. You need to restore a backup of your catalog file, restore the backups of the original photos to their exact previous location, and all of your edits and user-provided metadata will be intact.

philipn95815980
philipn95815980Author
Inspiring
March 12, 2017

Thanks, that's reassuring.

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