Is there anyway to extract photos from an old version of Lightroom from a broken iMAC?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
January 14, 2019
5 replies
538 views

Hi there. Recently my iMac stopped working and apparently the problem is video card failure. I am unable to access any programs but when I visited the local Apple store they stated that I could still extract files from the hard drive, so now my iMac is a giant external hard drive. My problem is that not all my photos in Lightroom were backed up onto external hard drives. My question is, is there any possible way to extract photos from Lightroom via the hard drive on the iMac? If so where would I find the photos on the hard drive? Are the photos stored anywhere else if all I did was import the photos into Lightroom? The version of Lightroom is old and it was prior to Lightroom creative cloud. I am hoping my photos are still salvageable. If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it.

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ManiacJoe

Inspiring

As long as the old hard drive is still working, copying the files off it is simple.

See this article for what files are needed and where they might be stored:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/

cmgap

Community Expert

You may want to call a local computer repair store in your area that can remove your hard drive and put it in a case. Once it's in a case with a cable that can connect to another computer you should be able to mount the drive (or even start up from it) and access the files that you kept on that drive.

Once the drive is mounted use the recommendations mentioned here for searching and finding your source files. Likely they are in your Pictures folder if you've never specified another location.

J

JCATAuthor

Participant

If I am able to still access the hard drive of my broken iMac, can I transfer the Lightroom catalog and all the photos within it to an external hard drive? Where would I find this? And if that is possible can I restore that onto Lightroom Classic CC?

dj_paige

Legend

The photos are not "within" the catalog. The photos are on one of your hard disks (internal, external or network). Use your operating system's search feature to search for them.

If you can recover the Lightroom catalog file from the old computer's hard drive (it's name ends with .LRCAT, so you can search for it), then copy it (not move it) to a newly created empty folder on a different disk and then double-click on it to see if it will open. If it opens (the photos may not show initially), then you can can re-connect the Lightroom catalog to the new locations of the photos by following these instructions: Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders

DdeGannes

Community Expert

When you import photos to the Lightroom Catalog the actual image file, nor a copy, is stored within Lightroom. The Catalog is just a data base that stores the info about where the files are located and the info about the other edits and things you have done within Lightroom.

If you used the add function when importing the files will remain at their original location.

If you used copy or move function the files will be located on your computer HDD, internal or external, where you choose to place them..

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

Photos are never imported 'in' Lightroom. Lightroom is a database, like an address book. It contains a reference to the photos, but the photos themselves are stored elsewhere. You decide where that is, so it's difficult for us to tell you that. Start by looking in the Pictures folder.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

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