Lightromm Classic catalog problem on new computer

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
August 10, 2024
5 replies
708 views

I store my photos on an external hard drive. My catalog was on C drive. I moved it to the same directory in a new computer. However, the .lrcat files appear as folders and not a clickable file. If I excutre Lightroom, it creates a .lrcat file which, when I click, does not recognize any folders in the left panel and only suggests that I import the photos. This obviously will cause 15 years of hard work to be lost. What have gove wrong and how can I fix that?

BTW - the old computer shos the .lrcat files correctly and when I move them to Dropbox for sncronization with the new machin they still look okay. But the new computer doesn't recognize them as clickable .lract files in Dropbox either.

Your help will be grealty appreciated.

Windows

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GoldingD

Legend

C:\Users\[username]\Pictures\Lightroom

Using the Windows System Folder (actually a Library) Pictures. Fairly common, and I think default. That could be good, that could be bad. Two issues can occur.

One an old Windows bug that fouled many people up, that Pictures Folder got badly damaged at a buggy MS Update, this should have never occurred, and it should never occur again, but...
Second, if you had the unfortunate situation where you accepted Microsoft's instance upon creating a user account on your Windows PS, that you had to create a MS account, not a Local Account, Then OneDrive would have gotten in the way.

The first point is probably moot. But as to the second point. In LrC, in /Help/System Info/ what is listed for the Library Path?

hopefully not:

Library Path: C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom.lrcat

GoldingD

Legend

As to the how to move a catalog from one computer to another, and luckily it appears you have the old computer, see:

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

H

haimr57571037Author

Participating Frequently

Unfortunately, the problem persists. Even if I direct LRC to a different folder for the catalog - or move the old catalog to the default folder of C:\Users\[username]\Pictures\Lightroom - the .lrcat files fo not appear as files but as folders (See in the screenshot). Consiquently, LRC does not recognize them.

I was told I can get assistance from Adobe technical staff, who will access and control my PC remotely. Is that a valid option? How can I ask them to do it (the online chat is a mindless bot unable to assist).

Thanks again!

H

haimr57571037Author

Participating Frequently

Even stranger than that: now I can see thecatalog as .lrcat files indeed on the Dropbox folder which I used to transfer them between the old and new computer, but when I copy them to the defaults catalog folder - C:\Users\[username]\Pictures\Lightroom - they again appera as folders and not recognizable files 😞