Lightroom catalog populates images from folders/drives I never selected

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
February 12, 2023
2 replies
550 views

I am using LightRoom Classic on a Windows PC.

Every time I create a new LightRoom catalog, LR pulls images off my /C drive and one other drive that I never selected.

When I create a new catalog, I use the import menu and select ONE singular folder on my /E drive. I do not select any other folders or any other drives to "import" from. The catalog that is created however automatically imports all the images from two additional, totally different drives. It grabs images off my /C and /D drive, which I do not want, and did not select.

I try to manually fix this by using the drop down folder menu on the left and selecting "remove" on all the unwanted folders. This only works temporarily, because at any later point if I tell LR to sync my catalog (by right-button clicking on the correct /E folder), the same erronious folders/drives are once again added back into the catalog.

What is causing this and how can I fix this? I only want LR to pull images from one folder location.

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

Sean McCormack

Community Expert

Lightroom will only import files that you've selected in the Import window. So somehow you are selecting these other files. Look through the window to check that only the files you want are coming in.

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.

Per Berntsen

Community Expert

I'm not sure if I understand your workflow, but if LR imports from other folders than the one you have selected in the Import dialog, try resetting the preferences.

Go to Edit > Preferences > General. Press the Alt key, and a button labelled "Reset all preferences and relaunch" will appear.

I get the impression that you have several catalogs, this is not recommended. Having multiple catalogs offer few advantages, and many disadvantages. Most users only have one catalog.

R

russellk54407137Author

Participant

Thank you Per Bernsten for your response.

I tried your suggestion to "Reset all preferences and relaunch", with the same result.

Just to clarify, I only have one catalog.

I have tried deleting the catalog and any old catalog information and files on my computer. Meaning, there should be no LightRoom catalogs on my computer, and I start from scratch creating a new catalog.

I have uninstalled LightRoom, restarted my machine, and reinstalled LightRoom and told it to created a new catalog using just one folder. Yet other drives and folders continue to populate.

No matter what I do, LightRoom automatically adds the same unwanted drives and folders into any newly created catalogs. These are drives and folders I do not select when creating the catalog.

Why is LightRoom adding these unwanted drives and folders?

Are there files within my photo folder that could somehow be directing LightRoom to add these extra locations?

Thanks so much for any help!

R

russellk54407137Author

Participant

These unwanted folders and drives are not subfolders within my desired photo folder. The unwated folders are on entirely separate drives.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded