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R
RoRo
Participant
June 19, 2023
Question

LR catalog disappeared

  • June 19, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 671 views

I restarted my computer last week.  When I tried to open LR (mine is the pale blue "Lr" in the middle of black square w/pale blue border and square corners; opens with a purple flower on a black background and says Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop Lightroom CC), it's showing NO catalog at all.  I get a message that says "Lightroom must be upgraded before it can continue syncing with Lightroom mobile." I do pay the monthly fee and updates are done automatically. My Creative Cloud desktop shows this icon as v 6.0 and up to date. But it also shows icons LrC v 12.4 and LR (brighter blue w/rounded corners) - both of which are up to date.  If I open the latter LR, it shows 93 random photos of mine, but doesn't look at all like what I've been using with the develop module.  Can someone help me figure out how to get my catalog back...and the edits that have been done on all my photos?

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    1 reply

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 19, 2023

    You have TWO versions of Lightroom-Classic installed!  v6.14 (aka CC 2015.14) and v12.4

    And you need to run the 12.4 Version to allow Cloud Sync features. (v6 won't do.)

    Uninstall v6.0 from the Desktop App. You don't need it any more.

     

    As for Catalogs- search your system with File Explorer and search for Files that have the .LRCAT file-type, these are Catalogs (if more than one). By default may be in a sub-folder of the Pictures folder.

    When you open any 'old v6' catalog with v12.4 (by a [Double-Click] on the .LRCAT file) it will ask you to upgrade the catalog. That is OK to do (AND Rename!)- and continue to work with v12.4

    CATALOGS- HOW THEY WORK

    https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/create-catalogs.html

     

    This 'Lightroom' in your CC App is the Cloud Version

    Do not run, or use it, until you have Lightroom-Classic 12.4 operating successfully, and you are aware of the differences! COMPARE LIGHTROOM & LIGHTROOM-CLASSIC FEATURES 

     

    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 .
    R
    RoRoAuthor
    Participant
    June 25, 2023

    Thank you for your response! I've been trying to read up on all that you sent and I've concluded that me and Lightroom are like me and my farm equipment...I'm pretty good it running it and minor repairs, but I really stink at fixing the major stuff!! 🙂  I did uninstall v 6.0.  I attempted to bring over the catalog, but wasn't completely successful.  Nothing after 2018 was brought over, and part of my collections are missing (pics attached).  I tried to look at the .lrcat file and it all seems "old" as far as the date goes (4 pics of what I get when I search).  I back up my catalog at least weekly, so I'm confused.  Do you have any insight on what I'm doing wrong and how I can get the last 5 years back into the catalog?  Again, many thanks for your help and trying to work with a clueless soul like me!

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 26, 2023

    In your screen-clips , the latest Backup was January 2022! So if you backup weekly, there must be something later than this somewhere. On another drive maybe?

    When you find a recent backup- post back for more advice.

    RESTORE A CATALOG FROM BACKUP

    A 'tidy up' is long overdue with your files. You have multiple catalogs, the 'largest' of which is-

    But size may not determine if it is indeed the 'latest', containing all your year folders.

    And you have many Backup files.

    The only way to tell is to open each catalog (by a [Double-click] on the .LRCAT file) and note its contents.

    Be aware that LrC v12.4 will want to create an upgraded version of each Lr6 one you open- Give it a name that makes sense to you (a -v12 suffix?). When you find the catalog with all your photos- note it carefully, and remove all others to an archive.

     

    I also see two ".LOCK" files in your clips. These "LOCK" files will prevent a Catalog from opening with an error message. DELETE any "LOCK" files before you try opening similar named catalogs.

     

    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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