Skip to main content
Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 1, 2023
Question

Re: Lightroom 5 help to restore a catalog

  • February 1, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 216 views

First- DO NOT TRY IMPORTING! Always the wrong way to correct this problem!

 

Your first screen-clip suggests that Lr is looking for the files on the Seagate Backup Drive-D:

Then your second screen-clip shows that you have a folder heirarchy deep within the Previews folders of the cache {...Previews.lrdata}- which is very weird and should not be so! You should not store original files in with the Previews cache.!

 

And it would appear these folders have intermingled photos- original files with files that may have been 'recovered' for some reason. judging by the cryptic file names.

 

I can only suggest that the photos on a Hard-drive must match the Folder heirarchy structure you see in the Lightroom panel (ie. on the D:Drive).

Then another question is- Why would you be referencing photos on a "backup drive"?

Do some research from these links-

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

MISSING FILES AND FOLDERS-(Computer Darkroom)

 

 

 

      This topic has been closed for replies.

      2 replies

      D
      dgmedia2
      Participant
      February 1, 2023

      So rather then importing, if I can find the photo's would I just copy them and paste to the lighroom appropriate folders?

      Rob_Cullen
      Community Expert
      Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertAuthor
      Community Expert
      February 2, 2023

      "would I just copy them and paste to the lightroom appropriate folders?"

      Yes.! You can.  (And when the problem is corrected, and backups made of all files, you could delete them from the cache folders.)

      Your catalog is like an address book.  If a friend moves home and does not tell you, then your address book tells you the friend is 'missing'. Move them back to their old address and your book is now correct.

      Likewise the Catalog Folder information must match the folders on a hard-drive, and by moving the files 'back' to where Lightroom believes them to be, you will fix the Missing folders (?) and files (!).

       

      The links I quoted suggest methods to "Find missing folders" and re-link them (in their new location). I do not advise this, considering your strange locations of the files (in the cache folder.). Better to simply move the folders back to where Lightroom shows them to be.

      Although the web links will provide a good learning experience, and help to tidy up your folder heirarchy.

       

      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 .
      D
      dgmedia2
      Participant
      February 1, 2023

      Thank you for your help.  Because most computers now come with very small hard drives, I thought it would be a good idea to keep the files and the photo's on an external drive.  As such I access it on a "back up" drive.  I had the catalog on two drives, which both failed. I've also found some of the photo's on the file manager, which backs everything up.

       

      Do you think it's a good idea to work off an external drive? 

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices