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g7sharp9
g7sharp9
Known Participant
June 16, 2022
Question

Will LRC save my catalog/edits if I move all files to a different drive?

  • June 16, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 273 views

Hello,

 

I'm working on moving all the files from my 'family' drive to a bigger drive (of course to have more room). I've been working on this family drive (in Lightroom Classic) for years now and have tons of edits, color corrections, tags, and more. If I move all the files to this new drive is it possible for Lightroom to see the new drive as the old one and remember all the work I've done with the previous catalog? If I give the drive the same 'family drive' name, will it work?

 

I hope this is clear. I'm hoping to do this soon.

 

I'm using Lightroom Classic Cloud 11.4

iMacOS, Catalina

 

Thanks,

Will

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 16, 2022

Pity that you already started, because you could do it in an even easier way. Copy all the image folders to the new drive keeping the exact same hierarchy and then just give the new drive the exact same name as the old one. Disconnect or rename the old drive. That's all. Lightroom won't know the difference.

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
g7sharp9
g7sharp9Author
Known Participant
June 16, 2022

I thought of that and actually, and I could still do that. I just wasn't sure if the drive name alone would be enough to tell Lightroom that this is the same drive. I didn't know if LRC went deeper than the name of it.

 

I'll probably still do the reassignment of folder locations which won't take me that long. 

 

thanks,

Will

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 16, 2022
quote

I thought of that and actually, and I could still do that. I just wasn't sure if the drive name alone would be enough to tell Lightroom that this is the same drive. I didn't know if LRC went deeper than the name of it.


By @g7sharp9

 

Usually this trick won't work on a Mac. MacOS keeps track of disks by assigning a Unique Disk Identifier code, so MacOS can work with multiple disks having the same name and still knows the difference. But Lightroom does not use that. It uses a simple path with the disk name in it, so if the name is the same as what Lightroom has in its paths, then it will assume this is the same disk.

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    June 16, 2022

    Yes, if you do it properly. Here are the instructions: http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm Please scroll down to the section entitled "Part 2 — Updating Folder Location" and follow the instructions carefully.

    g7sharp9
    g7sharp9Author
    Known Participant
    June 16, 2022

    This is great, thanks. I'm trying now - one folder at a time!

     

    Thanks again,

    Will

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    June 16, 2022

    You can do this on a parent folder, and all sub-folders will re-connect. You shouldn't have to do this one folder at a time.

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