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Walter_H
Walter_H
Legend
October 20, 2019
Answered

Computer Died - What's The Best Way To Restore Elaments

  • October 20, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 788 views

I had both PSE14 & PSE2019 installed and running fine on my Win 7 Pro PC. I had just purchased the upgrade to PSE2020 but before I could install it my PC died.

 

I've purchased a new Win 10 Pro PC. The SSD and HDD from the dead Win 7 PC are good and I've already copied some things from them to my new PC.

 

What is the BEST way to restore my Element data? Should I reinstall PSE2019 and copy the catalog from the old PC? I've already copied the Pictures folder where all my photos were stored from the old HDD to the new HDD and the path on the new PC is identical to the old PC.

 

Or, can I just install PSE2020 and try to restore from an Elements backup (which was probably about 3 or 4 weeks old)? I know that I can just install PSE2020 and import all of the photos and start off from scratch, but I was hoping to avoid all of the Face Recognition and other things involved with building a new catalog. Or, can PSE2020 just use the catalog file from PSE2019?

 

What say you? What's the best way to proceed?

 

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Greg_S.

    Just to add to John's advice, the full name of the catalog file is catalog.pse17db and you need to first find the folder in which it is contained.   If you have to browse for it in a non-default location, you have to select the folder that contains the catalog file in order for the catalog to be listed in the Convert catalog dialog.

    3 replies

    Walter_H
    Walter_HAuthor
    Legend
    October 20, 2019

    Thank you 99jon & Greg_S.

     

    I copied the entire "E2019 Catalog" from my old SSD to my new PC's SSD. I then ran the Convert routine in the Catalog Manager and everything is just fine.

     

    Thank you very much for your help - I appreciate it!

     

    Walter

    --Walter in Davie, FL
    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Greg_S.Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    October 20, 2019

    Just to add to John's advice, the full name of the catalog file is catalog.pse17db and you need to first find the folder in which it is contained.   If you have to browse for it in a non-default location, you have to select the folder that contains the catalog file in order for the catalog to be listed in the Convert catalog dialog.

      99jon
      99jon
      Legend
      October 20, 2019

      If you can find the catalog database you should be able to convert it in PSE 2020 Organizer.

      File >> Manage Catalogs

      Click the convert button and choose your named catalog or if nothing is listed click the button to find it manually. For the 2019 version you are looking for

      PSE17DB File

      The location is usually:

      C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\Catalogs

       

        Walter_H
        Walter_HAuthor
        Legend
        October 20, 2019

        Hello 99jon,

         

        Thanks for your reply. I was able to find the catalog file on my old SSD. I'll copy it to the new PC and run the Manage Catalogs command that you mentioned.

         

        Thank you for your help!

        --Walter in Davie, FL
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