How can I download Elements 23 to a new computer

​@Darlene Fr said: The last time I did this was 8 years ago, and I made a terrible mistake and all my folders were mixed up. I THINK what I did wrong was to select “restore original folder structure”. So I want to make sure I do it correctly this time.

I don’t think this would have been a mistake.  In most cases, you are going to want to restore the original folder structure.  Otherwise, you will end up with an entirely flat folder hierarchy.  Before I comment further about this, how are your folders organized? (Year/date/subject????)

​@Darlene Fr said:  I am a birder, and I go birding usually twice a week. I usually take hundreds of bird photos each time. I have one catalog for each year. I have anywhere from 160 GB to 640GB in each catalog. I have almost 5 TB of photos. I back up my current catalog to 4 or 5 external hard drives at least once a month. I always do a full backup. If I had only one catalog, it would take me a week to back it up! So that’s why I have so many catalogs.

I can understand your desire to lessen the time to backup your catalogs and media, but I’m not sure you are using the most efficient method to organize and backup these items.  So, here are some thoughts for you to consider:

• Elements 2023 allows you to automatically save the catalog structure (without the media).  In Preferences, you can set how frequently the catalog structure is backed up.  You can also backup only the catalog structure manually, using the Organizer’s backup procedures.
• If you organize your catalogs by year, once you have 2 or 3 backups of your media files, there should be no need to back them up frequently.  Do you edit the older backed up files?  If that is the case, then I suppose you would want to backup the newly edited older (backed up) files.  But there are other less cumbersome ways to make sure your edits are saved.  After all, in that case you would still have to backup your 16 catalogs (and related media files).
• I generally do not use the Elements backup feature to backup my files.  As you note, it is very slow.  Instead, I use a relatively cheap utility program to simply copy my media files to other drives and can update those “backups” by synchronizing the folders so that only the later files are copied.  (The utility I use is called FolderMatch.)
• I also simply copy the catalog folder to different drive locations.  This can also take a while with a larger catalog.  But I can speed up the process by compressing the folder and transferring the zipped folder to a backup location and unzipping it there.  My main catalog has around 300k photo and video files which take up over 6TB of media files.  The catalog folder is less than 20GB.

​@Darlene Fr said:  My catalogs are currently stored in 3 different internal drives-my D drive, my L drive, and my Z drive. The file named “Catalogs” is stored on my C drive. My new computer will also have 3 drives in addition to the C drive, but I may restore the catalogs to just one or two drives. 

I see no problem with either approach.

​@Darlene Fr said:  My backups are on an external hard drive. I will be doing the restoring of the catalogs to the new computer myself, so I’ll need your advice so the folders don’t get mixed up!

I need more details about your folder structure and names in order to advise you. How are your copying your other data (besides photo/video files) to your new computer?  If you restore the data stored on your old drives to the new computer, why won’t the photos come over at the same time?  If they do, there is no need to restore the files from backups.

​@Darlene Fr said:  I’m not sure what you mean by if the backups include the photo/video files or only the catalog structures. I do a full backup, so all my photos and thumbnails should be on the backups, right?

As mentioned above, Elements 2023 has the capability to backup only the catalog structure.  I just needed some clarification on that point.

​@Darlene Fr said:  So here’s what I want to know:

I don’t understand why the external hard drive with the backup has to have the same drive letter as either computer-it has a completely different drive letter.

Some people store their Organizer media files on an external drive.  If you transfer the catalog to a new computer, the program will be looking for the files on the same drive as the old computer.  Otherwise, the files become missing and have to be reconnected to the drive with the “new” letter.

​@Darlene Fr said:  When I click on Catalog and then select Restore, I will select restore from my external hard drive (which will be completely backed up). Then I need to know whether to select original location or new location. Will all the files be connected on the new computer if I select new location?

As I understand your situation, yes it is probably best to select a new location BUT that location should simply be the drive you intend to use to restore the files to e.g., the D drive (on your new computer).  You should also Restore the Original Folder Hierarchy.  A potential problem that should be addressed here is that your new computer should have the same User Account name as your old computer.  Otherwise, you may see the folder structure mess that you may have experienced before.  So, while your current computer has a virtual folder called My Pictures, the actual location is something like C:\Users\[USER NAME]\My Pictures\.  If the USER NAME is not exactly the same as on the old computer, it will not appear where you want it to appear.

​@Darlene Fr said:  I don’t know if the 3 internal drives will have the same letter names as the current computer, in which all my catalogs are linked to my D, L, or Z drives. If I select new location, and I restore them to a certain drive, will the files all be linked to that drive, or do I have to link catalogs that are on my current drive to the same letter drive on the new computer (assuming the drive names are the same).I would like to restore as many catalogs as I can on the first internal drive, and put the rest on the second drive.

So, most importantly, since I think this is how I screwed up all my folders the last time I restored my catalogs 8 years ago, do I NOT check the box that says Restore Original Folder Structure? I’m almost positive that I checked that box, and it created a nightmare.

And when restoring additional catalogs, do I select the same drive (until it’s full), and not check the restore to original location box? 

I believe I have answered these questions above, but if you still have any confusion about these issues, let me know.

Yes, they can. Sign in at adobe.com with your Adobe ID, then open Adobe’s help page “Download Photoshop Elements” for older-version links, and use your serial number to activate. Elements 23 may not show in your account, so save the installer on your old PC now.

​@Darlene Fr here is a link to your Adobe account where you will be able to find a download link for Elements 2023 and your serial number.  Note that Elements 2023 is listed as Photoshop Elements version 21.0 in your account.  

Here is a link to instructions for transferring your catalogs to your new computer.  There are other methods available but your computer shop should be able to follow this method for the transfer. 

However, I have a few questions for you.  In the first place, why do you have 16 catalogs?!  Unless you have a very unusual situation, you should only work with one catalog.  There are many ways to break down your catalog so that you can find whatever you are looking for.  I have nearly 300k photo and video files in a single catalog.  I can usually find anything I am looking for in a matter of seconds.  Having so many catalogs may be confusing for transferring them to the new computer.  I may have some suggestions for simplifying the process but I need you to give me some more information about your needs.

Are your catalogs stored in the default location on your C drive?  Or are they stored on  a separate internal or external drive?  

Where are your media files stored?  If they are on an external drive, you must tell your computer shop to make sure that the external drive(s) has or have the same drive letter(s) on the new computer as on the old.

Where are your backup catalogs stored?  Are they all up to date?  Do your backups include the photo/video files or only the catalog structures?

One final note:  It sounds like you are very low on free space in the old computer.  I suggest that you do some cleanup before using the old computer for anything substantive.  Perhaps your computer shop can take care of this for you.

No need to panic.  I am confident we can help you figure out the transfer to your new computer.

Thank you so much for everything! I’ll wait for the savants :)

No need to repost, someone will jump in.  We’re all volunteers here on our own free time.

Oh, thank you so much! I had looked at my products, but I thought when it said Version 21 that meant it was Elements 2021, not 2023. 
 

So will one of these savants find my post, or should I make a new post specifically about restoring my 2023 catalogs to the new computer and to 2027?

Actually, I just checked, and I don’t have a serial number for 2023. The last one I have is for 2021. I must have downloaded 2023 directly from my 2021 Elements. Is there any way to find that serial number?

Would it be best to just download 2027 onto the new computer when I get it? 
 

This is so confusing. 

Phinny,

I ordered the Dell Pro Max Tower T2 desktop. 
 

What do you mean by a 2023 installer? If you mean the CD, I don’t have one. The last CD I have is the 2021 Elements. I have an Adobe account and I know my serial number for 2023. How do I find an installer?

I have 16 catalogs, and I have backed up all of them. PLEASE tell me I can restore them to Elements 2027! And what do you mean by preparing the catalogs? Isn’t backing them up enough?

Finally, I only have 14.5 GB left on my C drive. Would it be better to move some folders off my desktop to free up space on my C drive and then install 2027 on my old computer? And if I do that, would I then need to back up all the catalogs again?

I’m really panicking. Please help!

Hi Darlene, it won’t be possible to transfer Elements (which includes Organizer) to another computer.  You’ll need to install them with a 2023 installer and it sounds like you may not have one - ouch.  If you have an Adobe account I’d take a look in there for the 2023 installer you need.

The Organizer guys in here can help you prepare a catalog of your 2023 Organizer for successful carry-over to PSE 2027 once you jump back into photos on your new rocket ship.  Too cool.  Which one did you order?  Congrats.