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hclint
Participant
July 20, 2020
Question

How to Transfer PSE 2020 to new computer, current computer has photo files on OneDrive

  • July 20, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 3256 views

I recently purchased the Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 bundle which includes, video editor.
I use Windows 10 (version info below) 

I have purchased a new robust Dell Desktop computer which will be my main computer and where the organizer catalogue will be kept.

My current computer has my photo folders mostly organized by year and in a path that includes OneDrive, however I have settings set so that most of the photo files remain resident on my computer. ( I admit, this has gotten a little confusing in the past since windows 10 apparently want to keep it's own picture folder intact)
I am attaching a photo capture (two photos) of my PSE folder Structure plus a capture of my system info.

I know I can't sync the catalogue on OneDrive with the idea of using it on multiple devices. My desire is to keep my old computer at a different location. Still having access to PSE 2020 and photos when needed and OneDrive, but not relying on that older computer and catalogue to by my primary catalogue for Active changes.



QUESTION is, how do I download PSE 2020 to the new computer and how do I move my current catalogue and photos to that new computer.
I know I can backup on the old computer and restore that backup to the new computer BUT would I do that as Original Location or New Location??

 ALSO, I am concerned that since I believe the PSE Restore includes the photo files that are in the OneDrive path will I end up with duplicate photos in my files since the OneDrive settings will be telling the software to keep a copy resident on my computer, or will it recognize  a copy is already there, put there by the restore??

 

I guess what I am asking here is should I Manually move all of my photo files and other files using (My PC > OS(C:) > user > Clint >......) to the new computer by just copying to external drive and then pasting to the new computer and AFTER THAT (once PSE 2020 program is installed on new computer) Restore my PSE backup from the old computer to the new computer using Original Location?

AND, all of my photos and certainly many videos are not in a OneDrive path. Does the Restore Folder contain ALL of the photos and videos on my computer or just some part of them? I take it the PSE Organizer Folder structure picks up ALL photo and video folders even if I am not typically looking at them through PSE organizer. In this restore scenario, what of the total photo/video on my computer are transferred during the restore and what files do I need to transfer to my new computer manually because they are not included in the Restore?

Sorry this question is a bit convoluted because I'm not sure exactly how the catalogue works. I'm open to any suggestions!

 

FURTHER CLARIFICATION, My OS is Windows 10, I use Microsoft File History backup on my current computer and I also alternate Acronis Clone image backup between two external drives. I think I could copy the Acronis Clone to the new computer and probably be done with it. BUT, I really want to do a 'clean' install on this new computer if at all possible. I have the external drive capacity to make a backup of the entire path, This PC > OS (C:) > user > Clint >....... files, from the older computer and paste to my new computer if that is what should be done (it would include OneDrive files). If this makes sense, are there any other files I should consider moving?? (From what I have read I should not use File History to restore/move files from one computer to the other?) 

Sorry to be redundant but, as I mentioed eariler, after I moved all of the user files I would then restore my PSE backup from the old computer if this makes sense.

 

OneDrive: my reason for using it and having my main photo folder on that path is two-fold. First, it does create an additional cloud backup of those important photos and Secondly, I like to have all of my primary photo files (by year) available to immediately access from my other devices such as iPhone and iPad. 


Any help out there from someone who also uses OneDrive with be appreciated. I'm looking for the cleanest file structure while still automatically saving any changes up to my OneDrive files.

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

MichelBParis
MichelBParis
Legend
July 21, 2020

Clint,

Thanks for joining this forum after your initial post in the feedback forum.

https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/how-to-transfer-pse-2020-to-new-computer-current-computer-has-photo-files-on-onedrive

I hope to be able to test the process soon on my side to ascertain that there will be no duplications.

A side note about the 'cloning' process. Hundreds of thousands users in the world do use the process to replace their main system drive by a small SSD. That works, but there are a few issues with the organizer in certain configs (not for yours). But what has not been discussed, probably because you are aware of it, is the way the catalog folder is maintained and backed up.

The only way to move both the catalog and media library while keeping the links on the new custom location is the backup/restore process. Restoring from OneDrive on a different drive or computer will restore the library; it will restore the catalog folder if included in the OneDrive paths (it's by default in a hidden location in AppData); it will NOT update the links, so the catalog will be unuseable in practice.

 

For many reasons, my main advice, following Lightroom and DAM managements experts and for specific reasons of the organizer, is: absolutely don't store your media files folders in the Windows 'Pictures' system folder. Create an independent master folder, preferably just under the root folder of a drive of your choice.

 

The second advice is to remember that the best way to share your catalog and library on different computers with PSE is to store the catalog and library on an external USB drive. Use an external drive for the full backup and restore on yet another one. That's what I do: I just plug in my external drive on my home computer, or in my country home computer, or in my wife's laptop... and everything is always ready. I regularly backup and optionally restore on one of those computers.

 

I perfectly understand the idea of managing your files in a date based structure. That's my idea too to be able to access my files from anywhere with my smartphone. The date hierarchy will help find files even if the catalog itself is not available. What is different for me is that it's not important to have ALL my files also stored on the Cloud. I use OneDrive and Dropbox to manage a subset of the recent and worthwile images I may need to see on my smartphone.

 

To go back to the initial question, I don't like having the organizer and OneDrive managing the same 'Pictures' folder. If I had to manage ALL my files also in the Cloud, I would include my custom master folder as well as the catalog folder as you are doing now.

About the duplication risk and waiting for a confirmation from ulterior tests, I think it's worth considering another possibility.

As a backup solution beside the organizer and Acronis, I sync my external USB HDD to another one via Microsoft SyncToy. Just a few minutes after each session. Syncing one of both drives with Onedrive makes it available for all devices and you don't have to worry about restore from OneDrive.

 

Edit:

Unfortunately, my first tests show that there is a big risk of duplication in the restore process.

 

 

 

 

 

howardc92178242
howardc92178242
Participating Frequently
April 1, 2024

Interesting to read Michael's response to hclint's question, as I am about to embark on a very similar upgrade.  Any advice on do's and don'ts, and in particular on the recommended sequence in which to embark on the following upgrade would be gratefully received!

Existing Computer - Windows 10, Photoshop Elements 2020 with photos in the main Windows "Pictures" folder, Office 365/OneDrive - with separate OneDrive Pictures folder and Documents folder.

New Computer - Windows 11, and otherwise "clean". 

Actions I'm planning are as follows, but I'm not sure whether 1, 2, 3, 4 is the best order of execution!?

1) Install PSE 2020 on new computer

2) Restore PSE Catalogue from back-up on old computer to new computer.  (But with "original location" or "new location" option for file structure?).  I think I should avoid 700GB of photos landing in the OneDrive Photos folder as my OneDrive allowance will eventually be insufficient.

3) Install Office 365/OneDrive on the new computer and wait for all the syncing of Docs and (non-Photoshop) Photos folders.

4) Upgrade PSE 2020 to PSE 2024. 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

MichelBParis
MichelBParis
Legend
April 1, 2024
quote

Interesting to read Michael's response to hclint's question, as I am about to embark on a very similar upgrade.  Any advice on do's and don'ts, and in particular on the recommended sequence in which to embark on the following upgrade would be gratefully received!

Existing Computer - Windows 10, Photoshop Elements 2020 with photos in the main Windows "Pictures" folder, Office 365/OneDrive - with separate OneDrive Pictures folder and Documents folder.

New Computer - Windows 11, and otherwise "clean". 

Actions I'm planning are as follows, but I'm not sure whether 1, 2, 3, 4 is the best order of execution!?

1) Install PSE 2020 on new computer

2) Restore PSE Catalogue from back-up on old computer to new computer.  (But with "original location" or "new location" option for file structure?).  I think I should avoid 700GB of photos landing in the OneDrive Photos folder as my OneDrive allowance will eventually be insufficient.

3) Install Office 365/OneDrive on the new computer and wait for all the syncing of Docs and (non-Photoshop) Photos folders.

4) Upgrade PSE 2020 to PSE 2024. 

Thanks in advance for any advice.


By @howardc92178242

 

Hi Howard,

What I can already say is that you can install PSE 2024 directly without PSE2020. The restore process will restore all your media files and it will convert your catalogue structure. I would choose to restore the original location myself.

 

Now, I don't know of any duplication risk if you manage your media separately.

For instance, the shared media managed by Onedrive in your present way and the main library managed on a separage location (drive or dedicated main folder outside your OneDrive personal folder) via the main Organizer catalog.

The organizer is not available for shared media on other devices anyway, but it's possible to create a distinct catalog in a folder outside the personal folder to manage them from your main computer.

You don't get duplication (unless you deliberately choose to) but  you get the annoyance of having two catalogs.

So, before going to details, we need to know if you can imagine a way to manage separately two distinct libraries for shared and not shared media without duplication.

Otherwise, managing a full library in the organizer and duplicating a only a subset catalog for sharing with specific media files stored in a different location outside your OneDrive user folder.

I could try to test and describe the workflow depending on your preferences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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