Lost Albums & Folders

So, as I suspected, you did not open your existing catalog in the new installation of Elements 2020.  Instead you created a new catalog and you declined to import your existing keyword tags.

The only way to recover your Albums is if you still have your catalog folder available either on your original hard drive or in a backup.  The backup can be either an Elements backup or a regular backup of your hard drive using other software.  If you had to wipe your OS drive clean before installing Win 10 again, then your catalog is likely lost unless you had it saved in a custom location on another drive, or unless you had it backed up in some fashion.

If the catalog folder is still available on your computer, then look for files called catalog.pse18db and double-click on the files.  (Ignore the one that you created after the latest installation of Elements 2020.)  This will open any prior copies of your catalog that contain your Albums.

So, after nearly 3 years, you come back with the same or a similar problem?  It is still unclear what that problem is. 

Why were you forced to reinstall Elements 2020?  After the new install, did you open the existing catalog that had Albums or did you create a new catalog.  I suspect the latter because if you opened the existing catalog, all of the Albums should still be there.  If you created a new catalog, they would not.

Do you use keyword tags?  Were all of your tags where you expected them to be after the reinsall of the program?  Or did you create a new catalog and during the import of media files, you were offered the opportunity to import your keyword tags?

Hi,

When you say

the new version does not recognize my old albums & folders.

can you please elaborate more on what exactly happens? Screenshots of any dialog would be helpful.

Thanks,

Arshla