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emmanuel_9336
Participant
July 22, 2025
Answered

Question About Restoring a Backup in PSE8 after hard drive crashed

  • July 22, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 156 views

Request for Assistance

Hello! I have a question about PSE8 and the process for restoring a backup. I realize this is an older program, but I've always been very satisfied with it and never saw the need to upgrade, as I'm quite comfortable using it. Over the years, I haven't had any issues—until now. Unfortunately, my external hard drive, where I stored both my pictures and catalogue files, has crashed.

I am familiar with the backup function in PSE8 Organizer, including the incremental backup options, and I have created such backups for my two catalogues—though I’ve never had to restore and use the procedure until now. In addition to those, I also keep regular backups of my files using Windows Explorer, where I copy and paste exactly the entire folder structure, including all picture files (RAW, JPEG, NEF), corresponding XMP files, and catalogue files. My current question concerns this latter type of backup.

If I now purchase a new external hard drive and assign it the same drive letter (in this case, G) as my previous drive that failed, and then restore the exact same folder structure with all the same files and catalogues onto this new drive, will PSE8 Organizer be able to recognize and reconnect to the picture files when I connect the new hard drive to my computer? Would I maybe need to manually open or point to the catalogue files to assist the Organizer with reconnecting? I believe the catalogue files use among others the hard drive letter to keep track of things.

I also realize that the new hard drive will have a different serial number from the old one. Could this difference affect the process? Do the catalogue files also store information related to the drive’s serial number, and could this impact whether the Organizer recognizes the files?

Thank you very much for your help and support!

Kind regards,

Emmanuel

Correct answer Greg_S.

What you should do is have the external drive (G) connected to your computer before you restore the backups you have made.  If the restoration is successful, using the plan you have described, there should be no other action to take.  The restored catalog and the restored media files will be on your G drive.  If you want, you can move the catalog folder back to the default location on your C drive, you can simply copy that folder.

 

Take a look at this article for more details of how to restore the backup, and feel free to ask about anything that is not clear to you.

1 reply

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Greg_S.Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
July 23, 2025

What you should do is have the external drive (G) connected to your computer before you restore the backups you have made.  If the restoration is successful, using the plan you have described, there should be no other action to take.  The restored catalog and the restored media files will be on your G drive.  If you want, you can move the catalog folder back to the default location on your C drive, you can simply copy that folder.

 

Take a look at this article for more details of how to restore the backup, and feel free to ask about anything that is not clear to you.

E
emmanuel_9336Author
Participant
July 23, 2025

Hi Greg,

Thank you very much for your support. I’ll give it a try as soon as I return from my photography trip. First, I’ll purchase a new hard drive. I’ll keep you updated on how things go.

Thanks again!

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