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david_john_2688
Participating Frequently
March 8, 2025
Answered

Recover catalogue for PSE 2020

  • March 8, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 337 views

Had PSE 2020, Desktop bust (HDD OK), downloaded PSE 2020 to new machine, but tags (Catalogue ?) not there... Pictures themselves OK, they were on a NAS.

 

Recovered files (Tree - Programme Files/Adobe/Elements 2020 Organiser) from old hard disc (which was 2x500G in Raid 0).

 

Which folders / files do I need to replace in the new machine, to get back to where I was before the old machine broke ?   Should I simply replace them all (Elements 2020 Organiser and all sub folders files) or could that mess up the loading of the programme ?

 

I suspect this question is rather easier to pose than answer, any help / guidance would be appreciated.

Correct answer Greg_S.

Perhaps you have more than one catalog?  Have you ever had any other version of Elements?

Do a search of your old hard drive/NAS for catalog.pse18db files.

 

Yes, copying the catalog folder is an option for backup.  But that doesn't back up your media files.  You should back those up too.  You can use the Organizer to make a full backup.

2 replies

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Greg_S.Community ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 9, 2025

Perhaps you have more than one catalog?  Have you ever had any other version of Elements?

Do a search of your old hard drive/NAS for catalog.pse18db files.

 

Yes, copying the catalog folder is an option for backup.  But that doesn't back up your media files.  You should back those up too.  You can use the Organizer to make a full backup.

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david_john_2688Author
Participating Frequently
March 11, 2025

Thank You

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Greg_S.Community Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2025

If I understand you correctly, you either have not backed up your old catalog and/or you are unable to back it up (using Elements).  In any event, if your new computer has exactly the same folder structure as the old one (and possibly/probably the exact same user name), you need to copy the catalog folder to the new machine.  It doesn't matter where you copy it as long as it is not on the NAS which would result in poor performance.

 

If you had the catalog folder in its default location on the old drive, you will find it in the following location:

C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\Catalogs

 

If you only have one catalog and have not renamed it, the folder will be named My Catalog.

 

Once you have copied the folder to the new computer, double-click on the file named catalog.pse18db that will be found within the folder.  The catalog should then open in the Organizer.

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david_john_2688Author
Participating Frequently
March 9, 2025

Thank you for your response

Background - I didn't know that tags were not saved to the file itself.   I do now, and will do occasional "Save Metadata to file".   When you say "not backed up your old catalog" I presume you mean copying My Catalog to a safe disc (NAS ?).   I intend doing that occasionally also.  

Progress - not good.   Identified catalog.pse18db, it has just short of 70 Meg.  Copied "My Catalog" folder from the recovery location and pasted to "Catalogs" (replaced the one there).   Opened catalog.pse18db, Organiser opened - but no tags, just the standard ones, none of mine.   For instance it has nothing in Places.

So be it.   I guess I have to start again, set up my custom tags and go through tagging.

Thanks again.

 

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