Can't get Lightroom Classic to Open New Catalog

[Diane15C2]

Since my Lightroom Classic was upgraded last week, it WILL NOT change my default catalog.  It goes back to the pre-upgrade catalog and updates it into a new catalog.  I have 7 new catalogs now.  I changed the name of the pre-upgrade catalog, it opens and says it can't find it, I choose one of the new, updated catalogs and check the box to "Always use this catalog."  I then merged one of the other new catalogs and exited the program.  When I reopened it (from my Windows Start menu, not a saved link), I go through the whole mess again - it can't find the pre-upgrade catalog and tells me to choose a new one.

It's like groundhog day!

I've tried uninstalling the program and installing it again, no joy.  Is anyone else dealing with this?  Is there a known fix?

[dj_paige]

Create a shortcut to this upgraded catalog file on your computer's desktop, and from now on, double-click on that shortcut instead of the default Lightroom Classic shortcut.

OR

Reset the preferences file: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lightroomqueen%20reset%20preferences

You may have to (one more time) tell Lightroom Classic to "Always use this catalog"

[Diane15C2]

I don't want to use a shortcut link (thank you for the practical suggestion, though).  I followed the directions to reset the defaults to factory settings, and when it opened it still wanted to open the pre-upgrade catalog.  Everything else went the same way.  Reseting the preferences made no difference.  This is insane.

[Diane15C2 · Accepted solution]

I ended up deleting the preference files.  I despite the link telling me NOT to delete the startup preferences, that's the file I had to delete.  It seems to be working again.  Thanks for putting me on the right path to solving this.  I really appreciate it.

[ehrlicr]

 I have a similar problem but have not found a solution.  "Lightroom encountered problems reading or writing from disk when attempting to repair 'Lightroom Catalog-v10'"  uninstalled and reinstalled but kept settings.  may try to uninstall and reinstall but not keep settings.

[ehrlicr]

Alt - Shift while opening used new preferences.  At least I'm in to the program now.  Not sure what I lost yet.