Cannot even launch Lightroom because I have no lightroom catalogs!?

[edwink75285708]

The error message says: Lightroom cannot create a catalog named "Lightroom Catalog on volume "OS (C:)" because Lightroom cannot save changes on this location.

I then try to select something else to launch it and nothing works so, I have no idea what to do.

[Per Berntsen]

It seems that you are asking Lightroom to create a catalog in the root of the drive.

Choose the Pictures or My pictures folder under your user name, that should work.

If you already have a catalog, locate it, and double-click it to launch Lightroom.

[edwink75285708]

I don't have any folder to click on? Should I create a new one? Can you give me a step by step? Thank you

[Per Berntsen]

Click on C in the left hand column, then click Users on the right, then your user name, and finally the Pictures folder.

Enter a file name, and click create.

If this is not the first time you use Lightroom, you already have a catalog, and it will most likely be in the Pictures folder under your username. Look for a folder named Lightroom Catalog. Inside the folder there will be a file named Lightroom Catalog.lrcat. Double-click it to launch Lightroom.

Edit: Do this with Lightroom closed, using Windows Explorer.

[edwink75285708]

this was super helpful and I feel like I am ALMOST there, but because I am on Windows 10 I still can't seem to be able to create a file like that? Also I don't know where to enter a file name and what to create? Do I create an empty folder? Sorry, I'm not good at technology

[Per Berntsen]

Please post a screenshot of the Create new catalog dialog.

To create a screenshot, simply press Alt + PrtScr (Print Screen) on your keyboard.

Then, in a reply to me here, click in the reply box, and press Ctrl + V to paste the screenshot into the reply.

[edwink75285708]

[GoldingD]

Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC catalog FAQ

How Lightroom Classic CC catalogs work

[edwink75285708]

It diesn't open for this link to be valid for my problem. Thank you tho

[GoldingD]

https://photographylife.com/lightroom-catalogs-explained

[edwink75285708]

right but unfortunately the program will not even launch for me to be able to make a new file

[GoldingD]

Try this. Bring up your Windows File Explore, On the hard drive create a new directory (folder). Name it “My LR CAT” or whatever you want. Launch LR, create a new catalog in that new directory.

[edwink75285708]

Notice how I can't make or do anything

[dj_paige]

Unexpected error opening catalog -- see if this helps:

Unexpected Error Opening Catalog

[edwink75285708]

this doesn't work because there are 0 lrcat files on my device, no backup logs

[Rob_Cullen]

I faintly recall that Lightroom once had problems with Windows "Libraries". The Libraries are similar to a shortcut that Lightroom does not 'understand'.

Can I suggest you follow the full path to the {Pictures} folder by clicking through- { This PC > C: > Users >  Your Name > Pictures}.

eg.  C:\Users\YourName\Pictures.   And NOT simply selecting {This PC > Pictures}.

Then when you enter a "File name" in the Windows explorer dialog you will create a folder with this name in {Pictures} with the new catalog contained.

I am curious to know if this helps!

[dj_paige]

Please do a search, using your operating system's search feature, to find all files on all hard disks whose name ends with .LRCAT