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jagergwen
Participating Frequently
March 7, 2022
Answered

Catalog to new computer? Need help

  • March 7, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 810 views

*First ... I've searched the community data base for the answer.  Second ... I can't find the answer that totally fits.

*I'm using Lightroom Classic on my desktop (Windows 10).  My older computer was starting to fail so I got a new one.  Everything on the old one had been backed up by Carbonite with all my images and Lightroom catalog, etc. on one drive in the "Images" folder.

*Right now, Carbonite is restoring all my files to my new computer and won't be finished for another few days, but ... what I want to know is this:

*When everything has been restored, how do I get the right catalog into Lightroom Classic?  I've read the articles but they all assume the reader is really tech saavy - and I'm not.  They talk about "synching" something and I've never had to do that.  Basically, I'm totally lost and need step-by-step instructions.

*When all my files have been restored to the new computer, what do I do so I can use Lightroom Classic?  I already downloaded that Creative Cloud thing and it shows that Lightroom Classic is ready to go.  But not without a catalog.  ::sigh::

*Thanks for any help you can give me.  

Maryann

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer dj_paige

    Okay, I did that.  Let it update. Closed LR down. Moved the "updated" catalog to my E drive in the Images folder where I've always had it.  Double clicked on it.  LR came right up.  No photos, no folders, no images.  No nothing.  And here I need to edit some images today.  No way I can do it.  I even tried d/l Photoshop Express so I could at least get a couple images done ... and there's no way to save a crop!  This is so frustrating and discouraging.


    Sounds like you upgraded the wrong catalog file. Try searching your E: drive for all files whose name ends with .LRCAT. You probably want to upgrade the biggest such file.

    2 replies

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 7, 2022

    And for more useful information-

    Move Lightroom to a new computer? | The Lightroom Queen

    Note the link for the free eBook that also covers this "Moving" topic in great detail.

    No synching. No importing. Yay!!!

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      March 7, 2022

      No synching. No importing.

       

      Just copy the catalog file(s) from the old computer, or from Carbonite, to the new computer. Double-click on it to open it.

       

      If the folders have question mark icons, follow these instructions (see Figure 4): https://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm

       

      Remember: No synching. No importing. No synching. No importing. No synching. No importing. No synching. No importing. No synching. No importing. I hope this is clear.

      J
      jagergwenAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      March 8, 2022

      Thanks so much.  I'm not in a panic anymore.  BUT .... remember, I haven't ever done this before so I need a clarification.

       

      The catalog is now on the new computer in the same folder with all my images.  Just which one do I copy and how?  Just go to the folder in the new computer and double click?  Does that then open the catalog and put it where it needs to go?  Or ....

      Do I open LR Classic, and go to the spot that asks for catalog?

      And ... is THIS the one I need to get:  lrcat-data

      And what about:  Previews.lrdata

      There are two others that I don't understand:  Sync.lrdata   and   Helper.lrdata   (just don't know what to do with them).

       

      Thanks so much.  Sorry for following up with more questions, but this is the only way I can learn.

       

      Maryann

       

       

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      March 8, 2022

      It sound like you have copied all the files from Carbonite to the new computer, including the catalog file (.LRCAT), the LRCAT-DATA file, and all the photos.

       

      After that, you don't have to copy or move anything on the new computer. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

       

      You double-click on the catalog file (name ends with .LRCAT) to open it in Lightroom Classic. You then reconnect the photos using the link I gave.

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