Corrupted catalog

[ron14151]

I have a corrupted catalog.  I've tried several times to repair it but it's been unsuccessful.  Where are images typically stored and are they recoverable?  Last backup was Feb. 5.  Will images uploaded since then be available?

[JohanElzenga · Accepted solution]

Your images are not stored in the catalog, so they are safe. They are stored where you told Lightroom to store them. What is stored in the catalog is information (metadata) and any edits that you have made. Unzip the catalog backup and replace your catalog files(s) with the backup file(s). Images that were added to the catalog after the backup date will have to be imported again. https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/back-catalog.html

[tamari123]

I'm using my catalog back up after my catalog ended corrupted after switching from old to new MacBook Pro. 

But the problem now is that I don't see the previews. I use to be able to see all my photos' preview. Now I only see the previews if the external drive is hooked to my hard drive, and even then, there is a delay. My main issue is that I don't see my previews from any photos that are on other external drives not attached to my computer.

[Rob_Cullen]

What you describe sounds like you (restored from a backup) Catalog and did not have an associated Previews (.LRDATA) file for it.

Then LrC needs to rebuild the Previews file/folder, and to do that it needs the original files connected. Meaning it needs (at some time) all drives with photos connected.

You would be seeing blank grey previews until the originals on a drive are available.

Attach the external Drives and the previews should re-build.

A situation like this happens when Previews cause problems and need re-building.

PREVIEW CACHE ERRORS

[tamari123]

Ok, thank you. I'll try that.

[AxelMatt · Accepted solution]

The images doesn't stored in the catalog file. They are already available. If you go back to an older catalog you only lost the categorization by keywords, the development steps for the images that you have imported and worked on since the last backup.