Deleted LR lock files, now catalogs/images missing

[rksalter23]

Last night I got an error message when opening LR that said the catalog cannot be opened because another application already has it opened. I followed online advice to look for duplicate lock files and deleted those. LR opened up but all of my images are gone. I tried to go into my backups, the most recent being 10/14/2016 but nothing is in the folder. Please help!

[F. McLion]

You probably opened the wrong catalog.

From the file menu in LR, look at the 'Recent' list and open every catalog in there to find the correct one.

You can also search your disk for *.lrcat files and open these.

What is your OS and version of LR?

[rksalter23]

Thanks so much for your reply. My OS is Windows 10 Pro and LR is 5.7

I previously tried opening 'recent' in LR and no other catalogs were showing there. ?  I have since restored my deleted files hoping this would enable me to retrieve my images in the event I'd deleted the wrong catalog. I originally deleted the lrcat.lock files and any journal files. When that did not work, I restored all and later deleted one lrcat.lock file and one lrcat.lock.lock file.

[F. McLion]

While LR is running there must be a lock file (*.lock) with the same name as the catalog which is open in LR, in the very same folder as the catalog itself (*.lrcat).

When no catalog is opened, there should be no *.lock file at all.

Are you working with multiple catalogs? Why?

You do know that LR - the catalog - does NOT contain your images, do you?

Did you search for *.lrcat on your drive to find all catalogs?

[rksalter23]

No I am not working in multiple catalogs. I'm not sure why there are multiple lock files. IN FACT, the only catalogs are lock files. And any I have deleted have been recovered. Or so I thought. 😕 I wish I could attach a screenshot here.

I am aware the images aren't stored in the catalog itself. And I do have XMP files of the edits I had already done saved so I think those edits will be available if I re-import those files. I will have to re-import all my current clients, presets, recreate my app, my link to my online gallery, etc. I was trying to avoid that especially since I've seen others have such an easy fix by deleting lock files.

[Rob_Cullen]

Just adding some general knowledge-

1. when the Lightroom program is 'running' or open- you will see the catalog folders like this in File Explorer- (with your catalog name)

2. when Lr is shut down- you will see the catalog folders like this-

If LR is not closed down with the proper method of exiting- you will see the 'lock' file remaining and preventing Lr from re-opening.

To allow Lr to re-open, You must never delete anything other than the file ending with the suffix  ' .LOCK '

The file that ends with the suffix file-type ' .LRCAT ' is your Catalog and must not be deleted.

If it has been deleted- the options are to restore if from Trash, or look for zip Backups to extract and replace the deleted .LRCAT file by copy and paste to the same original location.

[rksalter23]

My .lrcat file has a lock attached when LR is closed. My back up does too. I have images I need to edit so I am looking to start over w LR and add back in my presets and collections.

What are my next steps?

I deleted those lock files. Should I delete the previews/smart previews, backups, and temporary journal files as well since I'm starting anew?

When I opened my now virgin LR I went to edit--preferences--and located my presets. They are all there already in my user presets under develop presets. And they show beneath the Preset tab in LR. However, when I try to toggle the arrow key beside user presets it will not open.

Also troubling is that I can see the .lrcat.lock file when I open my virgin LR but when I close it I do not see any .lrcat file. Just the old ones with the lock still.

I am missing something here but not sure what. Desperately need to get this fixed and get to work! Any help is very much appreciated!

[rksalter23]

At this point I am thinking I can just start a new catalog and delete all the other folders and files. Some presets are now showing up in the new catalog. Just not the ones under user presets for some reason.

[Rob_Cullen]

My .lrcat file has a lock attached when LR is closed.

This is a mis-understanding. Any 'LOCK file is NOT a catalog with the 'lock' extension added. It is only a temporary file that indicates that Lightroom is running and cannnot be opened a second time by another user.

If Lightroom crashes, or is not closed in the correct manner- then the .LOCK file remains- until you correct the error by using the OS to delete it.

The .LRCAT catalog file will always remain as it was. (unless you accidentally delete it)

My back up does too.

This would not occur unless you used the operating system to copy the file to your idea of a backup.

Lightroom Backup catalogs are created by Lightroom (when it is running) and would not have the .LOCK suffix added.

Should I delete the previews/smart previews,

There is no reason to delete ANYTHING ELSE other than the one file that ends with  .LOCK

I can see the .lrcat.lock file when I open my virgin LR

Exactly!!! and correct. That is the purpose of the .LOCK file-  to indicate that a catalog is in use by Lightroom.

But when I close it I do not see any .lrcat file

You must be looking at the wrong location for the catalog. If you can open a 'new' catalog then there must be a .LRCAT catalog file existing. When it is open, its location on the hard-drive can be checked in the catalog settings [Ctrl+Alt+,]

Does you operating system allow you to see file extensions?   .exe .doc. .pdf  etc..

Forget about Presets for the moment- you have to sort out your catalogs.

[JP Hess]

If Lightroom is not running on your computer then you don't want to duplicate just "duplicate" lock files, you want to delete any lock files that you find. If you thought you were deleting duplicate files I'm suspicious that one of them could have been your catalog. If that was the case then that would be why you don't have any images displaying in Lightroom anymore. The images will still be on your computer but they will have to be imported again unless you can retrieve the catalog file from the recycle bin. Lock files are created by the catalog when Lightroom is started, and they are normally deleted when Lightroom shuts down if everything closes properly.