Deleting old catalog backups - how far back do I need to keep backups?

[jclin10]

Hi all

I have a nice collection of old catalog backups that probably go back 3-4 years. How far back should I hold on to old backups? I’d love to clear out some hard drive space.

Also, is there a way to regularly optimize the backup so I don’t end up with random corruptions or issues with my current catalog?

Thanks,

John

[Just Shoot Me]

I have no idea how many, how far back, you should keep. But for me I only keep the last, most recent, 2 or 3.

YMMV

I usually only look at them rarely, every month, 2 or more months, whenever I feel like it, and then delete all of them older than the last 2 or 3.

[dj_paige]

jclin10  wrote

Hi all

I have a nice collection of old catalog backups that probably go back 3-4 years. How far back should I hold on to old backups? I’d love to clear out some hard drive space.

Also, is there a way to regularly optimize the backup so I don’t end up with random corruptions or issues with my current catalog?

Thanks,

John

You decide how many catalog backups you need for your own comfort level. If that's 2 or 3 catalogs for you, great. If its 2 or 3 MONTHS that makes you comfortable, then that's what you should do.

My comfort level, or the comfort level of others, is really just a guideline that you should modify for your own personal needs.

I have no idea what you mean by "optimize the backup".

[GoldingD]

Are all of your backups on the same drive? Bad, copy/move some to another drive. What if you loose the one drive?

And do you have some backups on an external drive that you lock away in case if theft?

Are you also backing up images? The Lightroom backup within Lightroom does not deal with the images.