HELP! Lightroom catalog disappeared

[tek22]

Hi all,

I'm really hoping someone can help!  When I opened Lightroom a little while ago, my photos from the past several years (including current client galleries I am editing) are gone.  I tried to access my catalog by using the most recent backup on my desktop (I deleted prior versions to save space), and I received this message:

I am now trying to open my Lightroom catalog by using a backup from my external hard drive.  When I attempt this, however, I receive the following message:

I have tried to alter the permissions for the various files (to "everyone" has permission to read and write), to no avail. 
Can anyone help?

[GoldingD]

MAC or WIN?

Ok, clearly MAC.

You need to fix the privileges not the rights.

[tek22]

I'm not sure I know what you mean?  How would I do that?

[GoldingD]

My bad, mixed up Win vs MAC

But go nack in the folderr, and your computer account,give it all rights. check subfolders as well

[tek22]

I did that for all of the files/subfolders on my external hard drive. Are you saying to do change the rights on my desktop?  In my Lightroom folder?  Thanks so much for trying to help!

[Ian Lyons]

See below.

[tek22]

If you mean on my external drive, I have already done that.

[Ian Lyons]

tek22  wrote

If you mean on my external drive, I have already done that.

Looking at your screenshot, it would appear that the backup you're referring to is 'Time Machine' backup. If this is the case, you'll need to 'Restore' the catalog to its original location

[tek22]

Ok, so the last 2 catalog backups appear to have been corrupted, as they were deemed "invalid" when I copied them back onto my Macbook and tried to open them, but I was able to restore my catalog from 2 days ago - hooray!!  (I lost a full day of work, unfortunately, but I am so happy to have my catalog back!) Thanks for your help, Ian and davidg36166309​!!

[Ian Lyons]

>I have tried to alter the permissions for the various files (to "everyone" has permission to read and write), to no avail.  Can anyone help?

You will need to change the 'disk' permissions

[tek22]

I'm not sure what you mean by disk permissions...On my Macbook?

[GoldingD]

Try creating a new folder (not in the backup folder) copy the backup to the new folder.

[tek22]

Just tried that (not sure why that didn't occur to me!), but I get the "catalog is not valid" message.