HELP! Would Lightroom remove my images from an external hard drive?

[waylonp58417484]

I backed up my hard drive to another hard drive.
I didn't realize it didn't complete the task.
I opened Lightroom and selected a new Catalog ( which I never really understand)
Then it opened, but only displayed images from up to a year ago.
Every image says File Not Found.

Now I can't see the images on either hard drive!!!

What can I do??

[dj_paige]

Would Lightroom remove my images from an external hard drive?

NO. Lightroom Classic never moves photos or folders by itself. It only does what you tell it to do.

I opened Lightroom and selected a new Catalog ( which I never really understand)

Why did you select New Catalog? Perhaps you accidentally picked Open Catalog ... which is right below New Catalog. Then, this next event is possible ... but not possible from New Catalog:

Then it opened, but only displayed images from up to a year ago.

Try File->Open Recent and open each catalog shown in the list until you find the catalog which shows the photos you want.

[waylonp58417484]

Thank you SO much for your reply.

When selecting a different Catalog, I'm receiving this message.

What should I do ?

[Rob_Cullen]

In this one case you Open the upgraded "v11" catalog..

Do not try to upgrade an old v10 catalog a second time!- This can just cause more catalogs and more confusion.

But I cannot know which is the catalog you want with all recent photos.

You can only follow the advice of @dj_paige to "File->Open Recent" until you find the catalog you want to use.

If you try to open any "v10" catalog- it will ask you to Upgrade it to v11.

CATALOGS- HOW THEY WORK

[waylonp58417484]

Hey Rob,

Thank you so much for your reply.
I followed your steps and have opened Lightroom.

Not only are the files still missing but now it's not even displaying the thumbnails 😰

Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks again for trying to help

[Rob_Cullen]

I backed up my hard drive to another hard drive.
I didn't realize it didn't complete the task.

So do you now have the original camera files on ANY drive? Looking in Finder. 

Or did you delete files after the failed Backup?

You need to establish, with Finder, where your files are located in your drive system. Then next find a catalog that references all the files you believe you had imported, and Re-link the 'Missing' folders and files.

You screen-clip (of the Develop module) does not tell us much other than the files are 'Missing'. (and the catalog cannot build previews to show).