How to access RAW files and catalogue saved on HD with a new copy of LR Classic

[Bob Smith RWS]

MY 2017 21" iMac was running way slow so took it to Apple store Genius Bar where they wiped it clean ( including LR ) and installed new Monterey OS. MY 72000+ RAW images and the LR catalogue were saved on separate HD. I have now downloaded a new LR Classic. How do i access the saved images and catalogue on the HD with the new LR Classic?

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

I assume you also installed Lightroom Classic, but you didn't actually say that.

Using your operating system, find the catalog file that has been saved on a different hard disk. Double-click on it.

[Bob Smith RWS]

HI: Thank you, your suggestion worked, but the LR-C is missing the user presets for brush and gradients. Where would they be? I also tried something before I got your advice. I used "import" on the new copy of LR-C to import the images from the hard drive, resulting in a many hours DL of about 500GB so I assume it brought in the RAW files but I can't find them. If I do find them should I delete them?

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

HI: Thank you, your suggestion worked, but the LR-C is missing the user presets for brush and gradients. Where would they be?

You tell me. Were they on your old hard disk, before it got wiped?

I also tried something before I got your advice. I used "import" on the new copy of LR-C to import the images from the hard drive, resulting in a many hours DL of about 500GB so I assume it brought in the RAW files but I can't find them. If I do find them should I delete them?

So this is a different catalog that you created before you got my advice? I think you can delete this catalog if the old catalog is working and only if the old catalog is working. Re-importing photos into a new catalog is never really a good thing to do. Before you delete this catalog, it will tell you where the photos are (right click on a photo and select Show in Finder or Show in Explorer) so you can delete the photos too, but again before you do any deleting, you have to be 110% sure these are not the same photos that the working catalog is using.

[Bob Smith RWS]

You're right they werev on the HD---luckily I'd saved my user generated presets for general adjustments but for some reason didn't think to do it for the brsuh adjustments I had created.

On your second point--I'm still working up my nerve to do the suggested deletion.

Thanks again for your help and apologies for the delayed response.