Image previews are missing

[krawfo]

I'm running an old (LR6.14) version on a Mac.  I've haven't used LR in quite a while and noticed that most of my image previews are missing.  I suspect others in the household have used LR in my absence and may have contributed to the problem.  I'm at the "Don't know what I don't know" stage. 

My first assumption is that this is a catalog problem.  If I do a search for "Lightroom Catalog", here's what I get:

My understanding of LR catalogs is rudimentary at best .  At this stage I'm not sure what other info to post or how to proceed.  I'm at a total  loss and would greatly appreciate any help.  I searched for Lightroom for Idiots but came up empty!

[dj_paige]

First thing I would try is to generate the previews. In the Lr Library Module, select all photos (or all desired photos) and use Library->Previews->Build Standard-Sized Previews. Depending on how many photos are selected, this may take a few hours. UPDATE: Please follow the advice from @richardplondon first.

[richardplondon]

Are you open to a new subscription plan for your ongoing use, or are you seeking to continue using that perpetual license within a 'frozen' setup? Connected to that, is there any likelihood of soon wanting to move to a different computer? If so, there may be some practical restrictions with this older software and advice may need to be different. 

Image previews being 'missing' is one thing, but images inside the Catalog complaining that they cannot locate their source files is quite another. So it would be good to get some more specifics on what you meant there.

One situation where multiple Catalogs exist (and if you are not sure which one to open) is if at some earlier stage, your working catalog was copied and upgraded under a fresh name as part of moving onto a newer software version of Lightroom (Classic). When this happens, the image previews get transferred for the use of the newer Catalog copy. Opening the older Catalog copy they will be seen to have been removed. This is normal.

Previews can always be re-created assuming the Catalog is still successfully referring to the originally imported files, but I would take this as an indication that you may not have opened the most up-to-date Catalog. 

[GoldingD]

Ok, that screenshot, is that in Finder, looking at a folder. or is it a listing of perhaps recent, etc?

Not sure that you are looking in the correct location.

One issue that just screams no no no, is that you appear to have both catalogs and backups of catalogs in the same folder, on the same hard drive. Bad. Backups should not be on the same hard drive as the working files.

Another issue that stands out is several files with the same name , both active and backups.

But I suspect you are not showing the folder in question.

[krawfo]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  Much appreciated.

dj_paige, I tried your suggestion of Build Standard-Sized Previews but it failed.  

Richard, I'm using LR so much less than years ago I will probably just limp along as is unless something changes.

GoldingG, the image was create using the Search function.

I've made some progress since the initial post.  My Mac has an SSD and a HDD.  My photos were on the SSD and that's where LR was looking.  Somehow they ended up on the same named folder on the HDD.  I've moved the lion's share to the SSD so at least I have the RAW images.  Since this collections is now essentially an archive I think I'll leave well enough along and re-edit selective images if needed.

Thanks again for taking the time to weigh in on my royal mess.