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I have Lightroom6 on my desktop PC (Win7), with program and catalog on the C-drive (SSD). All my picture files are in a folder on a separate 4TB internal E-drive (magnetic). I have the latest backup copy of the catalog that is made when Lightroom6 shuts down - stored in another folder on that E-drive.
I have recently bought a new Win10 desktop and purchased Lightroom Classic for it, installing it on the C-drive. I plan to physically move the 4TB picture drive from the old PC to the new PC, also assigning it as the E-drive on the new machine.
What is the best/easiest way to get the latest catalog on the 4TB E-drive imported into the Lightroom Classic program on the new Win10 PC? Once I do this, will the new Lightroom Classic know that all the picture files are on the E-drive as my original Lightroom6 did?
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First- Do NOT IMPORT ANYTHING!.
I refer you to this article- Move Lightroom to a new computer? | The Lightroom Queen
With these comments-
Step#1 'Preparation': You have this done- Your photo files are on the transferred E:drive
Step#2 'Backups': You have one Catalog backup on the E:drive, but do you also have other catalog backups (AND Photos) on another physical drive? (Not the E:drive?)
Step#5 'Open the Catalog': A fresh install of Lr-Classic in the 'new' PC may open a new empty Catalog. If this happens- Exit this empty catalog immediately, then with File Explorer locate your copied Lr6 Catalog (on C:drive) and [Double-Click] to 'open' it. You will be asked to upgrade the Catalog for v10: Accept!
Step#6 'Relink missing files' should not be needed if the Catalog recognizes the E:drive as in the 'old' PC.
Steps# 7 & 8: Are Important, as you may have many Presets and Plugins that you would need to also copy across to the 'new' system. (Save a backup of these files also!)
When Lr-Classic is installed and with your Catalog upgraded, there will be some differences with Lightroom file locations, this article details -
Then, "will the new Lightroom Classic know that all the picture files are on the E-drive as my original Lightroom6 did?" YES!