Lightroom Upgrade revewrts back to original version

[defaultoazp324yjw02]

Lately, everytime I log into Lightroom, it asks me to "Upgrade the Catalog".  If I do this, it reverts back to my original version, and I lose about 5 years worth of images.  Fortunately I have been able to find the last version I used, but this is tedious and very stress inducing.  How do I stop this message, and what is the proper way to get back the version I need?  Right now I am just stumbling through steps.  I have a Windows 10 system.

Please help! 

Linda

[Per Berntsen]

You are opening a catalog from a previous version of LrC, so you have to find the catalog that has already been upgraded to the current version, and open that.

If you are using version 13, it most likely has "v-13" or similar in its name.

Catalogs have the extension .LRCAT, and you  can do a search for .LRCAT files with the File explorer.

[defaultoazp324yjw02]

Thank you for responding, Per Bernsten!

I have always just clicked on my desktop LR icon.  Why is it now suddenly opening up a previous version?  How do I get the desktop Icon to open the correct version?

[dj_paige]

Find your new catalog, the one that was upgraded, using your operating system. Double-click on it to open it in Lr 13.X.

Once it is opened, change the option in Preferences/General to Load Most Recent Catalog. Then you should be able to double-click on the LrC icon and use the upgraded catalog.

[defaultoazp324yjw02]

That seems to have done the trick!  Thank you so very much!  I love photography, but not so good with computers!  You are my hero!

Have a great rest of the week!

Linda