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k_p_n
Participant
September 3, 2017
Answered

Lost a lot photos!!! How do I get them back???

  • September 3, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 896 views

I wanted to edit a few old photos I had in my Lightroom Catalog but it said that the files could not be found. So I decided to delete the photos from the catalog and reupload them. Sadly, that wasn't the case. I did delete them from the catalog but what I didn't release is that I deleted them from the hard disk as well without realising (it didn't anywhere that this would happen). I thought it would only remove the copies that were in the program. Anyways, I had made a backup a few hours ago so I thought that I could easily get my photos back. However, when I opened the backup window from the program it said that I didn't have any backups and technically I've lost the photos forever.

Is there anything I'm missing? Can I get my photos back??

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer dj_paige

    k.p.n  wrote

    I had deleted them from all collections so I clicked on ''Photo'' (in the options bar) and pressed on ''Remove Photo from Catalog. And  then the pictures were gone. It didn't say anywhere that it deletes the photos from the hard disk.

    I do not experience removal of photos from the hard disk when I use the command Photo->Remove Photo From Catalog. When I do it, the photos remain on my hard disk, as I would expect.

    I want you to confirm that you used your operating system's search feature to search All hard disks for one of these photos by file name.

    It also sounds like you do not have backups of your original photos, is that correct?

    2 replies

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 3, 2017

    The backup was probably a backup of the Catalog, not your photos.

    Have you looked in the Recycle Bin?

    Do you have the photos backed up on another drive? If not, see here:

    Recuva - Restore deleted files, even if you've emptied the Recycle bin! - Piriform

    Warning: Do not use the hard drive that contains the photos any more than necessary or it may overwrite the files and make them absolutely unrecoverable.

      K
      k_p_nAuthor
      Participant
      September 4, 2017

      I have looked in the recycle bin and sadly I couldn't find them there. But thanks anyways, I'll check the link.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      September 3, 2017

      The photos were on one of your hard disk(s) somewhere. You need to search all of your hard disk(s) for them, using your operating system's search feature, by file name.

      If this search can't find them, and you don't have a backup, then they are gone.

      When you remove photos from the LR catalog (which shouldn't be something you do for "keepers", you should only do this for trash photos that aren't usable or desirable), you have two options: "Remove" or "Delete from Disk". You must have obviously chosen Delete From Disk, which does exactly what it says, it deletes the photos from your hard disk.

        K
        k_p_nAuthor
        Participant
        September 4, 2017

        I have already done everything you mentioned. I removed the photos from the Smart Collection. When I click the right button of the mouse it says "Remove Photos'' but when I click it a window pops up saying: ''You can't delete photos directly from a collection set. Try removing them from the collections inside this set or deleting the photos from the Lightroom catalog.''

        I had deleted them from all collections so I clicked on ''Photo'' (in the options bar) and pressed on ''Remove Photo from Catalog. And  then the pictures were gone. It didn't say anywhere that it deletes the photos from the hard disk.

        dj_paige
        dj_paige
        Legend
        September 4, 2017

        I did search for the photos by name and nothing came up. I usually make backups in Dropbox but I didn't this time. I did back up the Catalog though, I have it set to always back up on exit.


        Are these photos still on your camera card?

        I guess you need to develop a more thorough and complete plan for backing up your photos.

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