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Recovering metadata after disk crash

New Here ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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Hello,

My NAS crashed recently and it contained lots of image files catalogued by Lightroom. I have backup copies of the files, but without the Lightroom metadata. I intend to copy these backup files to a new NAS, but I would very much like to recover the Lightroom metadata associated with the image files. When I open Lightroom the metadata is visible, and even the thumbnails of the images. Is there a way of associating the metadata with the corresponding files on my new NAS (once I've copied them all from backup)?

 

James

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LEGEND , Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

So, in the simplest case (which may or may not be possible), you copy the backups to the OLD location (exactly), and no pointing of Lightroom Classic to the new location is needed. If the new NAS doesn't have the same drive letter (Windows) or drive name (Mac), you can change the drive letter or drive name to match exactly the name/letter of the old NAS, now Lightroom Classic thinks it is the old NAS drive, and then do the copy, and you should be done.

 

If none of the above is possible, then see this document

...

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LEGEND ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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Gotta ask, no backup of the Catalog? 

Thumbnails and previews are stored outside the Catalog. Or also in the images if supported. 

Yet another advantage of DNG for raws; all this and more can be stored inside that container. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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LEGEND ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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quote

Hello,

My NAS crashed recently and it contained lots of image files catalogued by Lightroom. I have backup copies of the files, but without the Lightroom metadata. I intend to copy these backup files to a new NAS, but I would very much like to recover the Lightroom metadata associated with the image files. When I open Lightroom the metadata is visible, and even the thumbnails of the images. Is there a way of associating the metadata with the corresponding files on my new NAS (once I've copied them all from backup)?

 

James


By @JamesML

 

Yes, the backup files themselves don't need to have the metadata becuase the metadata is in the catalog file; and you seem to be describing that the catalog file shows the metadata. So just COPY (not move) the files from their backup location to the location Lightroom Classic thinks they are in.

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New Here ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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Thanks for the helpful replies. I do have a copy of my Lightroom catalogue, which is on my Mac, not on the NAS that crashed.

If I understand correctly I should be able to copy the backup copies of the files to my new NAS, and then point Lightoom at this new location, although I'm not sure how I specify this to Lightroom.

James

 

 

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LEGEND ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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So, in the simplest case (which may or may not be possible), you copy the backups to the OLD location (exactly), and no pointing of Lightroom Classic to the new location is needed. If the new NAS doesn't have the same drive letter (Windows) or drive name (Mac), you can change the drive letter or drive name to match exactly the name/letter of the old NAS, now Lightroom Classic thinks it is the old NAS drive, and then do the copy, and you should be done.

 

If none of the above is possible, then see this document (particularly Figure 4) for instructions on pointing Lightroom Classic to the new location.

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New Here ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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Thanks for this additional advice. I've ordered a new NAS, but I haven't received it yet, so I'll let you know if I run into any problems once I've installed it.

James

 

 

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New Here ,
Sep 20, 2021 Sep 20, 2021

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Hello again,

My new NAS finally arrived, after a longish delay, and is up and running. I copied all my photos to it, opened Lightroom, and followed the instructions in the document you recommended in order to connect to the folder on my new NAS. Everything worked fine.

Thanks for your help in solving this problem, and to all the other who provided useful informaiton.

 

James

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LEGEND ,
Aug 29, 2021 Aug 29, 2021

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Yes, replacing the backup is all you need to do. 

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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