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C
clarer64577927
Participant
November 8, 2017
Answered

Smart Previews not loading

  • November 8, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2374 views

My laptop was recently stolen   so I was forced to purchase a new 2016 Macbook Pro and managed to get my lightroom files back from Backblaze (hooray!)

I'm using Lightroom on creative cloud. I have tried to re-instate my last catalog & its previews where I think they should be on the new machine, but somethings not working...

The photos are there, but Smart Previews aren't working so I can't edit photos away from my external HD.

Could someone help? Many thanks! I've included some screen shots!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer clarer64577927

I have just seen that I build smart previews for photos already in LR - so I will just do this instead of trying to figure where mine have gone!!

2 replies

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steveg68320727
Participant
September 6, 2018

Can someone please help. I have never used the forum before but I have lost my smart previews. I moved a few files and now I guess I have not put the smart review folder back in the right place :-(

My folder is probably in a mess, really sorry. Can anyone spot the error please?

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 6, 2018

As I understand your screen-clip-

1) {Lightroom Catalog.LRCAT     Today 12.40}  is the name of your current working catalog

2) you have moved the Smart Previews folder for that catalog into the {Backups} folder.

    It should be a sub-folder located within the {2015-09-07 1608} folder. Move it back so all the files (boxed in RED in my screen-clip) are together..

3) You have created a 'new' {Lightroom Catalog Previews.LRDATA   Today 12.41} folder in {2015-09-07 1608}

   So the {Lightroom Catalog Previews.LRDATA  Today 11.03} folder can be deleted.

4) My screen-clip BLUE highlighted folders- The default location of the {Backups} folder must be changed when next you backup the Catalog. You must re-direct the backup to another physical hard-drive!.  If this disk with your working catalog failed, you would lose everything including ALL backups!

5) My Screen-clip YELLOW boxed files- All the files in the {Backups} folder that are NOT the dated catalog backups could be deleted, or archived on another drive, if you think you may ever have need for old catalogs.

If you are needing to use Smart Previews, tell us why? And where are your camera files stored?

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 9, 2017

Can you show us the folder where your image files are stored? (eg.   DSC_7357.NEF and the others.)

The Lightroom Catalog says your files are "missing" so it has no reference to their location.

I note also that the photo shown in the main window of your screen-clip does not have a Smart Preview available for it (although you have a Smart Previews file shown. You may only have selected images in the Smart Previews.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
C
clarer64577927Author
Participant
November 9, 2017

My Photos are saved onto my external HD. When I connect the HD I can of course edit and work on the photos, however I know I imported them into LR with smart previews on so I could work independently of the HD.

Screenshot of when HD is attached and where the original files are saved.

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