How do I remove everything Lightroom CC related and start over

[bluerog2]

I have tried to remove Lightroom CC and start from scratch. I cannot. I use Windows.

I have tried removing every catalog. I have tried removing every backup file. I have done this for .lrcat file anywhere on my computer. The program seems to store these in several location like... in "My Pictures" and in the program file installation location. I want all presets gone. I want every modification gone. I want every snapshot gone. I want every adjustment gone. I want every quick collection gone. I want every 1 to 5 star rating gone.

Most of all, I want every edit I've ever done gone.

Everytime I think I've deleted everything, and reinstall, it give me back the edits. I DO NOT WANT THE EDITS. Everytime I think I've deleted everything and reinstall, it gives me back the same screwed up filing system that I want to start over with.

How do I start from scratch?

Thank you.

[dj_paige]

Did you, at any time, instruct Lightroom to write the metadata (edits) to the photo files (or XMP files in the case of RAW originals)?

If you find edited photos in LR, can you simply select them all and then in the Develop Module turn on Auto Sync and click on Reset?

[bluerog2]

Hi dj_paige. I have no idea how to instruct LR CC to write metadata or edits to the photo files. I have no idea if I did it on purpose or accident.

I barely even know what what writing metadata is. 

I shoot RAW Nikon... so .NEF files. I could send a .NEF file that LR CC keeps picking up an edit on to someone, and they can check. Do you know how to check?

But to answer your question, I didn't ask LR to write metadata to any RAW (NEF) files on purpose.

One of the reasons I picked up LR CC and Photoshop is that it does NOT affect the quality of the original and that I can always go back to the beginning on a photo.

[dj_paige]

You can check to see if the photo has previous edits. Go to the Develop module and see if the sliders are at zero (except for the color balance sliders). If any of them are not at zero (except the color balance slider) then these are the previous edits. Click on Reset at the bottom right to erase the previous edits. If that works, you can do this in bulk, as I explained above.

[bluerog2]

I know there are edits. I don't want them. I see the sliders on every photo moved. But I thought (hoped) edits were stored in LR files, not in the RAW (NEF) file. I was thinking the edits were in the LR .lrcat files and backups. I want those gone.

And to the original question, how do I get rid of EVERY edit?

I don't even want a photo imported into Lightroom until I say so. But everytime I reinstall Lightroom, it shows all of those photos - edited. It picks up files and folders and photos I don't WANT imported into Lightroom. The photos show up in the library and develop modules.

I also don't want to hit reset 900 times on photos I don't want to show up in LR in the first place.

How do I get my computer, photos, no edits, back to where it was before I ever installed LR CC?

I remember installing it last December, and it didn't pull in photos until I hit the Import button. I want that.

[bluerog2]

My apologies for sounding frustrated - or even whiny.

I was hoping a developer from Adobe LR could pop in here and say, "Uninstall LR. Delete these 12 folders and directories - it's where all backup information and edited photos instructions are located. And it's where LR picks up instructions to load photos to the library are.

Then reinstall LR CC. And it'll be like new".

I am literally to the point to where I want to grab a new hard drive. Install Windows and drivers on my desktop computer. Then reinstall programs, like LR CC and Photoshop. A total reset....

[JohanElzenga]

The solution is pretty simple. You should indeed delete your catalog (.lrcat) file and start with a fresh one, but before you import any pictures you should have a look inside the picture folder(s). Do you see .xmp files with the same name as your .nef files? That is why the edits and ratings come back when you import these photos into a new catalog. So sort the folder by file type, select all the .xmp files and delete them. Do this for every picture folder. Then import the images into your brand new catalog. They should now come in as virgins...

[dj_paige]

Adobe developers don't pop in here to help out. Just doesn't happen.

And to the original question, how do I get rid of EVERY edit?

As I said, select all the photos in Lightroom, and then in the develop module turn on Auto Sync, then click Reset.

[JohanElzenga]

dj_paige  wrote

As I said, select all the photos in Lightroom, and then in the develop module turn on Auto Sync, then click Reset.

A good method, but you have to check a couple of things. First of all, your camera defaults may have been changed, and so hitting 'Reset' will change the images to that new default. Press the Shift-key when you hit that button, so it becomes 'Reset (Adobe)', just to make sure.

Secondly, the OP also wants to remove all metadata such as stars, flags, etc. These will not be removed by hitting 'Reset' in the Develop module, so he has to remove those in the Library module.

And finally, he may have (old) .xmp files hanging around, even if he doesn't have 'Automatically write changes to XMP' checked in his Catalog Settings right now. If that option isn't checked, then those old xmp files won't be updated and so they will cause settings to return on import. So he should either check that option and let Lightroom write an (updated) xmp file for each image (that may take some time), or manually delete the xmp files like I suggested.

Of course he doesn't really have to start with a new catalog from scratch, but I assume he may want to do other things as well, such as rearranging folders. In that case a new catalog is probably easier than cleaning out the old one.

[mshaha]

Same question - I gave my computer to my mother and want to start completely over. I don't want any of my images or catalogs on the computer. I already have them saved elsewhere - I want a blank lightroom -how do I get rid of all of the catalogs, images, files, presets....everything - I want it to be like new. Cant find directions anywhere. Thank you in advance.

[JohanElzenga]

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-classic-file-locations/