LR10.1.1 won't upgrade old catalog for import

[cjh2016]

Hi: I'm working with a paid subscription to Creative Cloud LR 10.1.1 and I'm trying to import a catalog that I exported to an eternal hard drive from a now defunct iMac. The catalog was exported in Sept 2020 (so probably version 9?) and it's not ancient history but it is previous to the latest upgrades to LR. I tried opening the catalog and was told that the catalog can't be upgraded in order to import. The Abode suggestion is that I open an older version of LR, but I don't have any, so can't use the trick of opening an older version, exporting as a catalog and then importing into the new version. When I tried importing the old catalog into a new catalog that I created in 10.1.1, it was also not upgradable and Adobe suggested that I open the old catalog in LR7. Any thoughts on what to do? I have several thousand edited images in old catalogs that I would like to be able to access. Thanks.

[Rob_Cullen]

My first comment- Images are NOT IN A CATALOG! Catalogs do not contain photos. Catalogs are a database that contains references to their folder location on your hard-drives.

I do not know what photo files are referenced in your old catalog- do you know where the photo files are? But rather than Import a catalog, simply Copy the Catalog to your internal drive. Do not over-write your main current catalog- Rename the copy if needed. Then try opening [Double-Click] the copied catalog again to see if it upgrades and opens on the internal drive. You will likely have to re-link folders and photos that are marked as "missing".

Later you can then merge catalogs by [Import from another catalog].

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

CATALOG-FIND AND MOVE

[cjh2016]

I understand that my images are outside the catalog. I access the edits through the catalog. I copied the catalog to my internal drive and it upgraded and opened. thank you!!! 

[JohanElzenga]

Did you try to open (not import into another catalog) that old catalog in Lightroom Classic 10.1.1? If so, what does the error say exactly?

[cjh2016]

Thank you for the reply. I did try opening as well as importing. Neither worked until I copied the catalog off my external HD, leaving the image files behind. Then it upgraded and opened. Cumbersome but it is a relief. Thanks.