Relinking all my folders in LR

[RichardDavies74]

Ive just set up my Mac and I previously had a windows pc. Ive saved my photos, LR Cat and previews to a hard drive. When I open up the LR Cat all my Albums have the "!" logo. How to I resync my albums as its not giving me the option!!!!! Is it something to do with how I saved on PC to how I'm looking at in on a Mac. I have no  idea and I'm rubbish with computers

[johnrellis]

See this article: https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/

[RichardDavies74]

Tried that but doesnt actually show how to relink. Is it because it's pc to mac

[johnrellis]

Tried that but doesnt actually show how to relink.

See Step 6 in the article.

[RichardDavies74]

Will try later thanks. If I rename the drive letter in Windows would I need to change it to whatever Mac has it set up to. No idea what I'm doing

[cmgap]

Not to add a complication here but is your external hard drive formatted to read/write to both pc and mac? If not, changing the drive letter mapping on the pc really isn't going to help moving forward.

You will need a mac read/writable EHD for all new images that you import into the catalog. You may want to consider setting up a new drive and linking your catalog files at that point.

[RichardDavies74]

I don't think it is as I've only ever used for PC. I have bought a WD ultra for Mac ready to use on the Mac. Should I use this instead. If so how????

[cmgap]

Right so I wouldn't bother with changing your drive letter on your windows machine.

First confirm your WD drive is formatted for your mac by creating a new folder on it for your photos. Then copy one of your folders on to the new drive. Only one just to make sure you've got the process down, you can move the rest later. After you've copied the test folder of images to the new WD drive go to your Lr catalog, to that very same folder and right click on it to update the location. Browse to your new WD drive, locate and select the folder and tap choose folder. Once you are back in Lightroom confirm that your photos are now linked to your new drive.

If that works out well for you, copy the rest of the images to your mac formatted WD and update the locations to the new drive. There are other ways to do this which is why I'm suggesting you do just one folder initially.

[RichardDavies74]

Bit confused. I get the copy a test folder to the HD. What do you mean by " go to your Lr catalog, to that very same folder and right click on it to update the location. Browse to your new WD drive, locate and select the folder and tap choose folder. "

[cmgap]

Pick an image that has an exclamation point, make a note of that number. Make the folder that contains that image be the test folder. Once you've made your copy go back into Lightroom and click on the exclamation point and update the location to the new drive, the test folder and that image.

[johnrellis]

If I rename the drive letter in Windows would I need to change it to whatever Mac has it set up to.

No need to mess with drive letters in this case, since Mac doesn't use them.

Follow the steps in the article precisely, and if you get stuck, post back here with much more details about what you're observing.  A screenshot of your entire LR window would also be very helpful.