Backing Up Catalog FROM Flash Drive

[kpatters18]

I'm having trouble backing up my photo catalog.  I previously had the catalog file and photo files stored on an internal SSD, but wanted to be able to move the catalog between computers, so I used the recommended procedure of backing up the catalog and then restoring it to an external drive (in my case I used a usb 3.0 flash drive), which can then be moved from PC to PC.  That process went smoothly, but now that everything is stored on the flash drive I can't seem to back up from there.  I don't get any errors when I try to do a backup, but the backup size is only something like 50-100 MB, while I have about 75 GB worth of photos.  It appears that only the catalog is being backed up and not the actual image files.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Thanks!

[MichelBParis · Accepted solution]

I'll have to test the process again, but I remember that your question already appeared in the forum a couple of times. The result of the discussions at that time was that storing the catalog and photo files tree on a USB flash drive works to share them, but you can't backup. Don't ask me why...

In your situation, I would move your library and catalog from the flash drive to a small, regular and inexpensive external drive.

- From your catalog manager, use the drag and drop function in the folders panel on the left to drag the master folder from one drive to the other. Don't think that is risky: the drag and drop first copies everything, and only deletes from the original drive when the copy has been successful. Be patient, that takes time and you don't see a progression bar. After that move, the catalog folder is still on the flash drive.

- close the organizer and find the catalog folder on the flash drive (menu Help >> System Info). Copy the whole folder on the external drive from the Explorer or Finder to the external drive outside of the pictures files tree. Start the organizer by double clicking on the catalog.pse16db file - or by navigating the new catalog folder in the catalog manager.

When backing up from flash drive was discussed, it was also stressed that flash drives are limited in size and more expensive. I don't know about their long-time reliability.

[kpatters18]

Thanks for your response! I did try searching for an answer before I posted but I was only coming up with questions about backing up or moving a catalog TO an external drive.

I suspected that the fact that I was using a flash drive rather than an external hard drive might be causing the problem, but it seems like odd behavior for Organizer to treat flash drives differently in that way. I will try your suggestion of moving to a normal external drive and see if that works. Do you have any reason to believe that an external SSD would pose any problems?

Thanks again!

[MichelBParis]

but it seems like odd behavior for Organizer to treat flash drives differently in that way.

I suspect this behaviour may depend on how the OS deals with different kinds of media.

There is already a difference of treatment when you import files from removable media (cards, DVDs), USB sticks or external USB drive. Conventional external drives are considered exactly like internal drives. USB sticks can be considered both ways. Removable media imply that you download to your computer before cataloguing. External drive is supposed to be plugged in and available just like an internal drive.

I don't know  how an external SSD would be recognized. My guess is that it would work just like a conventional external USB drive.