Change drives

[kennethh407]

I want to install PSE on an SSDS drive but keep my picture files on another DH.  Can I?  If so, how?

[Peru Bob]

Your photos are not stored in Photoshop Elements.  They are wherever you choose to store them.

Or did you mean that you wanted to install the Organizer on a different drive?

[kennethh407]

The SSD drive I have installed is a 250 Gig drive but my photo file is 600 Gigs.  Can I install Elements on my SSD and have it refer to my pic file on the HD?  Also, if yes, how much bigger would the Elements file be over the software install on the SSD?  What I mean is that I want the Organizer on my SSD but tag the pics on my HD.  I know that Organizer only tags the pics but I need to know how big it would make the Organizer file as I have such a big pic file.

[Peru Bob · Accepted solution]

kennethh407  wrote

Can I install Elements on my SSD and have it refer to my pic file on the DH?

Yes you can.

Also, if yes, how much bigger would the Elements file be over the software install on the SSD?

I can't say for sure, but I suspect not much.

[MichelBParis]

You can store your media files in any internal or external drive.

The general process to move a catalog and media files folders to a new computer or drive is:

Move Elements Organizer catalog

Recently, users wanting to install a small SSD in their existing computers also want to keep their original drive externally or externally.

The backup/restore process above requires a full backup on an external drive, followed by a restore on the destination drive (or partition, or other master folder). It ensures that the links in the catalog are updated so that you don't get 'disconnected' files.

If you want to keep your original drive internally or externally, it will get a new letter drive. The catalog will show all files as 'disconnected'. Even if catalog folders can be moved or copied where you want while keeping their contents intact, those catalogs won't find the files on the old drive. The backup and restore process is to be used instead.

There is another risk with the installation of an SSD. The manufacturer may provide a 'cloning' tool to migrate easily the operating system and programs from the old drive to the SSD. If that is so, you'll be tempted to re-use the original drive with your already present media files. The problem is that Windows and the organizer will see two drives with the same internal number; that will make your catalog totally wrong.

To prevent any such risk, the backup and restore process should be used.

Restore to a different drive than your previous drive. Generally you backup on an external drive and you restore on another external drive.

If you have cloned your SSD, don't use the other drive for storing your media, rather use it for backups.

[kennethh407]

Thanks.  Just an FYI, I physically move the original drive to another slot and put the SSD in the original slot so it has a different letter.  The new SSD now is my C drive.  I believe that I can therefore leave my pics on the original HD, yes?

[MichelBParis]

The catalog identifies a drive with its drive letter but primarily with the internal serial number assigned to the drive by Windows.

The catalog folder can be in its original location on the old drive or anywhere else.

If the SSD has not been cloned, it has a different internal number, that's good.

But all the files in the catalog will point to a drive C: instead of the new letter assigned to the old drive.

Will all files be shown as 'disconnected'? My guess is that the catalog may use the internal number instead of the letter, but I am not sure. I doubt that the reconnect process will work easily, or at all...

To be safe,

- either use the backup/restore process

- or be prepared to update your catalog (an sqlite database) manually (if you are at ease with sql utilities).

[kennethh407]

Thanks. I will do the back up restore just to be safe. I really appreciate

your help.

Ken Hill

On Thu, Feb 8, 2018 at 3:48 PM, MichelBParis <forums_noreply@adobe.com>