How do I extract & transfer Photoshop elements 10 after computer failure

Report · Dec 10, 2016

My laptop that I run my Elements 10 has failed. I have taken out the hard drive which is undamaged and I can access all the files on my other computer. I store all my JPG & RAW photograph files on a separate hard drive for security. How can I transfer all my Elements files from my old hard drive to my new computer. If I merely download Elements from the original purchased disk I get a new version and all my work on Elements has been lost. Also I cannot import my photo files (stored on the separate hard drive) because I get a message that the photo file cannot be imported as it is already within Elements 10

Report · Dec 10, 2016

If you have got a serial number for PSE10 then you can download and install from this link:

Scroll down the page and look for PSE10 download link. Please also read the instructions on that page so that you know what is involved.

Good luck.

Report · Dec 11, 2016

Thank you for your reply - I have no problem downloading a new Elements 10 as I have the disk - If I download a new one all I get is a a blank and empty Elements 10 - I have lost all the thumbnails of my photographs and the links to where the photos are stored. If I try to start downloading the photos from file to the new and empty Elements 10 I get a message that the photograph is already within Elements and so it wont download it (I assume it thinks it is already in Elements) What I want to do I somehow extract my original Elements 10 from my old hard drive taken from my failed computer . The computer it came from has failed but the hard drive is fine - I have tried finding the EXE file to start Elements 10 from the old hard drive but it just starts up a new and blank Elements 10 - I need to know how to retrieve the original Elements 10 (with all the thumbnails) from the old hard drive (extracted from the failed computer)

hope this is clear

Stewart

Report · Dec 11, 2016

Stewart,

If I understand well, you have two ideal factors to restore your catalog which is what is needed in your case:

- you have all your media files on an external drive

- your original drive is available.

1 - you have to plug in your external drive in the new computer (with the same drive letter)

2 - you have to find your original catalog folder in the original drive. It's a folder containing a catalog.pse10db file.

Copy the whole folder where you want on the new computer (it can be in the same master folder as the empty catalog created when reinstalling PSE10). You can open the organizer by double clicking on the catalog.pse10db file.

Next time, for more safety, use the organizer backup procedure.

Report · Dec 11, 2016

Hi Thanks for your help I have removed and replaced the catalog.pse10db file and now have all my thumbnails back. The only ones displayed are in JPEG - All my RAW files will not upload. I seem to remember needing a RAW converter when I originally set Photoshop up but I have forgotten where I got it from Can you help

As soon as I get everything sorted out I will back up Photoshop as per your advise

Stewart