PSE 11 backup to PSE 15?

[STS1956]

Hi all,

I couldn't get my old PSE11 to work when I got a new PC with Windows 10 about 2 years ago, so I bought PSE15, which has been just fine.  I haven't imported any PSE 11 photos yet though and wondered what would happen if I try to bring them in from the DVDs that the backup is stored on.  How will they come up in PSE15 ?  I'm reluctant to mess up the photos in PSE15 (and the tags I've attached to most of them) that I've taken since I got the new PC.

Thanks in advance for any reassuring thoughts or any suggestions you may have.

Thomas

[Guest]

Moving from Photoshop to Photoshop Elements

[MichelBParis]

STS1956  wrote

Hi all,

I couldn't get my old PSE11 to work when I got a new PC with Windows 10 about 2 years ago, so I bought PSE15, which has been just fine.  I haven't imported any PSE 11 photos yet though and wondered what would happen if I try to bring them in from the DVDs that the backup is stored on.  How will they come up in PSE15 ?  I'm reluctant to mess up the photos in PSE15 (and the tags I've attached to most of them) that I've taken since I got the new PC.

Thanks in advance for any reassuring thoughts or any suggestions you may have.

Thomas

Is your backup a backup made from the Organizer?

If so, you could restore the photo file tree and the catalog to another master folder or drive in your new computer.

You would get two separate catalogs with your old catalog on one side and the new one still available separately. The big issue would be to merge the two catalogs into a single one.

Photoshop Elements 6/7/8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A possible compromise after that restore would be to use the old catalog and to 'write metadata to tags' for all photos.

Then, using the new catalog, you could re-import all files from their restored locations. That would not create any duplicate and that would keep the tags, captions, ratings of your older catalog. However that would not restore the version sets, stacks or albums.

If your backup is not an organizer backup, you could restore them to your new computer and re-import them. That would not mess your present catalog but that would not restore the files with their tags and captions...

[STS1956]

Hi MichelB,

The PSE11 photos are on DVDs made as a proper backup from PSE11's Organiser.  The vast majority of them are tagged (name, date etc.) which obviously I don't want to lose. There are around 8,000 photos, some in Version Sets, so it would be a massive job to rewrite all the tags. If I understand correctly though, I should be able to "restore" my PSE11 backup to PSE15.  I don't mind if they are not merged into the photos on PSE15.  I'd just be pleased to be able to see them again.

Thanks for your help,

Thomas

[MichelBParis]

Hi Thomas,

Yes it's possible to restore your backups on DVDs from PSE15. The restore process will restore the files folders tree under the master folder you'll create for the purpose. After the restore of the media files and the old catalog, that old catalog will be converted into a new one for use with PSE15. Please report back if you have problems.

[STS1956]

Hi MichelB,

I couldn't originally find a way to reply to you in this thread so have posted a new query regarding 'Restore' as I managed to get all my PSE 11 photos + tags in to PSE 15 but now only these older photos are available.  There's no sign of any newer photos, though they are on my PC, visible via 'Pictures'.

Hoping you see this,

Thomas