PSE 2018 backup advise before removing older PSE versions on same PC..?

[ronanxyz]

I am overdue for cleaning up my computer and I want to remove some now unused earlier versions of PSE going back to 2014. I use PSE 2018 currently and would like to keep it for now as it functions good for me right now. After glitches, disasters and issues with previous versions while backing up catalog, tags, uninstall, reinstall, converting, restoring, reimporting tagged photo files, etc. I am half scared to do anything with PSE at all now as I am afraid of screwing up and losing my filing & tagging of 50k+ photos. I have long absences of using PSE so I am not the most knowledgeable or proficient at using it! My file tree OS (C:) > ProgramData Thru numerous > > > > > > to MyCatalog > Photos looks to me like total chaos. All my PSE versions are stacked and mixed together it seems. My question is will a full PSE 2018 Catalog backup to an external hard drive before I remove any of the previous PSE versions have the potential to be corrupted by any of the previous versions of PSE…? In the event that my PSE 2018 has any issues after I have removed the older PSE versions (as I’ve heard happens!) and I need to remove and reinstall PSE 2018 I’d really like to know with high confidence that my full backup catalog will painlessly get me up and going again with no issues should I have to use it…!


Any tips at all on the best sequence to take would be greatly appreciated. Is deactivate from editor menu required first? Any additional file backups I should or can do, tag tree etc..? Loosing 50k of tags & categorized photos scares me to death. I don’t use the People, Events and Places categories introduced in PSE11 only my own categories in their place. Any issues with doing a Disk clean-up after removing the older PSE versions..? Thanks in advance

[MichelBParis]

I have answered in your question in that other forum:

https://photoshopelementsandmore.com/thread/6706/backup-advise-before-removing-versions

"Step by step.
1 - Since you are working well with the organizer and your current catalog (despite the 'mess' in the folders structure), I highly recommend to start by doing a full backup on an external drive, followed by a restore on a second external drive. Nothing will be changed on your current computer. That will tell you that the backup is sound and can be restored anywhere later. You can work on the external drive to clean up the catalog itself and also reshape and clean up the media files folders on the external drive. 
2 - If you have several catalogs you are using currently and want to keep, you'll have to do the same with each one and restore on a different custom master folder in the external drive. 
3 - Ignore catalogs of older elements versions for the moment. Or simply make a copy of the default catalogs master folder on C: (ProgramData...) if you want.
4 - Keep in mind that creating new catalogs + media folders ignores all media items not in any catalog. Most probably, those ignored files are duplicates or without any value, but if you want to know what do do about it, it would be worth a second discussion to keep it simple. So long as you keep your present catalog unchanged and you work on the external drive, there is no hurry to deal with that.

Before doing the first backup, it's a good idea to reconnect missing files, repair and optimize your current catalog."

Please report on your progress.

[ronanxyz]

Thank you for the help and advice, I will follow it. A couple additional questions here for clarity. After I do a full backup of my PSE 2018 to an external HD, I then do a restore Catalog to a separate external HD. After which it’s my understanding that will copy everything (catalog, photos, tags, video files, projects, and audio clips) right..? from my full backup to a location I choose on another separate external HD. So after that when I open PSE 2018 on my PC with that external HD (holding the restored catalog) plugged into my PC PSE organizer will now be connected and functioning automatically from that HD restored catalog location and not any of the file structure on/within my PC..? In this way I am testing my backup without having changed anything on my PC itself…..is that correct..? My lack of PSE proficiency is really showing here. If so what happens if I open PSE Organizer now without that External HD plugged in to my PC..? 

Thanks so much for helping this armature out

[MichelBParis]

 After I do a full backup of my PSE 2018 to an external HD, I then do a restore Catalog to a separate external HD. After which it’s my understanding that will copy everything (catalog, photos, tags, video files, projects, and audio clips) right..?

Right, everything in the original catalog will be the same. You'll have the choice to use either the original or the external drive functional copy. Files not in the catalog will be ignored.

from my full backup to a location I choose on another separate external HD. So after that when I open PSE 2018 on my PC with that external HD (holding the restored catalog) plugged into my PC PSE organizer will now be connected and functioning automatically from that HD restored catalog location and not any of the file structure on/within my PC..?

In this way I am testing my backup without having changed anything on my PC itself…..is that correct..?

Yes, the original set in the PC itself will stay safe while you are working and testing on the external drive. The backup and restore process is very often used when you want to share the same catalog and library between two computers with the same PSE version. You only have to plug in the external drive alternatively. That's what I am doing now. I was in my country home when the isolation order was issued. I am working on another computer with the external drive plugged in.

My lack of PSE proficiency is really showing here. If so what happens if I open PSE Organizer now without that External HD plugged in to my PC..? 

Then, the organizer will not see the catalog on the external drive. You won't be able to access it.

[ronanxyz]

hello not sure you are still here....just appreciated your help before. I have been tied up with life and havn't finsihed cleaning up my catalog yet. quick rundown. I have it on an external drive and restored there. It works good for my photos but my folder tree is a mess. My current Catalog is ten plus years of various PSE years additions/upgrades restored, converted Catalogs from over the years of restoring and it has become a mess of a Folder tree! Grayed out Folders and previous un-used drive letters & folders and file paths from way back I can see but cannot delete or remove any of it anyway I can find. How can I remove all this old junk from my catalog folder tree and just have the present used position of my photo folders in my Catalog and nothing else..? Pauls pics folder at top and above are all my current used folders, no issues with those. I want to clean this up before I convert it onto my new laptop with PSE 2024. screen shots of folder tree. how do I get rid of everything below Pauls pic folder? Do I have to go into File Explorer and do it? I am stumped. Thanks for the help