I just upgraded from PSE8 to 11 and can't find my catalog to convert.

Question

I just upgraded from PSE 8 to 11 and can't find my catalog to convert.  I watched the Manage My Catalog  instruction video, but my old catalog doesn't show in the box.  When I browse the DATA1 and DATA11 files in my PSE 8 folder the dialog box does not recognize them as catalogs.  I assume the catalog is one of these file, since they contain over 16,000 entries, which is how many photos I had in PSE8.
What am I missing?  How do I find and convert my old catalog?

Answer 1

Sometimes catalog conversion fails. It’s often a question of needing full permission settings and the easiest way to make it work is as an administrator directly from the desktop which bypasses the welcome screen background processes.
Make a shortcut for organizer as follows:
On Windows right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose New >> Shortcut
Browse to Computer OS C:
Find the PSE Organizer application in Program Files or Program Files (x86) on Windows 7 - 64 bit.
C: >> Program Files (x86) >> Adobe >> Elements 11 Organizer
Within the Elements 11 Organizer folder find the application PhotoshopElementsOrganizer (not Photoshop Elements 11.0)
Select (highlight) PhotoshopElementsOrganizer and click Next
Then click Finish.
Now right-click on your new desktop icon and choose “Run As Administrator” Then authorize by clicking yes in the User Account Control dialog.
From the Organizer menu click:
File >> Manage Catalogs
Then click the “Convert” button
Select your desired catalog from the list of previous versions of PSE to highlight it then click the “Convert” button down below it
You should receive a message when the conversion has been successfully completed and your earlier catalog will be automatically re-named. Choose the new name from the list and click the “Open“ button and you are good to go.