Lose a catalog

i am a new and enthusiastic user of this program.
I made a mistake and do not know how to fix it.
I had photos in the "quick collection" and then pressed the button "new catalog" and all my photos disappeared, never had created a catalog.
Can i recover these photos??? Help please. Thanx in advance.

Go to File, Open Recent..then open the previous catalog you were using before you created a new one..

Similar Messages

Need to reinstall Photoshop Elements - will I lose my catalog?

I have a Mac. I posted here before stating my program is unstable, and cant do anything as it locks up as soon as I do anything. My only choice now is to try and remove and reinstall, as not other options were afforded me.
If I remove the program via the Finder - will I lose my catalog, or connection to the catalog, when I reload the software? I have 35,000 tagged and organized picrtuires and cant afford a goof.
Is there any way to "fix" it in place?
Thanks,
Chuck

Hi,
Please uninstall from the uninstaller that comes with PSE. Catalogs remain intact upon uninstall so they would remain as is.
Also, which version of MAC do you have?
Thanks
Andaleeb

PE 5 - Will I lose my catalogs if I uninstall/reinstall to fix an error?

I'm getting the error message "User name , organization or serial number is missing or invalid" (after I used the Norton Utilities Registry Cleaner). After searching for a fix, it sounds like I have to uninstall and reinstall the software to restore the serial number. Do I really have to do that or is there another way? If I do, will I lose my catalog, tags, etc?

The catalog is not removed when we uninstall the application. The same catalog will be picked up by organizer when we install the application again.

Move PSE6 catalog from XP to new computer Windows 7

Help! I have a new computer with Windows 7 installed. The store I purchased it from did a data transfer for me so the "My Pictures" folder was moved into the new computer. I just downloaded the PSE6 program again as programs were not moved.
Now what do I do?? I have an External Hard Drive connected to the old computer and had made a full and 3 incremental backups through PSE6. (I have 127gb of photos as shoot in raw).
I have read some info on this site so am confused..... should I delete the "My Pictures" (all the photos) from the new computer first?
I have an External hard drive connected to the old computer. Should I do a FULL backup and send it to that External HD then plug that into the new computer and download from that?
Would appreciate your help (in simple precise terms - not very computer literate! ) as I don't want to lose my Catalog as it has a lot of collections.
Thank you!

First make sure you've got a precise record of what your key is and who it's registered to. (I usually just print out a screenshot of the existing "Register" tab in my QuickTime preferences.)
Now on the old PC, go into your QuickTime control panel. In the "Register" tab, clear the key from the QuickTime Registration section and click OK.
Now on the new PC, reenter those details in the "Register" tab and click OK.

PS Elements catalog problems from Album Starter Edition

I have PS Elements 11 installed on my new notebook. I have copied all my photos from my old PC into the Photos folder on the notbook (running Windows7). I then imported them into PS Elements. I had them all catalogued on the PC under PS Album Starter Edition. I have copied the the catalog .psa file as suggested in the instructions & used the convert command under Elements' Manage Calalogs. Everything seemd to go as expected; all my 'Collections' came in as 'Albums' & all my Tags are there.. But none of the images are being read. All the thumbnails are the generic flower image. It seems tthe catalog is still pointing to the old D: drive on my PC& it wants me to "connect the external drive". What have I done wrong? Have can I fix this? I have nearly 9000 photos & hundreds of tags etc. I will break my heart to lose the cataloging.

Thanks so much, Andaleeb, for your interest in my problem.
The last idea I had was similar to your suggestion - to connect my new
notebook (on which I have PSE11) to the old PC (which has Starter Edition
on it), using Peer to Peer by wireless, so the notebook could see the files
on the PC.
Then Import the images into PSE11 from the "external drive" - this I
managed to do fairly easily.
Then I thought I should be able to access the Catalog file on the PC, in a
similar way from the notebook via the wireless connection.
My thinking was that it then should not be confused about where the images
were actually located; and I would then be able to send a backup
instruction from PSE11 to the files on the PC; and THEN - restore from that
backup, and using the fact that when restoring, PSE11 asks if you want to
relocate the files and catalog to a new location - and I could choose to
relocate them on the notebook.
However, although I managed to import the images into PSE11 easily, I could
not get it to recognize the catalog (.psa) file on the PC via the wireless
connection. I checked & rechecked that I had the relevant folder set
correctly to 'share', but no luck.
I don't know why this was, because it you copy the catalog file to a usb
stick & plug it into the notebook, it can pick it up OK.
So I tried that anyway, and converted the catalog again from the usb stick,
hoping that since the import of the images was via the wireless connect,
PSE11 now 'knew' the images were located on the 'external' PC hard drive;
but still the converted catalog would not function. Same as before - all my
Albums & Tags were listed correctly, but all the image thumbnails changed
from correct images to 'lost' generic Adobe flowers.
At that point, I lost heart & decided I would have to abandon the project &
just start the massive task of re-cataloging. I have a total of 64Gig of
photos, of which about 12Gig were cataloged. Very sad!
Now your suggestion has inspired me to give it one more try. It might make
a difference to have PSE11 on the PC working locally rather than trying to
negotiate the external drive thing. I had forgotten that I can do this with
a trial version.
I will let you know how I go.

I want to do some file cleanup/consolidation/archiving - will Organizer still keep catalog data ?

Over the years, my pictures have been stored on my laptop in various folders, as well as on 4 different external hard drives. I have pictures in Organizer 11 and another catalog with totally different pictures from Organizer 12. I have a new PC now and want to archive off a large portion of the pictures from old hard drive...but I don't want to lose the catalog data as I have many keytags etc for family and sports teams that my kids play on. I will need to access the sports catalog in particular this year as my son will graduate and I do special projects for all the senior players with pictures from all their prior playing years (school as well as local travel teams). I can't redo all this tagging and can't risk not being able to find images quickly.
Is there a way to export pictures from a catalog to an external drive and have Organizer update the catalog information to point to this new location and remove the reference to the old?
Also, is there a way to export certain data, like perhaps just all the school sports related pictures and have this accessible as a new catalog?
Thanks for the help and guidance!

Thanks everyone - I have a wealth of advise, options and warnings to shift thru here!
Really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me out
99jon seems to have the best solution for my unique situation - but so many of you added good tips or additional info - I really appreciate it - gained so much more knowledge just from these responses!
dj_paige - I appreciate your concerns for lost data or extra work - but reality is the files I am looking to move aren't very likely to ever be needed again. It's 1,000s and 1,000's of pictures of "other peoples kids" from 9 years of High school soccer, 4 years of College hockey and 11 years of club soccer. Obviously I am keeping the images featuring my own children or their close friends. I really just didn't want to clog up my new PC or waste space on my external drives (i have 4 totaling about 9 terabytes of storage)
My plan is to extract these unneeded pics to one of my older external drives - which will be dedicated as "archive" so I will always know where they are...save the metadata as suggested, and then delete then from the existing catalog so I can cut it down to size. It took 8 hours to do a full catalog back up of my PSE 11 catalog......only a little over 3 for my PSE12 - where I was much more disciplined in my "star" maintenance and deleted sub standards shots much more religiously!

Problem starting LR on Windows 7 PC (x64)

Hello:
I was wondering if someone is having the same problem with Lightroom 2.5 (x64): After installing LR on a Windows 7 PC (x64), the desktop
shortcut is not working. I have tried deleting the shortcut and creating a new one, tried to start LR directly from C:\Program Files\...\lightroom.exe, even re-installed the program, but nothing seems to work.
The only way I can start Lightroom is by running it as Administrator, which is strange because the "Run as Administrator" box in Properties is unchecked, and all other programs (including Photoshop CS4) are starting from shortcuts without any problems.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Luc

LucN had this to say:
Hello:
Thank you for your feedback. Actually, it was a clean install.
In the meantime I have been able to figure out what the problem was: the Lightroom Catalog was in a directory (on my data HD) other than the default one ("My Pictures" in C:\Users\...).
My catalog is on an entirely different drive than the "default" one.
This way, even if I lose my C: drive, I don't lose the catalog, or the
pictures (I have backups, but I still gain by not having to restore all
that, as well as the OS, in the event C: dies)

How to activate the trial version of lightroom 3

Hello,
I am new here and need some help.
I have downloaded the trial version of lightroom 3 in my home windows computer and like it very much. I have then proceeded to purchase a box copy which will only arrive after two weeks. However i do not plan to install it on my home computer but my new imac computer at my office where i will do all my photo editing.
My problem is i cannot wait for two weeks for the product to arrive. Can i download another trial version for my new imac in my office and when the box product comes can i just use the serial number and activate the trial version or do i have to uninstall the trial version and reinstall again. According to my seller she says that i cant do this because i need to reinstall the box product again which sounds weird to me.
My other question is the earlier trial version that i installed in my home computer, i dont plan to use it anymore, so can i just ignore it?
Thanks in advance.
Lim

Importing photos puts information for each one into the LR catalog, which is just a database that LR knows how to read and write. Reopening the catalog with a new install of LR would tell LR where each of those photos is, and what adjustments you'd made. You don't have to reimport as long as you reopen the same catalog file with the new install. You could try this on Windows: uninstall-reinstall-reopen, and see how it works to get comfortable with it. You only have to reimport if you lose your catalog, and have to start a new one. If you write the metadata to files, either automatically via a preference, or manually via the Metadata menu item and grid mode, then you can even have your adjustments intact if you have to reimport, but you'll lose your history and other things that are only in the catalog and not in the XMP sidecar files. These sidecar files is probably the only way to transfer edits from the PC version to the Mac version of LR which you probably hadn't considered. At least I don't think you can copy the LR catalog file from a PC and open it on a Mac.
If the LR trial expires before you have a serial number then you can't use it, but once you do enter in the serial number, you can pick up where you left off.
Lightroom isn't activated like Photoshop where there is a Adobe-server record of each computer and serial number. LR is just either an unregistered-trial, an expired-trial or registered. LR is smart enough to understand if you've installed it on the computer, before, so you can't extend a trial by uninstalling and re-installing w/o reformatting your HD and reinstalling the OS, or at least I think that is enough.

Lightroom 3.x won't start for one user on my computer. Works fine for all others. Help?

I'm running Vista and LR 3.2. I have multiple users accounts on the same computer (my family members). Everyone is able to use LR except one user. Whenever he trys to launch LR, he gets an error message that says:
"Lightroom - Opening Catalog: IMG_0154.JPG.lrcat"
Directly under that is the MS Windows dialog box that says "LR 64-bit has stopped working" and to look for an online solution and close the program.
I really don't want to reinstall LR again unless I can do so without losing the catalogs from all the other users. It would be best if we didn't lose the catalog from the user that can't start LR, too. It's lotsa work to redo... Help on what to do?
-Willcy-

Don't have a clue what's happening, but workaround
should eb possible bu creating a ne catalog then importing original into
new. Steps required:
1. User opens their accoun on PC
2. Hold down Alt key when launching Lightroom. A dialog should open that will allow you to switch catlogs or create a new one
3. Choose Create New Catlog. Give it a name (e..g the Users name). and make sure that it is located within the Users account area on hard disk (same location as original is probably best).
4. When Lr opens go to File menu and choose Import from Catalog
5. A dialog will open. Locate the old catlog (i.e. the lrcat file) and select.
6. Hit Choose button
7. Lightroom will check integretity and contents of old catalog. A dialog will open. Make sure all folders are checked.
8. Hit Import button.
9. Close Lr when catlog import is complete.
10 Reopen Lightroom. The new catalog should open by default

Lightroom 2.5 not printing with main account user but prints with a new use

I have been troubleshooting all day. My new epson r280 is not printing with LR2.5 though it prints in other applications fine. Called epson and we are sure that I have the latest drivers, etc. Called Adobe and they had me create a new user in accounts in system preferences-accounts. When I tried printing from the "test user" LR printed with my epson printer. Adobe said the problem was with my system permissions and I had to reset my system permissions. This doesn't sound right to me. I ran disk utility and repaired my permissions but LR still doesn't print using my original user. Genius Book suggests going to Library-Preferences and to delete the plist. Does this sound right? And do I delete the p-list for LR or for the epson printer? What happens when you delete a p-list? Will I lose my catalog in LR? I would appreciate any help on this problem.

Just trying again to see if anyone has any solutions for this question. Thanks

How to backup changes?

I tend to offload a full card 32GB of images on my SSD on my laptop and start having the computer import and change to DNG while on the drive home.
Then when I get back into the office I make virtual copies of images and edit those.
As I understand though virtual copies and even the keywords applied to those images, are not saved into the DNG.
How do I back them up say to my blueray? I suppose I could make a catalog per job but that seems like a pain Currently I have several jobs that I would like to back up separately that are a part of the catalog. (I current have the option to write to xmp master database off) Thank you!

this was a helpful link, and references a frequent forum user as well:
http://www.pixiq.com/article/saving-your-virtual-copies-to-xmp
By default Lightroom only store information about Virtual Copies in the catalog. This is a pain if you lose the catalog, or want to access the Virtual Copy outside Lightroom. Fortunately there is a work around. When you get your Virtual Copy to the finish point, save a Snapshot. If you now go back to the Master/Original image from which you created the copy, you’ll notice the Snapshot is also available to the Master. This means the settings from the Virtual Copy are easy to recreate even if you lose the catalog without a recent enough backup.
-janelle

Uninstalling trial version of Lightroom 3.

I installed a Lightroom 3 disc, then bought the new version of Lightroom 4. I want to get rid the catalogue I created practicing in Lightroom 3. I dragged it to trash and it is still showing in my applications, but no pictures come up in Lightroom 4, just blank question marked "pictures". I somehow upgraded the catalogue to LR 4 but I really just want to remove anything to do with LR 3 from my hard drive. Any suggestions?

Importing photos puts information for each one into the LR catalog, which is just a database that LR knows how to read and write. Reopening the catalog with a new install of LR would tell LR where each of those photos is, and what adjustments you'd made. You don't have to reimport as long as you reopen the same catalog file with the new install. You could try this on Windows: uninstall-reinstall-reopen, and see how it works to get comfortable with it. You only have to reimport if you lose your catalog, and have to start a new one. If you write the metadata to files, either automatically via a preference, or manually via the Metadata menu item and grid mode, then you can even have your adjustments intact if you have to reimport, but you'll lose your history and other things that are only in the catalog and not in the XMP sidecar files. These sidecar files is probably the only way to transfer edits from the PC version to the Mac version of LR which you probably hadn't considered. At least I don't think you can copy the LR catalog file from a PC and open it on a Mac.
If the LR trial expires before you have a serial number then you can't use it, but once you do enter in the serial number, you can pick up where you left off.
Lightroom isn't activated like Photoshop where there is a Adobe-server record of each computer and serial number. LR is just either an unregistered-trial, an expired-trial or registered. LR is smart enough to understand if you've installed it on the computer, before, so you can't extend a trial by uninstalling and re-installing w/o reformatting your HD and reinstalling the OS, or at least I think that is enough.

PSE 6 - problem with photos disappearing from Slideshow

Hello,
I worked on a slide show recently and then exported it to a .wma file. I returned to the slide show project in Elements a couple of days later to add another slide. Out of the 27 slides only three were intact. In 25 slides, there were no longer any pictures, but the captions were intact. The other one that was intact was a slide with just a caption. Also the timestamp on the slide show project was 2/12/2009 at 10.37 but I saved changes on 2/14 and those were saved (like the slide with just the caption I mentioned above) I don't know what happened or how I can get back to where it was before.
Thanks for the help!

> When I installed Adobe Lightroom, I was asked if I wanted to create a separate catalog for Lightroom or merge with the one from Photoshop elements. I chose the separate catalog for Lightroom and all the photos in the Photoshop elements organizer got wiped out (including a previous slideshow I had made)
I dont think that would normally occur, so something screwy was going on with your installation. Lightroom can import a PSE catalog, but it should never overwrite it. But Im not a Lightroom expert perhaps someone else more knowledgeable can help on that.
> I read other people having issues with catalog when upgrading to PSE7. So would that also be a case where you can lose the catalog(and the slideshow along with it)when you upgrade?
There are many potential problems that occur when you upgrade from PSE 6 to PSE 7. Of the ones that have been posted here, most people who have stuck it out get the problems fixed eventually, though I think many people give up in frustration before then.

Lightroom 5 and cc conflict

I have a previously installed version of lightroom 5 that I had installed prior to purchasing the creative cloud. This whole time I thought I was updating through cc but apparently I was not. Now I am trying to merge over to lr cc but don't know how because the previously installed LR 5 install is taking precedence and not allowing the cc to open. I am afraid to uninstall the 5 because I don't want to lose my catalog! Help!

If you already have LR5.3 installed with a perpetual licence, and download Lightroom via the CC app, it will install (the same) software over the top, (replacing the exising s/w) and the only difference is that when you go (in LR) to Help, Lightroom Registration, and click the Licence tab, you'll see a new licence number.
Note you can (legally) install LR on 2 machines with your existing perpetual licence and another 2 with your CC licence. The CC one will upgrade to LR6 free when that appears, whereas your existing licence stays at LR5.x unless you pay to upgrade when the time comes.

Photoshop elements corrupt software

Hello: the edit feature in my PSE 5.0 locks my computer when I try to edit a photo. A dialogue box says that the app failed to start because PLUGIN>dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix the problem. When I go the re-install my software disk using the repair option, a dialogue box tells me to install disk 1. The only disk I have is in the computer. I can't go any further. How do I fix my editing problem?
John...[email protected]

You have to uninstall and reinstall (you won't lose your catalog). Be
sure to disable anti-virus software during the process.
Repairs have never worked with PSE.
-Trish

Lose a catalog

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