Move photos & catalog to external drive

I am filling-up the hard drive on my iMac. I want to move the pictures & Lightroom 3 catalog to my external drive. Is there an easy way of doing this. Also, I have some old photos & a Lightroom 1.4 catalog on a Windows NTFS formated hard drive. I can move the individual folders onto a thumb drive & manually re-enter them in Lightroom on my IMac. Is there any way to save the Lightroom 1.4 catalog?

Van,
I did not think of that way of moving files from within the organizer.
Unfortunately, the 'move' feature for selected files works is meant to move files from any location on your computer to a single new folder. That should keep your catalog on the same location than before, with the albums, categories and tags unchanged. I don't understand how you can have lost your albums in the process.
That's not what you want, and the 'move' feature is rarely used because there is always the risk to move files with the same filename into the same destination drive. Since that is not possible in the explorer, the organizer is supposed to rename files to avoid that problem. In older Elements versions the 'move' command had several bugs which explains why it is rarely used.
I hope you had a backup of your files before your move ?
Of the two recommended ways to move folder trees within Elements, I prefer the backup and restore method. The second method is rarely used, although I have tested it successfully with a big catalog in PSE12. With a big catalog like yours, a backup is necessary anyway, which means you don't save time. The usual result of the backup/restore (totally safe process) is that the catalog itself is also moved to the new drive; but you can get it back simply to the default location on C: from the catalog manager (catalogs accessible to all users).

Similar Messages

  • Want to move photo library to external drive

    I want to move the '08 iphoto library to an external drive, as I am running out of space on the iMac. However I have numerous picture folders (2007, 2006, etc) within my 'pictures' folder in addition to the iphoto library. The photos from these folders all appear in iphoto.
    My question: Do I have to copy/move these folders as well as the iphoto library?
    Thanks for the help.

    Dimitri
    Welcome to the Apple user to user assistance forums
    No - iPhoto is only concerned with the iPhoto library - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library as a single entity to the external drive - launch iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) key an use the select library option to point to the new library location.
    LN

  • Move photo library to external drive

    I would like to move my Photo library from my internal HD to an external HD.  Does anyone know the correct way to do this without losing any data?Is this done by an export of all photos (which I tried but it hung up for two days with no progress after making it mostly through).  Will dragging and dropping the Photo Library work (I am scared to try this.)  Thanks!

    Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    1. Quit Photos
    2. Copy the Photos Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
    4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
    Regards
    TD

  • I'm using LR5.7 on a Mac Mini running Mavericks and when I attempt to import a folder of new RAW photos from my external drive into my catalog instead of seeing a preview of each thumbnail photo I see the following message displayed: "Preview Unavailable

    I'm using LR5.7 on a Mac Mini running Mavericks and when I attempt to import a folder of new RAW photos from my external drive into my catalog instead of seeing a preview of each thumbnail photo I see the following message displayed: "Preview Unavailable for this file." If I highlight any other folder of photos the previews are all there. What is the likely reason for these previews being unavailable? JohnnyCam

    What camera took these RAW photos?
    Did you use any Nikon software to transfer the photos to your computer's hard disk?

  • How do you move pictures to an external drive to open space on the Mac hard drive? Or what is the best way to store photos safely?

    How do you move pictures to an external drive to open harddrive space? Or what is the best way to store large photo files? Ive tried copy/cut and paste and it doesnt work. I have nothing on my Mac but photos and its telling me startup disk is too full to download updates.

    Are the photos being stored in iPhoto now?
    How is the external disk formatted?
    Allan

  • Backup photos from 1 external drive to another

    New to Lightroom. Currently backing up total Mac system with Time Machine onto 500GB external drive, but my internal 250GB HDD space is shrinking due to large Lightroom files. Response time getting pretty bad too. I read on forum that I should not use TimeMachine to backup Lightroom photos, so I'll stop doing that.
    I only have 2000 photos on Lightroom so far (mostly DNG), but plan to import 17,000 from iPhoto ASAP, and another 10,000 from other files, with another 2000 annually.
    I bought two 1TB external drives (firewire 800), planning to move all photos onto one and backup the photos on the other. (still plan to use 500GB external drive as TimeMachine backup for the rest of the iMac data and system). I plan to daisy chain all 3 HDD drives, but what steps in LIghtroom should I take to move and setup the new Lightroom backup scheme? And then, what cyclical procedures should I follow?
    I have read lots of helpful Q&As on the forums on specific problems, but what "I the novice" needs, is step by step instructions on how to set this all up in Lightroom.
    iMac24                                                                                            Mac OS X (10.5.7)                                                                                            2.16 GHz, INtel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 250GB internal HDD, Canon 9950 scanner, Canon IP3400 printer   

    Thanks to both you guys. For performance reasons, I decided to keep catalog and previews on internal drive, and move photos to the external HDD.  I installed new external drives, and using LR "new folder" technique John suggested, I created a "2009" folder and subfolder, but when I chose photos to move to new subfolder folder, I get this warning:
    "MOVING FILES ON DISK
    This will cause corresponding files on disk to be moved. If you proceed, neither this move nor any changes you've made prior to this can be undone."
    I have previously modified (using Develop tab functions) many of the photos that I am moving. When I move, will the non-destructive capability be lost? In other words, will I lose the ability to change back to original state of the photos? If so, how can I maintain this ability? I've made changes on hundreds of these 2,000 photos, but worst case, I can go back and recreate the original status of the photos if I have to, but it would be more work, so is there is a way around this?

  • I have just installed Photoshop Elements for a MAC. MY photos were in iPhoto, I have 47,000 pictures and my drive on my Mac laptop is not large enough. I store my photos in iPhoto on an external drive. Can I store all my photos on an external drive when u

    I have just installed Photoshop Elements for a MAC. MY photos were in iPhoto, I have 47,000 pictures and my drive on my Mac laptop is not large enough. I store my photos in iPhoto on an external drive. Can I store all my photos on an external drive when using Photoshop Elements? If so, in what format should they be stored in? I do I move them from iPhoto to the new storage location? How do I call them up in organizer? And how do I call them up to Edit? I do not want to store any pictures on my Apple Mac laptop. I want to store pictures on several external devices.

    Yes you can store images on an external hard dive and have them referenced in Organizer. It’s best to export copies to separate folders/subfolders and that will ensure iPhoto does not get corrupted.
    Alternatively you could continue to use iPhoto with the Elements Editor set up in the iPhoto prefs as your external editing app. Then there is no need to use Organizer and no need to duplicate your images.
    You can then call up photos directly from iPhoto as normal with the additional option e.g.
    Double-click on a thumbnail to edit in iPhoto editor.
    Control (right) - click on a thumbnail to edit in the elements app.
    http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/photoshop-elements-iphoto-mac-os.html

  • The memory on my MAC is full. It holds 4GB of RAM of which 79GB are photos. I would like to back up my photos to an external drive but just don not know how. I do not wish to use time machine. How do I back up my photo library, then delete the them t

    The memory on my MAC is full. It holds 4GB of RAM of which 79GB are photos. I would like to back up my photos to an external drive but just do not know how. I do not wish to use time machine. How do I back up my photo library, then delete them from my MAC to free up that 79GB? Thank you.

    Hi
    Just to clarify a couple of points in your post.
    RAM (memory) is different from hard drive space. You have 4GB of RAM, but that has no bearing on the amount of drive space you have, of which we know that 79GB are photos.
    If those photos are in iPhoto, you should be able to move the entire iPhoto Library, from the Pictures folder, to your external hard drive. You can just drag and drop. Do not have iPhoto open while you're doing this. Once it's done, you can double-click on the moved iPhoto Library file to associate it with iPhoto, so that the app remembers where the library is for next time.
    One more thing. When you move a file to a different location, and then delete the original, you don't have a backup. You still only have one copy. So if that external drive dies, you will lose all your photos. Time Machine is a very good way to prevent this from happening. You should dedicate a different drive for Time Machine backups.
    Matt

  • How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive?

    How do I get photos from backup external drive on to my new hard drive on my MacBook

    How did you use this backup drive? Was this a Time Machine backup, or just an external drive to which you copied files?
    I assume your photos were in iPhoto.  If you're just talking a bunch of JPEG files you can just drag them wherever you like, otherwise:
    iPhoto: How to move the Library folder to a new location - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229

  • Moving photo library to external drive

    Hi,  
    My Mac hard drive is really getting full, i've only got 10GB left!
    I've bought myself a 1TB external USB hard drive, and would like to move my large iPhoto Library onto it.   
    If I move it across, and then create a fresh new iPhoto Library on my Mac Hard drive will I still be able to access my old photos on my external drive?
    Also will it affect syncing through iTunes, and/or syncing with my iCloud photo stream?
    Lastly, can you think of any other things that are generally ok to dump on an external drive and start afresh? I'd like to move my Steam Games, but still access them through the external drive,   what do you think?
    Thanks for all your help!

    Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
    4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
    Why would you create a second library on the internal idk? Just use the one on the external.
    It makes no difference to syncing.
    Regards
    TD

  • How can I create an iPhoto Library from photos on an external drive?

    Here's my issue:
    I have a MacBook Pro running OS X Mavericks, and I am just about out of hard drive space.
    I also have about 20 GB worth of photos on an external drive. The photos are not organized at all, just got dumped into a folder there during a hasty backup a couple years ago.
    I'd like to use iPhoto to get these photos organized, but don't have the space to import them into the library on my laptop.
    How can I create and manage an iPhoto library with these photos while keeping them on the external drive? They are on a terabyte drive, so I have a feeling I'd like to make that my main library moving forward.

    Check that the drive's formatted as Mac OS Extended, drag the iPhoto library to it, launch iPhoto with the Option key held down, and choose that library.
    (114618)

  • How can i move a vlc movie held on my external drive onto my itunes library (so i can then load it onto my ipad to watch?

    how can i move a vlc movie held on my external drive onto my itunes library (so i can then load it onto my ipad to watch?

    That is the only logical conclusion. There is an easy solution. On the Mac app store download a free app called smartconverter. It is free. You just drag and drop file into app and it will convert to any file u want. I hope that foxes your issue

  • Any recommendations for a recovery software for my lost photos on my external drive?

    Would like recommendations for a reputable recovery software for my lost photos from my external drive that I used with my MacBook Pro.

    General File Recovery
    If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro.  Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive.  Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk.  Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
    The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
    Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

  • I have been storing my music and photos in an external drive how to I transfer them to Time Capsule now that I acquired one?

    I have been storing my music and photos in an external drive to save disk space in my computer. Now that I purchased the Time Capsule what do I have to do to transfer such files to my time capsule?

    I have been storing my music and photos in an external drive to save disk space in my computer
    How have you been backing up the data on your computer and the external drive up until now?
    I assume that you want to use the Time Capsule to back up your Mac and the external drive. Is that correct?

  • HOw to backup photos on an external drive

    I have an Imac and i store my photos on an external drive.
    I just purchased a second external drive to use as a backup for the photo external drive. I plan to use Time Machine to backup the Imac.
    How do I backup the photos on the external drive to the second external drive
    thanks

    Yes, dragging them over should do nicely. As for formatting, this is the procedure I use and an explanation as to why. It's slanted toward preparing a drive for Time Machine backups, but it doesn't hurt to do the same for any drive you will be using with the Mac OS. "Glasses", Kappy, and V.K. might have some other suggestions as well.
    *_How Should a Time Machine Hard Disk be Prepared?_*
    For Time Machine to work properly, the hard disk must be formatted “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” and its’ Partition Scheme should be either GUID or Apple Partition Map.
    Time Machine is incompatible with disks partitioned as Master Boot Record (MBR). Unfortunately, this describes nearly every hard drive you can buy because MBR is a Windows partition scheme. (Naturally, this DOES NOT apply to Apples’ Time Capsule.)
    For some, Time Machine begins to perform as expected with a new external hard disk. But then the initial full backup or subsequent incremental backups fail. The user only later discovers the hard disk was still partitioned as Master Boot Record (MBR).
    One article on Time Machine made this observation: “Virtually everybody will have to open Disk Utility and repartition the disk as APM or GUID. It doesn't really matter which one because the Time Machine disk will not be bootable anyway. APM allows a disk to boot a PowerPC, GUID allows the disk to boot an Intel processor but both are easily digestible by Time Machine on either kind of processor.” [http://www.girr.org/mac_stuff/backups.html]
    It’s been recommended by many here that your reserve +at least+ double the size of your primary hard disk, that way Time Machine backups have room to grow as the size of your data grows. Additionally, the more space you give Time Machine the more history it can preserve. The less space you reserve for Time Machine the sooner older backups & deleted items will disappear.
    One poster recommended this regarding multiple partitions: “If you do create multiple partitions (half and half would be a good place to start), make sure you use the first partition for Time Machine, and the second for your own stuff (the first one will be on top in the graphical representation shown in Disk Utility; you'll understand when you see the partition tab). This way, you can expand the Time Machine volume at any later time by deleting the second partition. Disk Utility allows this dynamic re-sizing of volumes, but volumes can only be expanded toward the end of the drive, when a volume that comes after is deleted to create the room.” [http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1712437&tstart=0]
    Procedure
    Connect the hard disk you wish to use for Time Machine backups.
    Launch Disk Utility.
    It will appear twice in the pane on the left. (Make sure you recognize that it is different from the 2 icons that represent your Macs' internal drive.) The upper entry represent the device as a whole, including the controller inside. The lower entry represents the hard disk contained within the device.
    Click on the upper icon of the external hard disk.
    Select the "Partition" tab.
    For "Volume Scheme" choose "1 partition". (Choose 2 partitions if you intend on storing other data on the disk besides your Time Machine backups. Ensure that the two partitions have different names.)
    Name the disk.
    Format should be "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)".
    Click "Options".
    Select either GUID or Apple Partition Map. (See above for significance)
    Click "OK".
    Click "Apply". Then click “Partition”.
    Once the external hard disk is repartitioned, select it again in Time Machine preferences and use it for your backups. If you chose to create 2 partitions, then select the first partition for Time Machine backups, and the second for additional files/folders.
    Let us know if this was helpful.
    Cheers!

Maybe you are looking for