LR Reloaded: I recently lost my hard drive. Fortunately everything was backed up (at least recoverable). Here is my dilemma: I am adding a second internal HD exclusively for photos...

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

I recently lost my hard drive. Fortunately everything was backed up (at least recoverable). Here is my dilemma: I am adding a second internal HD exclusively for photos which makes a big change to my directory tree. How should I proceed to get all my photos back into the LR catalog and recover the old .lrcat that contains all my editing information?
After re-installing LR, can I open the most recent saved catalog and have LR relocate the image files? I am not too concerned about the process of re-linking the photos back into LR, but I definitely do not want to lose all my Develop work. By default, where does LR keep the develop metadata? Is it in the lrcat or a sidecar? (I have never seen an xmp file on my system.)
My images are mostly dng and jpg with some cr2 and rw2.
I'm running a PC with Win8.1. The only thing I can find on Adobe's website is re-installing in safe mode in Vista.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

The edits will be in the dng files and the history will be in the Lrcat (catalogue).

Sidecar (xmp) files) are not available for dng or jpg files.

The preview files are not important as they can be rebuilt.

When you reinstall LR, it may find the catalogue by itself, but again it is not a problem to relink. File > Open Catalogue will enable you to browse to the lrcat file.

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

Thanks Searcher. I knew the Oracle of LR would have the answer. (Much more reliable than Adobe.) I had a fear that all my work would be lost. Thanks for the confidence builder.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Photoninny wrote:

I am adding a second internal HD exclusively for photos which makes a big change to my directory tree. How should I proceed to get all my photos back into the LR catalog and recover the old .lrcat that contains all my editing information?

I replaced my MacBook Pro's internal optical drive with a 1TB SSD drive. Did what "Searcher" said. Works great. When importing pics, I can now have a primary + backup without plugging in an external drive.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

peterg wrote:

I replaced my MacBook Pro's internal optical drive with a 1TB SSD drive. Did what "Searcher" said. Works great. When importing pics, I can now have a primary + backup without plugging in an external drive.

Now I can breathe again?

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Searcher wrote:

Now I can breathe again?

Almost!:hunf:

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

peterg wrote:

I replaced my MacBook Pro's internal optical drive with a 1TB SSD drive. Did what "Searcher" said. Works great. When importing pics, I can now have a primary + backup without plugging in an external drive.

I think it would still be a good idea to have an external hard drive with a total back-up.

That way, no matter what happens to your computer, you still have an external back-up.

Photoninny Loc: Monterey Bay Area

Searcher wrote:

Now I can breathe again?

Of Course!
Just wanted to comment that I will be in your "neck of the woods" - London - next week for 5 days. Do you have any suggestions for something I should not miss that is off the tourist track? I won't be doing any heavy-duty photo work. My lady hates it when I lag back and fiddle with my camera

:roll: