CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

REF help, it seems you'd benefit from some more training on LR. Try utube videos from Anthony Morganti. Or, simply google "best lightroom utube" and just click down the results list. They're free to watch so it's only your time spent trying to learn more and get your LR journey started. I'd skip paying for training until I'd exhausted my free options. Most everything about LR is non destructive so you can "undo" most every action internal to LR. Don't hesitate to experiment. However, Lightroom is very complex and the more training you have, the more efficient you'll be in understanding the fundamentally different ways in how the LR software operates.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

No where does he say that all his pictures are on the card.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

The same place it says they are not.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Nice non sequitur.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

This doesn't make sense. What's going to change by starting over? One of the main functions of Lightroom is to clean up that mess. That's what it was designed to do. Leave your files where they are and start to organize them within LR. Watch some tutorials and plunge into the wonderful world of folders and keywords and collections.
...Cam

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Yeah, that simplifies it. Unless you have some need to access your files through your computer's file structure, reorganizing them through Lightroom seems the best route to go.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

To start over just create a new catalog. Then import the images again. But you might want to do a little housekeeping before you import them. Simply put the images in folders that make sense to you. I usually put them in folders that have the date, and then a very brief description i.e. 2018 05 02 Bolsa Chica. After you do your housekeeping then import them.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Hey, I am not trying to compete with you! You are the master pompous ass ! All Praise traderjohn!!!

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

You can simply delete the entire file from your computer as long as you do not want to keep any changes you may have made. Just mark all of the files associated with the .lrcat file, which is normally one other file for the previews, and trash them. This does not trash your images, which are kept in their own separate file where ever you store them on your computer or external drives. If you have made changes to an image that you want to keep, which is does not sound like, you would need to take a different approach. Then create a new catalog and start over. Read the help manual, located by clicking on help at the top of the application. Do this prior to importing any new files and you will be saved a great deal of grief. More information would help out: for example, what is your current management system on your computer? Are all of your folders located within one main folder? What is your intent in using LR? Depending on these things and others there could be some different answers overall. However, if you just simply want to start over with a new catalog then do what I have said. Actually, you don't even need to delete if you don't mind leaving unused files on your computer, you can just start a new catalog and then start over. Your question, in spite of the answers about folders and files, is not about that, it is about the application itself. But, you might want to ensure that your folders are in order prior to starting up with LR if you do want organization.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

I think you have proven my point.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You have a weak grip on the nature proofs. You started the Ad Hominem attacks are are just upset that you were called on it. Perhaps you should get out of the kitchen and leave the thread alone.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

thanks everyone. there has been some great comments and i appreciate them all. i believe i am going to take chg van ON's advice and watch some training videos.