Mark1948

Greetings all;

I've been using Lightroom for some time with raw files saved on a separate/portable 5TB HDD. Having recently installed a new internal 10TB HDD, I'd like to move my raw files to that location.

I am however concerned that if I have to re-import everything from into the new location, I may lose edits I've saved over the years.

Am I making up a problem that doesn't exist? If this is a problem, is there a solution?

Thanks all,

Richard Baker

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Richard,

You will create a problem if you re-import them. If not a problem, at least a mess.

To keep your edits intact, you move the files from within Lightroom Classic in the Library module. It is a grab and drag maneuver.

If it were me, I would do a few at a time until I get used to it. Then, do a larger batch.

Some will tell you to move them outside of Lightroom using Explorer in Windows or Finder on a Mac. It will be easier if you keep the folder structure. When you open Lightroom there will be question marks in your photos saying they are lost. With some mouse clicking you tell Lightroom where you put them and all will be fine.

Bill

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It's much easier to simply copy all the files from one HD to another completely external to LR. Just keep the same folder names and drive assignment when connecting the new equipment to your computer. LR will never know the difference.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

As long as you do everything from within Lightroom you won't lose anything. It's not the only way but it is definitely the easiest way.

Number one if your have Lightroom open and your left hand panel under the folders on the right hand side of "folders", there's a plus sign, click the plus sign you're going to add a new folder with your new drive plugged in select that drive select the folder if you have one and then it'll ask you to name that folder once you do that Lightroom will recognize that new drive.

Now all you have to do is click on the folders that you want to move and just drag them to that new drive and Lightroom will move them it will move everything it needs to move you won't lose anything.

If that sounds too hard let me know when I get back to my computer I'll do it with arrows showing you what to do pointed to what I did.

This video show to was the first is time consuming and not recommended as he will say.... The second is as I say....... It's not long.

https://youtu.be/BI1HGAZiYkI

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

If you can name the new 10tb drive the same drive letter as what the 5tb drive was....then you can do what CHG Canon suggested....just move the folders to the new drive. Your computer and LR will see the drive the same as it always did.

BUT if your 5tb drive letter was lets say "E" and your new 10TB drive letter is let's say "C"....you will need to do as the others suggested and move them from within LR.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If using Windows, you can manage the drives so the new equipment is always assigned the same drive letter. Detach the old 'E', connect the new HD and tell windows to always assign 'E' (in this example) to the new drive. There's more ways to address this issue, including similar resolutions for Mac, just ask for help, if needed.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

I wasn't sure if the new 10tb drive was an additional drive or the main internal "C" drive..that will determine how/if he can rename them.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

If you have turned on "Write metadata changes to xmp" you will likely lose nothing more than the previews in the catalog if you have to re-import your images.

You can always just copy all of your images to the new drive, change the name of the top level folder by appending .old which will prevent LR from finding the folder, open Lightroom, which will try to find the missing images, and you just right click on the top level folder in Library, Folder View, Update Location, point it to the folder on the new drive and it and your new location will be updated in the catalog. If something goes wrong, you can always open the folder on your 5 T drive, and rename it to the old name without .old appended to it.

There is some considerable mythology about moving images outside of LR. I do it all the time, and have never lost a single file. It does require that you are organized, and comfortable with copying files from one drive to another, renaming folders, etc. It is much faster than moving things inside LR.

Just keep in mind that LR will not lose anything. But it will not find files that you move outside of LR if you don't let LR know that you've made changes by updating all folders that have been changed.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I see I missed the relevant 'internal' aspect of the new drive. As Gene noted, after copying the RAW files to the new drive, you just need to go inside LR and update the location of the 'parent' folder for all the image files to now be on the C:, changing from the old letter while maintaining the same folder structure and names as existed before.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

If "E" drive letter was assigned by you, even automatically... and after unplugging it doesn't mean E will be available for the new drive...even if you try renaming E to something that is available doesn't mean E will return as an available drive letter. You may need to go into registry to resolve the issue. To much to type and explain how to so, below is a link for you to follow. (BTW, back up your registry before messing with it).

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmanager/drive-letter-is-missing-in-windows.html
Scroll down to the section "Drive Letter Missing from the List of Available Drive Letters"

jerseymike

I'm thinking perhaps the way you now have it is not such a bad idea.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

That is what I did when I consolidated drives.

wireloose

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/find-move-rename-catalog/
It’s an excellent site for lightroom questions

Traveller_Jeff

[quote=Mark1948]Greetings all;

I've been using Lightroom for some time with raw files saved on a separate/portable 5TB HDD. Having recently installed a new internal 10TB HDD, I'd like to move my raw files to that location.

........

Once you have transferred all your data and then have presumably added many more images, will you have another 10TB drive as your backup to protect against failure if your current 10TB fails? You'll still have your original 5TB around, but how do you plan to protect your future photos?

My suggestion: Back up new photos to a second EHD (at least 5TB) after you've loaded them onto the 10.

Best,

Jeff

jcboy3

Your raw files should all be under one parent folder on your 5TB HDD. I would make sure that is the case first. Then copy the parent folder from the 5TB to the 10TB. Then go to Lightroom and in the folders pain select a raw folder and alt(opt)-click to select the option "Show Parent Folder". Repeat until you get to the parent folder for all of your raw images. Then alt(opt)-click that folder to select the option "Update Folder Location...". Navigate to the copied location on the 10TB and select the parent folder there.

Before deleting your parent folder from the 5TB drive, just move it to another location. Then have lightroom find missing photos (Select Library -> Find All Missing Photos). If it says you have any, then you have to chase them down and get them to your 10TB drive. After that, you can delete the folder from the 5TB drive.