Moving photo collection from one drive to another
My collection has outgrown my 500GB drive, so I'll be moving it to my just-ordered 2TB drive. The question is, what is the best way of doing this, specifically recreating my Lightroom 4 catalog? I've googled, but found all sorts of bitty advice. I thought asking here would clear things up.
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
It's more the best way to recreate the Lightroom catalog really. I'm happy dragging everything across (I know it'll take ages), it's whether Lightroom will have a strop.
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ruggerbugger
It's more the best way to recreate the Lightroom catalog really. I'm happy dragging everything across (I know it'll take ages), it's whether Lightroom will have a strop.
You can swap the drive letters of the new drive to match the old (assuming its not c: )
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
I don't know on the Lightroom front, but when doing any sort of large amount of file copying - Teracopy.
No Windows install feels complete without it now :)
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Aye, as long as the drive letter and directory structure is the same Lightroom *should* see it as the same drive.
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
and another reason why LR sucks :)
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Well those of us without CS5 have to make do ;)
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mikerr
You can swap the drive letters of the new drive to match the old (assuming its not c: )
The old drive is C :)
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ruggerbugger
Well those of us without CS5 have to make do ;)
CS5? nah C1 ;)
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
In LR export as catalogue (to file). If you're reinstalling LR on the new setup do so now, set new catalogue location in preferences then file import as catalogue and select the file you just made.
Step by step instructions: http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1664584
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
I'm going to have to read that a few times before it sinks in. I have one question though. It seems as thought LR creates a new folder with the photos you want to move as part of the export process. Is this in addition to the folders that already exist on the source drive? If it is I don't have the space for that. What's stopping me just moving everything across to the new drive (not a new system) and pointing LR to the new folders?
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ruggerbugger
I'm going to have to read that a few times before it sinks in. I have one question though. It seems as thought LR creates a new folder with the photos you want to move as part of the export process. Is this in addition to the folders that already exist on the source drive? If it is I don't have the space for that. What's stopping me just moving everything across to the new drive (not a new system) and pointing LR to the new folders?
I was thinking you would export to the new hard drive. It's an alternative to moving your pictures separately - by moving them as a LR catalogue you get the original pictures and the catalogue meta data (all the changes you've made to them etc.). You could just move the photos and rebuild the LR catalogue - that also shouldn't lose the meta data. LR will complain a bit at you when it can't find the original locations of the photos but will offer the option to search for new location.
Re: Moving photo collection from one drive to another
You don't need to export the LR catalog, change drive letters or anything like that, LR is really good at this;
- Copy the files to their new location keeping the folder structure the same
- Make the old location unavailable
- Start the LR Catalog - the previews will load (from the catalog) but all the images will be marked as "offline or missing"
- Right click on the root folder of the photos on the list on the left
- Select "Find Missing Folder" and point it to the new root folder location
- LR will propagate the new location to all the subfolders and images
- Done
:)