reformat. how to reload lightroom database?

[bphillips330]

I reformated my computer and started over. I backed up my digital pictures folder to my backup drive. changed around drives after reboot. Instead of having my 500 gig drive be two partitions. I have one. after reinstall i recopied my digital pictures folder to my new c: (500 gig)

Reinstalled lightroom. 2 questions

1: how do i get lightroom to use the backed up database file i did right before format?

2: does it matter that my digital pictures folder is on drive c: because the same folder was on another drive letter. Does that screw up the database file since it is in a different location? Folder is identical. just different spot?


windows xp with lightroom 1.0

[EOSAddict]

Firstly get the upgrade to 1.1 NOW!

Just point LR to your latest database file (General Tab in Preferences in Edit Menu)

If it can't find your images it will show them in red in the folder list. Just click on one image from that folder and it will guide you to reconnect it then it will pickup all the images in that folder automatically.

[bphillips330]

ok I updated to 1.1. well it is still loading. before i did that. I copied the backed up database to another folder on the main drive off of my backup drive and linked to it. And yes it made all red folders.

How do i get lightroom to see these red folders still exist, just on another drive. I don't want to make a new library as all my edits that i had will not save and I will have to do them all over. PLEASE HELP!! :)

[EOSAddict]

In Library Module you will still have your previews... pick an image from a red folder... top RH corner of it's thumbnail in Library is a little symbol like a 35mm film frame.. click on it.. it will direct you to point the preview at the new location of the image. You should only need do this once for each folder as LR will pick up all the others in that folder automatically.


1.1 will also convert your lib file to a catalog (.lrcat) file.

[bphillips330]

is there an easier way to do this??? I have maybe 100 if not more folders it seems like! You would think there should be some sort of automated task for this since why back up the database if it is hard to use when folder gets moved.

[EOSAddict]

Answer is to move the folder from within LR... but I guess for a complete new install you can't do that.

[bphillips330]

I FIGURED IT OUT!!! much easier work around. instead of going folder by folder. In the folder window. Click on the parent folder (i have a 2007 folder, 2006 folder, etc...) then a browse for folder option comes up. then it finds all subfolders!! Much easier. thanks for the help.

[EOSAddict]

Yeah, that should work if you have images at the top of the folder tree.... :)