Help - Lightroom 2 Folders/Images Gone!!

jeniveeev

jeniveeev

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Hi - bit of a panic on here, somehow ive managed to reset lightroom by clicking on a default button when i opened LR. i now have no folders, images, presets etc. When i click on "open recent" (in file menue) there is only a file called "lrcat" but its empty when i click on it. its like a fresh new version of LR when i open up (as if never used). Also, when i open LR i no longer see the box with options to "back up, skip, etc"!! can anyone help with this please? thanks in advance (again!!). J:|
 
By default Lightroom backs up your catalogues every week. You just need to find the location of your current catalogue or backup catalogue and open that.

Have you tried File, Open Recent, and the catalogues in that?

Otherwise open Explorer and search your computer for *.lrcat
 
You'll find your catalog location in Edit-Catalog Settings. Browse there, then go to File-Import Catalog.
 
Guys - thanks so so much! its working in catalogue settings and theyre importing now!! I was starting to sweat! cheers again.
 
It takes a moment of panic like this to kickstart one in to considering backup options and actually doing something about it, before you are reduced to shock, tears maybe, whilst thinking "I wish I'd......".

So.......just do it.
 
Absolutely... as a tog, please please do make sure you have some form of backup plan in place.
 
Thanks again you guys - very helpfull on this forum, as always.
Musicman - i tried the lightroomforum with the same question last night and they didnt have an answer, so my next choice was here. the answer came within 5 mins! im thinking i might need to use an external hard drive for additional back up - would you recommend this?
 
Well, it all depends on how much you want backed up, the frequency, the OS you use etc.

I have a Mac, and use the built-in time-machine backup every day, I also backup my Lightroom library every week, I also keep copies of selected files on DVD.

My image process is:

Load images from CF onto Macbook. Change CF card so raw files are still on CF card I use 4 CF 4GB cards in rotation). I keep three months worth of images on my Macbook, then every month I move the folder on my Macbook that is 3 months old, onto an external drive.

Several levels of backup in this process and it works well for me.
 
thanks musicman - im not mac user but i read in lightroom book that i should consider an external drive for extra measure! i dont have a huge workflow but its increasing and now that im doing stuff for others im wondering if i should consider this. particularly after last nights wee drama! lol.
 
jeniveeev said:
Thanks again you guys - very helpfull on this forum, as always.
Musicman - i tried the lightroomforum with the same question last night and they didnt have an answer, so my next choice was here. the answer came within 5 mins! im thinking i might need to use an external hard drive for additional back up - would you recommend this?
Click to expand...

Definitely get an external HD and set it up to backup (say) once a week. Use something like Microsoft's free synctoy which you can schedule in Windows for a weekly backup. Also consider backing up your Lightroom catalog externally to something like Mozy who will give you 2GB free. I once lost months of work when my computer died, so I'm a tad paranoid about losing stuff again - believe me, you don't wanna do that...:)
 
ok aberal - ive added this to the list. when i read about this in the book then checked out external HD's they were expensive (£200 from PC World). il get cracking once i get some images processed.
 
You'll get a lot cheaper than that. A decent sized HD can be had from Amazon for about 50 quid.
 
i got a terabyte for £100 18 months ago and the software i have backs up each file as its changed or added, its great and i dont have to even remember to backup :)
 
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