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Changing to a new external hard drive from an existing one.

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Dave Mitchell

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Joined
Sep 6, 2011
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Lightroom Experience
Beginner
Lightroom Version Number
Lightroom Classic version: 10.4 [ 202108071231-af9219b9 ]
Operating System
  1. macOS 11 Big Sur
Hi folks,
I am hoping for some advice as to how to change my main Lightroom folder to a new external drive. I know that this should be straightforward but I have made some terrible mistakes in the past and am hoping that someone can walk me through the process. I have tried to follow tutorials online but my system seems to struggle.
My situation is as follows -
I am using Lightroom Classic ( CC )
I current have my main folder containing all my images on an external hard drive
My catalogue is stored on the computer in the Pictures folder ( I am using an iMac )
I have purchased a new LaCie desktop external drive and would like to use that for day to day use.
I would like to use the existing drive as a back up device only.
I have copied and pasted the entire existing drive to the new one, including the main Lightroom folder. The two drives should be identical.
I would then like to clone the two drives as a backup system when it is functioning correctly.

I have tried simply adding a new folder and pointing it to the new main folder on the new drive, but something just did not seem right so I cancelled that.
I could really use some expert advice so that I don't repeat the mistakes of the past ( don't even ask ) !!

I appreciate any help in advance.
Cheers,
Dave.
 
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If- Your new drive is an exact 'Clone' of the old drive, in folder structure AND Disk Name (D: E: F: etc), you should not need to do anything other than unplug the old drive and plug in the new drive. Then Lightroom should identify it as the 'same' drive and continue to operate normally.

You seem to have done the 'Move' as in the "Option-Two" of this article from Victoria- Have a read.
MOVING PHOTOS- 2 Methods

There is NO NEED to "add a new folder". You only need the 'cloned' folders in the same structure.
If LrC shows the folders as 'missing' -You simply re-link as per instructions in Step#4 in the OPTION-TWO instructions.
Do NOT IMPORT anything! NO IMPORTING.
 
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Rob_Cullen said:
If- Your new drive is an exact 'Clone' of the old drive, in folder structure AND Disk Name (D: E: F: etc), you should not need to do anything other than unplug the old drive and plug in the new drive. Then Lightroom should identify it as the 'same' drive and continue to operate normally…..
Click to expand...
There are no drive letters in MacOS. The user will need to name the new volume with the same name as the old volume, remove or rename the old volume and reboot.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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