Hard Drive crashed! Can I re-install?

[kgilby]

The hard drive on my desktop crashed and all attempts at saving any data were unsuccessful. I finally had to re-install the OS (XP Pro) and am still in the process of adding drivers, etc. I had been using an external drive more recently for storage, but honestly don't remember if I changed my LR catalog to save there - I'll have to wait until the computer is up and running to see what's there.
Once I get the computer up and running again, how can I re-install LR, and then determine if I have an existing catalog on the external drive?
Thanks for any help.
Ken

PS I would also appreciate anyone pointing me in the direction of the procedure on how to perform regular backups to avoid any chance of losing valuable images in the future.

 

[kgilby]

Anyone?

I want to be sure I do it right this time around.

 

[Brad Snyder]

You can just reinstall the application. All you'll need is your serial number, and a fresh download of the latest trial version from Adobe's website. No need to start with a old disk, and then upgrade, etc. Lr is always distributed in full working versions.
The current commercial release 2.5 version is here: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/family/prosolutions/?sdid=EPIHJ
and the release candidate (not yet an official upgrade, but very stable) 2.6 is available here: http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/Lightroom_2.6

In the meantime, you should be searching through whatever files you were able to salvage, for files of type *.lrcat. (That's spelled LRCAT)

*.lrcat files are the actual Lr database catalog files, where your Lightroom work is stored. You should have one of these for every catalog you created. In addition, Lr's internal start-up backup system will save ordinary *.lrcat files as its backup mechanism, typically in date organized folders.

In addition to the lrcat file(s) you will obviously need to find your original image files as well. It will be extremely helpful if they remain organized in whatever folder tree structure they were in when Lr was last working.

If you 'Saved Metadata', which is an optional Lr data storage/sharing mechanism, you may be OK even if you can't recover your catalog files. If that's the case, or if you're not sure, just ask, and we can fill in the details there.

 

[kgilby]

Thanks Brad...

Very helpful instructions. Once I get the new drive in I will see if there's any way to access the old one to salvage data. That new drive should be here tomorrow.
Ken

 

[Brad Snyder]

Well, good luck. Somebody's here around the time zones, so logon whenever.

 

[kgilby]

HD probably DEAD, suggestions for data recovery?

Well, the new HD is installed and working fine. But the old drive keeps causing a Blue Screen of Death when I attempt to connect it either internally as a slave or externally using a USB cable setup.
Can anyone suggest a reputable data recovery service? I am certainly game to continue trying to access the drive, but I think the odds of doing more harm are a real possibility.

Also, I do have several folders on an external drive that contain some of my images. There are actually 4 .lrcat files in 4 different folders. Is there any way to combine all of these into one catalog?
If I can eventually get all this cr*p straightened out, I will become an expert at backing up my data!

Thanks.
Ken

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Ken, that you have some files available is wonderful, think of what it would be like if you didn't!!Now open the last dated lrcat file then choose import from catalog and import from the others. The import settings are pretty obvious but you don't want to update the latest catalog with settings from the older ones, only bring in extra files.

 

[kgilby]

Geoff,
Can you describe the procedure once more, but giving a more specific instruction on the particulars? I'm not clear on step 1, 2, 3, etc. I'd appreciate the extra keystroke steps.
Ken

 

[Kiwigeoff]

Find the most recent dated catalog (lrcat file) - double click to open that.Then in the File Menu choose import from catalog.Select the next most recent catalog. Make sure that you have Add Photos in the New Photos dialog and Replace: Nothing in the Existing photos dialog.Then continue to do that with the other catalogs and you will have one with all the contents of the others. Then remove all but the one you are using!! Back up first and after!!

 

[kgilby]

Thanks Geoff! I sent the old hard drive off to see if any data can be recovered, so I will probably wait on the catalog importing until I know if the rest of my data is still usable. Assuming the data is able to be recovered, and that it won't cost more than a couple hundred dollars (which is a lot, but would be worth it to get the content back), I will then need to learn how to do regular backups properly. Any suggestions on how that should be done? Are the Kelby Lightroom lessons a good resource?
Thanks again for your help,
Ken