How to move catalog AND photos

[DJdeRidder]

Short question, just to be sure I make no mistakes and don't lose any data. I want to move all my photos and my catalog from my old external HD to my new external HD. What is the safest way to do this?

Can I copy/paste the folders containing the photos, then copy/paste the catalog, open the new catalog, relocate the files and that's it?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Yep, that'll do it Dirk. Make it easier still - make sure the folders panel is in a hierarchy before you move, and then you'll only have to relocate the top level folder and it'll do the rest.

 

[DJdeRidder]

Thanks, that worked like a charm. I have it up and running already! Didn't even have to relocate anything, as the catalog remained in the same (hierarchical) position to the photos.

 

[Denis Pagé]

As it is done, I am little late but anyhow. For others wanting to do the same, Victorias' suggestion is fine but you can avoid relinking by copying everything from old drive to new and then, remove the old drive. Then go to Disk Management and assign to the new drive the letter the old drive has. Lightroom will see everything as before!

Here is seem that in Dirk's case, drive letters didn't need to be changed. But if it does, either use Victoria's trick or this one.