Lightroom Catalog File Reset Itself

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junbug1975

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Hi,

Thanks for any insight into this in advance.

1. Opened LR on my laptop WITHOUT my external hard drive (has actual photo files) attached. Looked at a thumbnail and closed it.

2. I open LR a couple of days later with the external ATTACHED. I import in some new photos from my camera.

3. Startup LR the next day and realize my collections, library, etc. are all gone but the photos I imported from the day before are still there. Looks like my library/catalog reset it self.

4. Look for my backup files (I have it set to backup every time I open LR) can't find a catalog for this year. Strange. I searched every drive I have. Nothing exists for 2''9.

5. I bit the bullet and just reimported all my data and am taking this as either my fault or some kind of file corruption.

Anybody else with this problem? If LR doesn't see a drive does it just reset it self to a default state?

Thanks again for any insight!
 
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Hi Junbug, welcome to the forum!

Where's your catalog usually stored? Initial thought would be that your usual catalog is stored somewhere other than standard, the preferences file became corrupted between steps 1 and 2 and it's now looking in the default location for the catalog, hence everything being missing. I'd do a search for *.lrcat files - I'd guess you'll probably find your 'normal' catalog somewhere else, and then we can help you merge the new photos into it.
 
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junbug, welcome. No, in fact, Lr is designed to work 'semi-effectively' without the files. Thati is, you can do administrative things with them, keywording, tagging, rating, etc. But you can't actually adjust the images.

One quick thing to check, it's pretty easy to get a teensy bit confused and accidentally open a new catalog, and Lr is very 'in your face' about reminding you about previously existing catalogs. Try opening Lr, and then File > Open Recent, which will give you a list to choose from, of recently opened catalog. See if you have an extra/mystery catalog there.

If you think you'll be participating frequently, it's helpful to readers and contributors alike, if you build a signature block with pertinent computer and software specs. Camera and personal stuff (maybe a preferred name?) too if you like. Click 'User CP' at top right of forum.
 
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Hey Victoria and Brad,

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the late thanks!

To be honest I'm not sure what happened. I searched all my drives for other .ircat files but nothing. Again, just .ircat files from a year ago! I have no idea where my other current backups went. I assume they disappeared with my main .ircat file.

Oh well, I'm in now in the process of rebuilding my catalog and will make sure my backup .ircat file is going somewhere obvious.

Maybe something to do with my user/pictures folder?

Anyway, thanks again!!!
 
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