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Library module LR catalog on separate HDD will not work on 2 computers

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paridon.nilsson-telia

New Member
Premium Classic Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2019
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2
Lightroom Version Number
11.4.1
Operating System
  1. Windows 10
I have my pictures and the LR catalog on a separate HDD.
If I import the pictures to the HDD and into LR on my laptop everything works fine,
When I then connect the HDD to my desktop an opens LR from the catlog at the HDD, LR starts but then I get G´"greyed out" foldThis phenomen started earlir this summer, pictures imported earlier works well.
If I then try to relink the missing folder, instead of relinking the whole folder dissappears from LR although the folder still is on the HDD visible in Windows.

Solutions appreciated

/Claes-Ove
 
The problem is almost certainly caused by the fact that the external drive that contains the catalog and images likely has a different drive letter on each system. If you're going to switch the drive between two systems it's a good idea to make sure the drive letter is the same on both. You CAN simply re-link the photos to the different drive letter each time you switch systems, and that should work if you only relink the top parent folder (all sub-folders will then reconnect automatically). The folder that "disappeared from LR" when you relinked it to the different drive letter should still be in the catalog, but will appear under a separate drive in the Folders Panel....check for that, and if it's still not showing please post a screenshot of the Folders Panel.
 
Thank you VERY much for your quick and initiated answer!
It also solved some other minor issues that I have experienced.
Now everyting are up an running.

/Claes-Ove
 
As a matter of personal policy, I always allocate a drive letter to internal or external hard drives (with the exception of the C drive) to letters in the second half of the alphabet (ie M-Z). Where possible, I might use letters which might have some meaning.... Such as P for Photos, Q for backup of P (because P & Q make a logical pair), T for Thunderbolt Enclosure, N for Nas drive, etc.

When inserting USB style fob keys, Windows may allocate the next logical drive letter (eg say D or E) . If your external drive has a letter E and it is plugged in after the USB fob key then your normal letter E for your external drive may be allocated the next available letter F .... so Lr will be looking for your files on E and they are now on F.

By allocating drive letters much higher in the alphabet to your spinning (or ssd) drives, you minimise in a big way the possibility of such confusion.

Here is a link to Microsoft documentation on this
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/change-a-drive-letter

A google search will reveal lots more similar documentation, tutorials, etc..
 
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