Re: How to save LR when reinstalling Windows OS?

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maiaibing

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How to save LR when reinstalling Windows OS?

Planning to upgrade from XP to Win7 and need to be sure to do the LR upgrade the "right" way, so that my massive LR negatives, tags, keywords etc. are not lost.

When going to Win7 I have to make a complete reinstall of all programmes. I have all my photo files on two other hard drives (d: / e:) than the Windows OS which is on (c:) - so I would prefer to just let them stay in place if possible. However, I will need to reformat my c:\-drive for the Win7-installation and I am afraid that there is a lot of LR info there that will be lost. Can this be copied safely and imported succesfully when LR is reinstalled on Win7? :'(

What is the best (= safest) way to proceed?

Thanks for any help.
 
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The best way is slowly.

Backup C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAMEApplication Data\ - ie all that directory's contents. LR presets are in there.

Where is your Lightroom catalogue? It's an lrcat file. Find it, and look at the file modified date to make sure you're found the right one. Back that up, and the neighbouring previews file.

John
 
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:eek: I am going to have to set some time aside for this.

Methinks, it may be best to take an early full backup copy some days in advance (it will take many, many hours...) and backup any remaining late pictures during the transition itself. :icon_idea:

Thank you for the link!
 
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[quote author=maiaibing link=topic=7551.msg51737#msg51737 date=125'456835]
:eek: I am going to have to set some time aside for this.

Methinks, it may be best to take an early full backup copy some days in advance (it will take many, many hours...) and backup any remaining late pictures during the transition itself. :icon_idea:

Thank you for the link!
[/quote]I do not understand the requirement of reformatting your HD and reinstalling applications. Going to Win7 does not make this a necessity. Life will be much easier if you just Install Win 7 over the old OS.
 
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If all your editing and keyworks are saved to an xmp file (RAW) then the process should not be painful. The presets etc are easily backed up.
 
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[quote author=MarkNicholas link=topic=7551.msg51752#msg51752 date=125'469261]
If all your editing and keyworks are saved to an xmp file (RAW) then the process should be fairly painful. The presets etc are easily backed up.
[/quote]Come on now, upgrading Windows is not that bad ;)
 
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[quote author=clee'1l link=topic=7551.msg51756#msg51756 date=125'472642]
[quote author=MarkNicholas link=topic=7551.msg51752#msg51752 date=125'469261]
If all your editing and keyworks are saved to an xmp file (RAW) then the process should be fairly painful. The presets etc are easily backed up.
[/quote]Come on now, upgrading Windows is not that bad ;)
[/quote]

Ooops. meant to say should not be painful.
 
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[quote author=clee'1] I do not understand the requirement of reformatting your HD and reinstalling applications. Going to Win7 does not make this a necessity. Life will be much easier if you just Install Win 7 over the old OS.
[/quote]

I do not believe that you can install Win7 over XP. I think that a clean install is required.

--Ken
 
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[quote author=clee'1l link=topic=7551.msg51748#msg51748 date=125'4655'5]
I do not understand the requirement of reformatting your HD and reinstalling applications. Going to Win7 does not make this a necessity. Life will be much easier if you just Install Win 7 over the old OS.
[/quote]

I have never had this type of install/upgrade work well. It always ends up getting something wrong and besides, it's good to have a clean out every now and then.
 
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