Replacing lightroom 5 files

[Sandyjas]

I'm sorry to drag out this question again, but I want to make sure. I found these replaceable Lightroom files on my iMAC (Mountain Lion 10.8.4). If something were to happen in the future to my catalog or hard drive, I don’t want to freak out. Could you affirm the exact files and folders I am to copy and to replace from archive...

/Applications/Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.app [Copy this to replace the application]

/Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Lightroom5.plist [Copy this file for Preferences]

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat [Copy this file for the catalog]

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata [Copy this file for
Preview cache]

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Backups/[date and time of backup]/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat
[Copy this file for a specific Catalog backup]

/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/[preset or template folder]/[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
[Copy the whole Lightroom folder or Copy just the subfolders ending with “Presets” or “Templates?” for Presets and Templates? I have not checked the “Store presets with this catalog” checkbox in Preferences.]



/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Camera Raw
[Copy the folder “Camera Raw,” or Copy all of the sub folders inside of it? For the Develop Defaults, Lens Defaults and Custom Point Curves.]

/Users/[user name]/Library/Caches/Adobe Camera Raw/
[Copy the folder “Adobe Camera Raw” or all the files in it? Or I really don’t need to copy any of this at all? For the Camera Raw Cache.]


Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Camera Raw/Camera Profiles/
[Copy the Folders “Camera Profiles?” & “Lens Profiles?” Or all files and folders inside these?


Thank You So Much For This Help, If something were to go wrong, I will be freaking, but this will help!
Thank You,

Sandy

 

[clee01l]

I'm sorry to drag out this question again, but I want to make sure. I found these replaceable Lightroom files on my iMAC (Mountain Lion 10.8.4). If something were to happen in the future to my catalog or hard drive, I don’t want to freak out. Could you affirm the exact files and folders I am to copy and to replace from archive...

/Applications/Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.app [Copy this to replace the application]

The latest version is available for download on the Adobe website

/Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Lightroom5.plist [Copy this file for Preferences]

It is re-creatable, but still a good file to back-up

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat [Copy this file for the catalog]

This is your catalog file it should never be backed up while LR is running. And there is little reason to back this file up if you are using the LR catalog backup and the Backup folder. If this field is backed up while you are using LR. it could get saved in an unstable (corrupted) state.

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Backups/[date and time of backup]/Lightroom 5 Catalog.lrcat
[Copy this file for a specific Catalog backup]

These are the most important files to have available when your HDD fails. I consider them more important than the active catalog file itself.

/Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom 5 Catalog Previews.lrdata [Copy this file for Preview cache]

Lightroom will automatically re build these previews and it is a waste of Backup time and space to make a backup copy.

/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/[preset or template folder]/[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
[Copy the whole Lightroom folder or Copy just the subfolders ending with “Presets” or “Templates?” for Presets and Templates? I have not checked the “Store presets with this catalog” checkbox in Preferences.]

Yes, copy the whole folder /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/ folder

/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Camera Raw
[Copy the folder “Camera Raw,” or Copy all of the sub folders inside of it? For the Develop Defaults, Lens Defaults and Custom Point Curves.]

No need to back up. This will get recreated when LR is re installed from the website.

/Users/[user name]/Library/Caches/Adobe Camera Raw/
[Copy the folder “Adobe Camera Raw” or all the files in it? Or I really don’t need to copy any of this at all? For the Camera Raw Cache.]

No need to backup. ACR wil re create this as needed

Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Camera Raw/Camera Profiles/
[Copy the Folders “Camera Profiles?” & “Lens Profiles?” Or all files and folders inside these?

These will be created when you reinstall the LR app from the Adobe site

Thank You So Much For This Help, If something were to go wrong, I will be freaking, but this will help!
Thank You,

Sandy

Missing from your list are your master copies of your image files. If you lose these then it does not matter if you have a backup catalog or not. The backup catalog contains no images only pointers to the original image file copies. If you use a system wide backup like Time Machine you won't need to worry. In fact, you might simply exclude the files and folders that I noted from TimeMachine to save space. I am doubly cautious. In addition to TimeMachine, I use CrashPlan for a backup in the cloud. You can count on the fact that your hard drive will fail. Fire, flood and other pestilence can wipe out all of your local files including any backup disks stored locally. Make plans for disaster. It can happen to anybody.

 

[Sandyjas]

Thank You So Much,
I'm not on the internet yet, but I have the Lightroom 5 optical disk. And I am using Time Machine! I left out my photos from the question. I do have a backup plan for them also. I have Victoria's Book Lightroom 4 FAQ. And the Knowledgebase at this site. Thank You for the help on this.

Sandy

 

[clee01l]

Your LR5.0 is quite out of date and should be updated to the latest release 5.7.1, These intermediate updates add new camera and fix bugs that were identified in earlier releases. To update to a decimal in the same version is free. LR5.4 or later gives you access to Lightroom Mobile on iPhones, iPads and now Android devices.