So dumb but hopefully a remedy

[sherwoodmaiden]

Lightroom Version

Lightroom 6

Operating System

1. macOS 11 Big Sur

I deleted my problematic LR6 off my external HD because I read to do that and just reinstall it. I have the 6 with the disk, come to find out is no longer possible. So I was able to get the program from an old back up on the other external HD I have but it was an old catalog. I thought I was backing up to the disk with the LR program on it but I guess I wasn't, it is the wrong HD Is all the latest information in the .lrcat even if I didn't back it up? If I find the lrcat I just deleted will it be the latest one or does it have to be a backup version? Sorry talking in circles, my mind is fried because of this. I have a Mac and it was a stand alone LR6. I was able to find a backup from 2021. But need my latest work.

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

Nothing on my HD and nothing newer than. 2019 on EHD.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

This thread got complicated fast. There seems to be 2 issues:

1. Lightroom 6 won't install on Big Sur.
2. You can't find your most recent catalog.

Where are you up to now? Did you get Lightroom 6 running? Is it just your catalog you're trying to find now?

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

This thread got complicated fast. There seems to be 2 issues:

1. Lightroom 6 won't install on Big Sur.
2. You can't find your most recent catalog.

Where are you up to now? Did you get Lightroom 6 running? Is it just your catalog you're trying to find now?

I did manage to get LR running and yes the catalog is no where to be found. Every one I find reverts to a brand new one.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

I'm guessing you've already tried a Spotlight search for LRCAT?

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

I'm guessing you've already tried a Spotlight search for LRCAT?

Sure have. Like I said everyone I find is a new one. No old cat to be found. As I had said earlier when I told it to backup not sure where that was happening. Can't find them anywhere.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

That’s so frustrating, sorry to hear that

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

That’s so frustrating, sorry to hear that

I. have tried everything. I could start over because I have all the photos but I am afraid I will run into problems down the road. I deleted because of the constant issues thinking I could just reinstall it. Doesn't work like that. I am thinking of just deleting all the LR stuff and find something else. I am just so used to t he cataloging not sure how else to do it. I think I could just upload to a folder in my pictures folders. Looks like I would have to do separate folders for every upload.

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

I. have tried everything. I could start over because I have all the photos but I am afraid I will run into problems down the road. I deleted because of the constant issues thinking I could just reinstall it. Doesn't work like that. I am thinking of just deleting all the LR stuff and find something else. I am just so used to t he cataloging not sure how else to do it. I think I could just upload to a folder in my pictures folders. Looks like I would have to do separate folders for every upload.

And my library that I did find has every single photo missing. When I try to re-link it shuts down.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

I am thinking of just deleting all the LR stuff and find something else. I am just so used to t he cataloging not sure how else to do it

That's probably throwing the baby out with the bathwater, since Lightroom wasn't the cause of the problem in the first place.

How old was that catalog that you found? Was it just the drive that's changed or have you rearranged all of your photos?

 

[sherwoodmaiden]

LR as the problem and still is. It just keeps crashing. It said it was a newer one but wouldn't open. Then I got it to open and it had some pic in it that were ALL missing. Over 1000. Can't link them, just shuts down. That is whole reason I deleted it. And it is still doing it. I am going to find something else that is less frustrating. I am afraid to start all over and have the same thing happen again.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

LR as the problem and still is. It just keeps crashing. It said it was a newer one but wouldn't open. Then I got it to open and it had some pic in it that were ALL missing. Over 1000. Can't link them, just shuts down. That is whole reason I deleted it. And it is still doing it. I am going to find something else that is less frustrating. I am afraid to start all over and have the same thing happen again.

Lightroom 6 is way out of date for Big Sur. Updating to Lightroom Classic is the simplest way to solve the issue of LR crashing, but I wonder if you're hitting the face detection crash, there are workarounds for that. https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/lightroom-classic/kb/crash-using-face-detection.html

 

[GregJ]

I strongly suggested not trying to reload that old version from disk and to subscribe to the program a week ago as a way ahead, and that is an easy fix and no-brainer. But the loss of the catalog is a disaster and I bet it is there somewhere on an external disk or buried in that old Adobe mess on her boot drive. I wish I could be on her rig for a few minutes and see if I could find it.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

I strongly suggested not trying to reload that old version from disk and to subscribe to the program a week ago as a way ahead, and that is an easy fix and no-brainer. But the loss of the catalog is a disaster and I bet it is there somewhere on an external disk or buried in that old Adobe mess on her boot drive. I wish I could be on her rig for a few minutes and see if I could find it.

It will be in her Time Machine backup, but it seems that among all the suggestions that were given to her, the most obvious way to retrieve the catalog keeps getting ignored.