what LR files need to be saved? where are they?

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azpix

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my hD is failing and today i am pulling what i can off them and putting it on new Hard drives.

DO i just need to save my Lrcat file?
is the lrcat the catalog?
in the files below, are the items that say 2 catalog-2 because of LR 2.2 or is that a second catalog?

Is there a way to make LR save all my catalog data to my main HD then also to a second HD or do I need to do it manually?

Below is my a screen shot data: would there be anything else i need to pull?

lrlr.jpg
 
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azpix, there are numerous things to save:

1. Copy all of the *.lrcat files to safety. If Lr is currently closed, you can delete the *.lock file. Ignore the *.lrdata folders. From your directory, it looks as if you have two LR2.x catalogs and a LR1.x catalog. You can tell more from the dates, and filesizes. If you didn't deliberately create two Lr 2.x catalogs, perhaps you upgraded the LR1.x catalog twice, or something like that. Your 'Most Recently Used' in the LR File > Open Recent>, will help you figure that out as well.

2. If your image files are on the failing drive, copy all of them to safety as well. Do your best to preserve the folder structure 'as-is'.

3. Look for c:\Documents and Settings\The Pickle Factory\Application Data\Adobe\Lightroom, and copy the entire folder to safety. This contains your preferences, presets, templates, etc. Note, by default on Windows, this folder tree is 'hidden'. You may have to Windows Control Panel > Folder Options, to enable showing hidden folders/files. (Note, have a look thru this folder tree, for data for other applications as well; if your drive is failing, you may want to save some more stuff, too.)

I believe this will salvage almost everything important associated with Lr.
 
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it looks like the 2 catalog-2.lrcat is my catalog the other 2 catalog is smaller and contains the same but many fewer photos. i must have made a duplicate along the way.
 
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brad,

what exactly is in the backup file? and in the LR DATA file?

I am surprised how big they are, 2.5GBs and 6GBs.. it there a way to minimize this?
 
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azpix said:
one more?
in the backups follder there seems to be multiple folders by date. Do i just need to keep the most current date?
Click to expand...

I keep two.
They are not self removing !!!!:cheesy::cheesy:
 
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Before you go deleting backups, just double click on the last one to make sure it's not corrupted! You'd kick yourself if you deleted all your backups and then found the ones you'd kept were corrupted - I've heard of it happen!
 
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The backup file is just a literal copy of the catalog database file. No magic, etc.
Management thereof, as Geoff and VB recommend....

The *.lrdata folders contain cached preview images which expedite various viewing/navigation operations in Library module. These are/can be regenerated on the fly, and while their absence will create a temporary performance issue, they are expendable. You can decrease the size by limiting your use of 1:1 previews, and adjusting their retention times in preferences. It'll probably stay larger than you want, anyway tho' :)
 
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thanks all, it looks like i have LR back and up on the new system.

new ?, can i take those files we discussed above, and can i move them from my c: partition on my Hard drive to my d partition? if so, how do i do it so LR finds them?
 
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azpix said:
thanks all, it looks like i have LR back and up on the new system.

new ?, can i take those files we discussed above, and can i move them from my c: partition on my Hard drive to my d partition? if so, how do i do it so LR finds them?
Click to expand...

Just move them where you would like them to be, though the default/recommended is in a Lightroom folder in My Pictures.
Then just double click the .lrcat file and LR will open from it.
 
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I always hated the My Pictures folder with a vengeance... cluttering up my boot drive!!! So yeah, moving to D partition is a good plan, and as Geoff said, very easily accomplished. Obviously the presets and preferences have to stay on C, otherwise LR won't know where to find them.

Don't forget that when LR reopens in the new location, it won't know where to find the images - it'll just be a case of relocating them.
 
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