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Moving to new computer / Catalog question

Sep 4, 2012 9:25 AM

Tags: #organizer #windows_7 #photoshop_elements_8

I have a WinXP machine with Adobe PSE8. I purchased a Win7 machine.

 

I ran the "Windows Easy Transfer" program and it moved the vast majority of my files over to the new computer. It (mostly) maintained file structure ... I say "mostly" because, of course, Win7 puts the pictures under "C:\Users\myname\Pictures" while XP uses "C:\Documents and Settings\myname\My Documents\My Pictures".

 

Now, I've gotten around to installing PSE8 on the new machine ... and, of course, there are no photo tags.

 

(I'm thinking I should have thought this through a little better!)

 

I know I can do a catalog backup in PSE8 on to an external drive and restore it on to the new machine, but all the pictures are already on the new machine and I fear having to sit there and hit "ok to replace" for every single photo! (assuming it would do that)

 

I assume the backup backs up the photos along with the tags .... is there any way to just get the tags?

 

Should I delete the pictures on the new machine (it makes my skin crawl just thinking about deleting 8 years of pictures!) and then do the backup and restore?

 

Where do I go from here?

Thanks!

Susie

461 Views   8 Replies   Latest reply: dj_paige, Sep 4, 2012 3:06 PM
 
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  • MichelBParis
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    1. MichelBParis,
    Sep 4, 2012 9:36 AM   in reply to Catsnkites
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    It will be much easier to use the backup/restore procedure than trying to reconnect all your pictures.

    In the restore dialog, simply state a new catalog location ('custom' location) such as a new sub-folder in Pictures.

    Your catalog (which contains the tags) will be restored and converted to the PSE10 version as well.

    http://www.johnrellis.com/psedbtool/photoshop-elements-faq.htm#_Move_y our_photos_1

     

    The backup and restore can take a long time if it is a very big catalog, but you won't have to watch the process...

    If everything goes well, you'll be able to delete the copy of the media files previously made by  the Windows Easy Transfer.

     
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  • dj_paige
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    2. dj_paige,
    Sep 4, 2012 9:34 AM   in reply to Catsnkites
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    I know I can do a catalog backup in PSE8 on to an external drive and restore it on to the new machine, but all the pictures are already on the new machine and I fear having to sit there and hit "ok to replace" for every single photo! (assuming it would do that)

    I'm pretty sure this is the only way to get things to work (or if its not the only way, it certainly is the one that almost surely will succeed)

     

    When you do the restore on the new machine, you have to choose a new folder for the photos, since the previous photo location doesn't exist. If you pick the location where the photos already exist, it should overwrite the photos. I have no idea what your "fear" is about this. You have copies of the photo on your old computer and another set of copies from the backup you just made.

     

    I assume the backup backs up the photos along with the tags .... is there any way to just get the tags?

    The backup from within PSE backs up your catalog file and the photos. The tags are in the catalog file. There is no way to get only the tags, you must do the complete backup and restore.

     
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  • Catsnkites
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    3. Catsnkites,
    Sep 4, 2012 9:43 AM   in reply to dj_paige
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    My "fear" was being tied to the computer having to click "yes" for every picture .... ick.

     

    OK, so I'll backup from the old computer to an external drive .... and then delete my photos from the new computer and then restore them from the external drive .... right?

     

    Thanks!

     
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  • Catsnkites
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    4. Catsnkites,
    Sep 4, 2012 10:32 AM   in reply to Catsnkites
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    WAIT! One more small (hee hee) detail .....

     

    I am behind on importing pictures into PSE .... I have them on the hard drive, just not tagged in PSE8

     

    So, those pictures got copied over with Windows Easy Transfer. But they would not be included in a PSE backup ... right?

     

    What would be the best way to handle that? bring them into PSE and tag them (seriously, I'm like a year behind!) .... or go ahead and backup/restore the PSE stuff and then manually bring in the "newer" items?

     
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  • dj_paige
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    5. dj_paige,
    Sep 4, 2012 11:16 AM   in reply to Catsnkites
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    My "fear" was being tied to the computer having to click "yes" for every picture .... ick.

    You should not have to click YES for every picture.

     

    I am behind on importing pictures into PSE .... I have them on the hard drive, just not tagged in PSE8

     

    So, those pictures got copied over with Windows Easy Transfer. But they would not be included in a PSE backup ... right?

    If they have not been imported into PSE, then they are not included in a PSE backup.

    What would be the best way to handle that? bring them into PSE and tag them (seriously, I'm like a year behind!) .... or go ahead and backup/restore the PSE stuff and then manually bring in the "newer" items?

    As I have never tried this with a year of photos not imported into PSE, I have no idea what the BEST way to do this is. However, it seems to me that a good way to do this is, on the old computer, just import the photos into PSE (you can tag them later), then do the backup. This will ensure that the backup has ALL of your photos, and ALL will be transferred to the new computer's PSE Organizer.

     
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  • MichelBParis
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    6. MichelBParis,
    Sep 4, 2012 11:21 AM   in reply to dj_paige
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    dj_paige wrote:

    As I have never tried this with a year of photos not imported into PSE, I have no idea what the BEST way to do this is. However, it seems to me that a good way to do this is, on the old computer, just import the photos into PSE (you can tag them later), then do the backup. This will ensure that the backup has ALL of your photos, and ALL will be transferred to the new computer's PSE Organizer.

    Totally agree... Simple and you get a single full backup.

     
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  • photodrawken
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    7. photodrawken,
    Sep 4, 2012 2:35 PM   in reply to Catsnkites
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    Catsnkites wrote:

     

    is there any way to just get the tags?

    Sure.  Just copy the entire PSE catalog directory from your old machine to a convenient location on your new machine.  Then use the Organizer on your new machine:  File...Catalog to open the Catalog Manager.  In the Catalog Manager window, use "Custom Location" and the "Browse" button to point to your catalog's directory.

     

    Your catalog will show all the photos with a "broken link" icon.  So, use File...Reconnect...All Missing Files and hit the "Browse" button on the reconnection window to browse to the parent directory of where your files are stored.  Then resume the reconnection, going out to a dinner and a movie while the reconnection process does its thing.

     

    Your new photos will obviously then need to be imported into the catalog.

     

    Ken

     
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  • dj_paige
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    8. dj_paige,
    Sep 4, 2012 3:06 PM   in reply to photodrawken
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    So, use File...Reconnect...All Missing Files and hit the "Browse" button on the reconnection window to browse to the parent directory of where your files are stored.

    It is well documented that File->Reconnect doesn't work anywhere near 100% of the time ... might work, might not

     
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