Organizer - Backup and Restore

[SunnyD]

A couple of questions about saving the tagging I've already done in the Organizer (PSE5).

1. If I re-install my Operating System from scratch and re-install PSE5 or PSE6, what would I need to save and restore to keep my current tagging intact? (Photos themselves are already on separate hard drive)

2. If I only want to uninstall PSE5 and install a fresh copy of PSE6, can I save my tagging work for import somehow into PSE6?

Thanks for any advice or pointers to info.

Scott

[dj_paige]

A couple of questions about saving the tagging I've already done in the Organizer (PSE5).

1. If I re-install my Operating System from scratch and re-install PSE5 or PSE6, what would I need to save and restore to keep my current tagging intact? (Photos themselves are already on separate hard drive)

2. If I only want to uninstall PSE5 and install a fresh copy of PSE6, can I save my tagging work for import somehow into PSE6?

1. Total reinstall of operating system: does this include formatting the hard disk where the operating system lives? You could use the Backup Catalog command (and later the Restore Catalog command), but I believe this backs up your catalog and all your photos, so it is time consuming. The advantage is that this method is foolproof, you don’t need to do anything about Windows to do this. If you have a little knowledge of finding and copying files in Windows, it is probably easier to copy the catalog (using Windows tools) to the other hard drive (making a note of exactly what folder you found it in); reinstall operating system and PSE, and then copy the catalog file from the other hard disk back to the exact same folder where it was originally. Your catalog is most likely named My Catalog.psa (although it could have a different name).

2. Uninstall PSE5 and install PSE6: I don’t have PSE6, but I’m quite sure that once PSE6 is up and running, it can import the catalog from PSE5 and convert it to PSE6 format. Someone else can identify what command is actually used, but there is little you have to do in this case. No need to copy files or move files here. Warning: Some people have reported that the PSE5 catalogs don't always import properly into PSE6, there are threads about this (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33287&highlight=catalog+convert).

[NickLewis]

Hi Scott,

Taking your second question first, if you install a copy of PSE6, it should convert your existing PSE5 catalog to PSE6 format as part of that process, leaving the existing catalog intact. Before you install PSE6, it would be prudent to ensure that you have no missing files in PSE5, and that you have run a File>Catalog>Recover operation to get your catalog in the best shape possible for the transfer. There are issues in making that transfer which are covered in this Adobe TechDoc (http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb402592&sliceId=2).

You don't need to uninstall PSE5 to install PSE 6, so personally I wouldn't until I'd established that PSE6 was in, up and running.

If you are reinstalling your operating system, and all your photos are elsewhere, then you should get your Organiser back up by copying the catalog file onto the new system. This is a .psa file, its name is on the PSE5 title bar, and by default it is located in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalogs. This is a hidden file, so viewing hidden files needs to be enabled. The Adobe recommended way is to use PSE's inbuilt backup and restore functions, as outlined here (http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=333522&sliceId=2) . I think you may need to ensure that you set up an identically named user id if you don't use Adobe's procedures.

Personally, I would separate the OS reinstall and the PSE version upgrade into two steps. PSE6 should pick up the "new" PSE5 catalog without trouble, but I'd just deal with one variable at a time.

If you upgrade to PSE6 before reinstalling the OS, then I would consider following the Adobe recommended route to transfer the catalog to the new OS, rather than copying the catalog (which has changed name, location and format BTW). This is because PSE6 does not use drive letters in file paths, but logical drive serial numbers. That serial number is regenerated on a reformat, so any reference to your OS drive would change (Your photos, on the separate drive should be OK, but I've no idea whether anything else would be affected.)


There are versions of the second document I referred you to for PSE6 as well, by the way.

Post back with any queries,
Nick

[SunnyD]

Thanks for the reply Paige. When I re-install the OS I will re-format the C drive and erase all the installed programs. Photos themselves are physically stored on a second separate hard disk.

Second question: If I were to uninstall PSE5 and then install PSE6 (not the OS re-install above) I wasn't sure the Organizer info from PSE5 would still be on the disk to retrieve. Nick has suggested that if I go this route that I leave PSE5 in place until PSE6 is up and running OK. That may be a good approach that I'll follow.

Thanks again.

Scott

[SunnyD]

Thanks for the info Nick.

Separating the OS re-install and the PSE5 to PSE6 upgrade does make sense.

Installing PSE6 before uninstalling PSE5 makes sense too with one concern. If there are common files used by both, sometimes uninstall routines aren't smart enough to sort that out for you and could remove a file needed by PSE6. I know that I could leave both in place and may need/want to do that.

My current catalog does appear to be "My Catalog.psa", thanks Paige.

Logical drive serial numbers, huh. That sounds like trouble looking for a spot to land. <g>

Thanks again.

Scott

[NickLewis]

Hi Scott,

I don't know the reason for the shift to logical drive serial numbers, but I suspect that Adobe were caught between a rock and a hard place. With the increasing use of EHDs, whose drive letters can change between uses if other devices are connected, people were encountering problems with all their photos becoming disconnected. Using drive serial numbers fixes that, but has thrown up a few interesting problems for people who have had two drives with identical numbers in their PCs - presumably because one was cloned from the other at some point. It will also be a problem for people who back up their catalogs and photo using external tools, not the PSE routines. Restore onto a newly formatted drive, and everything will be disconnected. Adobe obviously would say "well, we gave you the tools, if you paddled your own canoe, it's your own lookout!"

I understand your concern with the uninstall routine. I haven't uninstalled PSE5 yet, so can't assist. I haven't seen anyone here reporting PSE6 stopping working after a PSE5 uninstall though, which is some comfort.

Nick

[dj_paige]

Second question: If I were to uninstall PSE5 and then install PSE6 (not the OS re-install above) I wasn't sure the Organizer info from PSE5 would still be on the disk to retrieve. Nick has suggested that if I go this route that I leave PSE5 in place until PSE6 is up and running OK. That may be a good approach that I'll follow.

The catalogs for PSE5 and PSE6 are distinct and separate files. If you make a change to one, it does not show up in the other.

Also, uninstalling PSE5 (or uninstalling PSE6) leaves the catalog intact on your hard disk. Uninstalling does not touch your photos and it does not touch your catalogs (which contains tags, captions, map info, etc.)

[NickLewis]

The catalogs for PSE5 and PSE6 are distinct and separate files. If you make a change to one, it does not show up in the other.

Also, uninstalling PSE5 (or uninstalling PSE6) leaves the catalog intact on your hard disk. Uninstalling does not touch your photos and it does not touch your catalogs (which contains tags, captions, map info, etc.)Yes, I know that. But the reasons I suggested keeping PSE5 up were that, if you don't, then you'll have to reinstall if you need to:

a) check whether or not your catalog has converted correctly if there is any reason to doubt it

b) work with the PSE5 catalog if the conversion doesn't go properly.

A number of people have reported complete failures to convert, and I know my catalog has apparently converted but is not correct in at least one regard that I've identified. (Folder locations are not being reported correctly in Folder Location View, although they are elsewhere.)

As PSE5 & 6 will co-exist happily, I would just prefer to keep the working piece of software around until I'm happy that the new one is OK, that's all.

Nick

[SunnyD]

Thanks again to Nick and Paige for the help.

Scott