Best method to move images to external HD?

[ChrisC]

My digital photo collection is rapidly growing too big to sit on the internal HD in my laptop. I have an external HD that I'm planning to move a fair number to. I've been investigating the different options available to me in PSE5 and wonder if anyone has any comments?

Requirements:
- Move images from one internal HD to external HD
- Would like to preserve existing MS-Windows folder structure (ie. photos stored in folders named by date) when moving hundreds of photos based in multiple folders.
- The external HD is not always going to be connected to the laptop
- Would like to keep a fair number of photos on the internal HD, as a screen saver runs on the laptop that displays these photos - which keeps the wife happy.

Options Investigated:
1. File->Move
(-ve) This moves the photos but looses the original folder structure. (-ve) If the external HD is not connected and a photo is selected on this drive, PSE5 automatically searches for this "missing file". This holds up any general browsing of photos.

2. File->Copy/Move Offline
(-ve) This moves photos but looses the original folder structure again.
(+ve) If the external HD is not connection and a photo on this drive is selected, PSE5 prompts for the HD to be attached.
(+ve) A proxy image is held by PSE5, so images can still be viewed, tagged, etc. with the annoying "missing file" dialog.
(-ve) If you try to edit an "offline" image, PSE5 makes an "online" copy of the image on the internal HD. After editing you then have to remember to move it back "offline".

3. Move the files using the PSE5 "Folder Location Tree"
(+ve) Moves photos and maintains their original folder structure
(-ve) As (1), you get the "missing file" annoyance if the external HD is not connected.

4. Move the files through MS-Windows File Explorer
Same as (3) but looses the linkage to these photos and they need to be relinked

Conclusion:
I guess what I'm looking for is a hybrid of 1, 2 & 3. Something that would move folders to the external HD and maybe appear in PSE5 with a special icon (like when moving offline) and maintain a proxy file for general viewing. When editing an externally held photo PSE5 would prompt for the drive to be attached if it wasn't already.
Ideally also be able to move by folder not just file - oh, and be able to use the proxy files for the screen saver too.

Too much to ask or am I missing something fundamental in PSE? Can't believe that I'm the only one with similar requirements. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, they would be gratefully received!

[dj_paige]

I don't think there is a solution to give you all of the things you want. I think if you have to have the external HD disconnected at certain times, then you are stuck with the problems you described.

Which brings me to a possible alternative ... why move your photos to the external HD? Perhaps you could move other stuff (non-photo related) to the external HD and leave the photos where they are?

[Joe M]

I use SyncBackSE to move files to my External Drive and it works great.

They have a free trial.

[Karin Sue]

This is based on reading of other posts and books, not personal experience.

Go to preferences and set your proxy file size to your monitor size.

Clean up your database with File>Catalog>Recover, File>Reconnect all missing files, followed by another File>Catalog>Recover.

In folder view, use File>Move Offline to move one folder at a time, setting up a matching set of folders on the ehd to move them to.

As far as the screen saver goes, I would do a file>export to a special screensaver folder in My Pictures, resizing them to the resolution of the monitor and use this with the Windows screensaver. You might want to create a screensaver tag if you want to keep track within Organizer of which pictures you've used.

Let me know if this works. I am going to be moving up to 5 after I add memory to my laptop. My photos are all on a small portable ehd that is always connected.

[suensam]

You are describing exactly what I want to do----work with my photos from and external hard drive. My photos are all on my pc hard drive, though. Can I move them to an external drive and if so, how do I do it? I want to be able to connect it to whichever computer (pc or lap top) I am using and edit, organize, ect.
Thanks
Sue

[johnrellis]

See my reply in the other thread:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27336