All my pics have disappeared from the Organiser

[cliveg]

I posted this query last week and got a few replies, none of which solved the problem. Here's how it all started. I had just downloaded some pics from my CF card (maybe a dozen or so) When the organiser opened my pics from the CF download were there but all the others (7000+) were not showing. About 20 other items remained in the organiser which were all either slideshow creations or a few WMV clips. Now when I click on any of my tags it just tells me there is nothing to show. I then went to the 'My Pictures' file and all pics are intact. I tried to retrieve a random picture to open in Elements and the dialogue came up 'this file already exists. Do I need to do a complete restore from my backup files??

[johnrellis]

For future reference, the previous thread is here:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40058

[johnrellis]

In the Organizer, do View > Media Types and make sure all the types are selected.

[cliveg]

Yeah, I've already checked those, still nothing.

[beecharmer]

Is it the thumbnail photos that are missing? If so, I had the same problem and found the fix, which I'm glad to share, if this sounds like your problem. Let me know if this works for you:

On "my computer" go to:

C Disk/documents & settings/all users/ application data/ Adobe/ catalog folders/ my catalog/ Thumb.5.cache

delete the file "Thumb.5.cache"

This will not delete your photo files. next time you launch Adobe Photoshop 5, it will automatically rebuild the thumbnail file.

I found this on the Adobe site forum last year and it ended alot of hours of frustration and fear that my photos had been deleted. No problems since then.

Beecharmer

[cliveg]

Thankyou for that Beecharmer. I'll give it a try and let you know how I get on.

Clive

[cliveg]

Cannot find 'application data' under 'all users' or 'user'. I've tried to find this before without success??

[dj_paige]

Application Data is a hidden folder. You have to unhide it. In Windows Explorer, Tools->Folder Options->View and then make sure you have selected Show Hidden Files and Folders

[cliveg]

Thanks for that Paige. I found it, but only got as far as 'My Catalogue'. When I click on that it just goes to Backup.tly.

[cliveg]

Finally managed to delete 'Thumbs.5.cache' and relaunched Elements 5....nothing. Helllllllllp !!!

[cliveg]

I really thought 'Beecharmer' had solved my problem. I tried his 'fix' but it made no difference. Still no thumbnails in Organiser. Any suggestions as to where I go from here would be very grateful. I've been on other Adobe forums but noone seems to have had the same problem.

[Juergen D]

It will take awhile to rebuild the thumbnails. What happened after you deleted the cache file and opened the Organizer? Did you get boxes with hour glasses or with question marks?

If you just got an empty screen, you can try to do a >File >Catalog >Recover.

Juergen

[cliveg]

Tried the 'Recover' and it said 'recovery successful' but it wasn't. Back to the drawing board. This whole episode is unbelievably frustrating. I've had PSE5 for about 2 years now and it has given me untold hours of pleasure. I just wish I knew what to do next??

[Clive]

Like you I've just had this problem and it has taken me over 3 weeks to resolve.
Initially I lost some pictures from my catalogue after having my PC serviced, and when I downloaded from my cameras they all came up as the hourglass. Eventually all my catalogue ended up as hourglass images, but the pictures remained when I opened them as full image or if I zoomed in to the catalogue so there was only one or two images they showed.
As you say this was extremely frustrating and I tried the \Documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalogs route but couldn't get past the All Users stage.
What I eventually did was to ensure all my photographs (Around 12,000) were safely stored on my external hard drive and then delete all my Adobe files from both my "c" and "d" hard drives and then re-install Adobe Photoshop Elements from scratch. This has cured the problem (Touch wood!)
Hope this helps.

[Clive]

My thumbnails disappeared again, but this time I think I've sorted it!
Firstly ensure all your pictures are safe in a seperate location from Adobe. (Mine are on an external hard drive) Next uninstall Adobe Photoshop Elements from your PC. Once you've done this go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application data\Adobe\Catalogs, and delete the Catalog folder and then the Adobe folder, otherwise when you re-install Adobe it will use these corrupt filesa.
Once this is done, simply re-install Adobe Photoshop Elements and when opened go to View and Organise then click on the "Get Photos" icon and simply re-import your pictures from the file or folder you have them stored.
Hope this helps!

[dj_paige]

For those reading this, if you are going to destroy your existing catalog (which should be a last resort), there are easier ways to do this than un-installing, deleting files, re-installing and then importing everything.

In Organizer, File->Catalog->New, and then import everything. Also, there is no need to move your original photos to a removable hard disk for this purpose.

[Klaude]

I had the same problem. Deleting thumb.5.cache worked for me.