Lost projects and database after upgrading to Resolve 14

Hi there,

I upgraded to Resolve 14 from 12.5. I downloaded this version (14) from the resolve webpage. I did not create backups of the projects or the database before upgrading 'cause it did not cross my mind that the new version will replace the projects folder with a new blank one and now all my projects are gone. When I searched in the path Library/Application Support/Blackmagic/etc.. the Projects are not there either. Resolve seems to replace the Projects folder with new one. And my projects are nowhere to be seen. Is there ANY workaround to that? I have projects in progress that I need to finish. Please help!!!

As far as i know Resolve installs/upgrades on osx (where you seem to be) do not remove any databases/projectfiles. It should list them and allow you to upgrade them individualy if you have more.
So something else must have gone wrong. My bet is they still exist just at a different location then you expect.
They can be installed anywhere on your system, not confined to the default location.

What you can do is first check if there is an entry in the file :
/Library/Preferences/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/dblist.conf, that points to a location you recognise.
Otherwise you just have to check your whole system for the resolve Db that you are trying to access.

Ok, I just found the dblist.conf file, what can I do next? Thanks for the reply.

I did a search with names of projects that I worked inside the Resolve 12.5 and didn't find anything. Then I reinstall v12.5 justo to see if by any chance it will look for that projects and nothing happened either. I don't know what else it could be.

What is in the dblist file ?

I don't know. How can I opened it?

I don't know. How can I opened it?

The dblist.conf file is only a pointer to the real disk database. It must be in the folder
/Library/Preferences/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/dblist.conf

to examinate the file you can open it in text edit. From this file you get the exact location of your disk databases

The diskdatabase itself is in the folder
/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Resolve Disk Database ( default installation )

This is on the mac. I don't know where they must be located within windows.

When I opened the dblist file in Text Edit, it says only "DISK* and thats it.

Sounds like you are toast.

What did you do during the initial install of DR14 ? Did you maybe manually uninstall first DR12 thereby accidentally deleting the configuration and possibly your project database(s) ?
A normal overwrite install will not do this. I have overwritten installed dozens of times and zero issues. Always pick up the existing configs.

Or did you run the Apple App store version before ?

When I opened the dblist file in Text Edit, it says only "DISK* and thats it.

Do you have still your disk database?

/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Resolve Disk Database ( or also some other place )

if that's the case, try to make a fresh install of 12.5 and then import the disk database again. Afterwards you can install DR 14 and make a database upgrade. Perhaps this works. Make first an backup of your Disk Database folder.

I think in 12.5 the disk database has following path ( default installation )

/Users/Username/Library/Containers/com.blackmagic-design.DaVinciResolveAppStore/Data/Library/Application\ Support/Resolve\ Disk\ Database

After installing 12.5 go to the database manager ( right corner ) and try to connect the database.

Not saying you *should* do this, but doesn't Mac OS have some type of a rollback program? I think it's called Time Machine, but I'm on Windows so I can't be of much help in that regard.

Not saying you *should* do this, but doesn't Mac OS have some type of a rollback program? I think it's called Time Machine, but I'm on Windows so I can't be of much help in that regard.

Sure, this is an option. But I think he mentioned, that he has no backup. I hope he has a backup of the old database. Perhaps an older backup. This is better than beginning from scratch.

although i hope the OP manages to find his lost disk database i find it hard to fathom that people still refuse to make even a simple backup from thier critical data. It boggles my mind each time. If your are a professional it is pure negligence and extremely bad practice and unexplainable to any of your affected customers (which may likely sue you for all you have).
Not having a backup when doing a big release upgrade is bad enough in itself, but not having any backup at all......

Back to OP. If you do have a backup, even a very old one, you could have a look at just this dblist file in that backup, which should then at least absolutely point you to the location of your disk database(s) (which btw do not have to be in default location, but can be anywhere on your system when you set that up during creation of a new db. )
Then once you know that y can check if it is still ther. If it is , no problem, you can load that with DR12 or load and upgrade with DR14.
If it is not there, you can look in your backup on that same location where it then should be in an older state.
If not..... End of line....

Not saying you *should* do this, but doesn't Mac OS have some type of a rollback program? I think it's called Time Machine, but I'm on Windows so I can't be of much help in that regard.

Sure, this is an option. But I think he mentioned, that he has no backup. I hope he has a backup of the old database. Perhaps an older backup. This is better than beginning from scratch.

I thought Time Machine backs up files used by applications as well, not just the OS state (which is all that Windows' System Restore does). But of course I could be wrong.

although i hope the OP manages to find his lost disk database i find it hard to fathom that people still refuse to make even a simple backup from thier critical data. It boggles my mind each time. If your are a professional it is pure negligence and extremely bad practice and unexplainable to any of your affected customers (which may likely sue you for all you have).
Not having a backup when doing a big release upgrade is bad enough in itself, but not having any backup at all......

Here's what I *try* to do at the end of a session:

I have on an external HD a folder called zResolveBUs. In that folder I have 31 folders named "1" through "31"

I export a DRP to the folder corresponding to the day of the month. I also do a database backup to that same folder and a drag a copy of the database file to that folder.

This way I have a month's worth of backups. Now sometimes I forget to do this, but overall it gives me an increased feeling of security and it only takes a few minutes at the end of the day.

I got burned pretty bad once, so that's why I do this.

I thought Time Machine backs up files used by applications as well, not just the OS state (which is all that Windows' System Restore does). But of course I could be wrong.

[/quote]
It does versioning of all files, not just system state. I am not a fan of Macs for other reasons, but I love Time Machine because users will actually use it, and it works.

Back to OP. If you do have a backup, even a very old one, you could have a look at just this dblist file in that backup, which should then at least absolutely point you to the location of your disk database(s) (which btw do not have to be in default location, but can be anywhere on your system when you set that up during creation of a new db. )

Yes, Glenn is right. The database is there where you set it during the creation process. You could make a search for "Resolve Disk Database".

Good luck.

why is it that once davinci "upgraded" my database, as it has several times without issue.. this new "upgrade" erased only the projects I've done in the last 6 months, and not the super old ones,, what's going on with this?

DO NOT upgrade your old database if you have upgraded the software! If you have you can still try this, I don't know if it will work though.

Click the little window at the top left of the startup screen. When the left hand sidebar opens up right click on your old database, then click "Reveal in Finder." That should take you to where your database and project files are stored. There should be a folder called "Resolve Disk Database." If you click on that folder you will see another folder called "Resolve Projects." Copy this folder. Then go back to the Davinci Resolve startup window and on the bottom left corner there should be a button that says "New Database." Click the button, then click on the location bar and choose where you want to save this new database. Don't forget to give it a name. Once you've set up this database and its location, go to the folder where you set it up. If you click on the folder with the new database you set up there should be a folder inside it called "Resolve Projects." Paste the resolve projects you copied earlier into the new folder. Then all your old project files will be in the new database you created.

That should do it! This worked for me.

I found a great fix at about 5am after working on this problem for 2 days straight. Once I got it working, all the media turned black with "media offline" messages, but I can tell you how to fix this as well.

First, drink 2 12 packs of beer by yourself as you watch your deadline come then pass, (the beer is there to help you with the multiple emotional breakdowns you will definitely have. I had a total of 7.) these will be brought on by frustration, but will ramp up significantly as you read more threads where a man in a blue shirt named Dwaine tells people with the same problem you have that they might be "toast" or "in a tangle". It's at this point that hope leaves the body and paranoia settles in.

Once the client has a screaming fight with you because you lost the 132 minute film you edited on Resolve forever, you'll want to do a search in your finder (Mac OS X) for anything Black Magic, or Resolve, or Davinci, check the file paths and make sure it's related to the software just in case. Select those files and carefully drag them onto the trash icon (Mac OS X), next you're gonna want to select Empty Trash (or shift+command+delete) (Mac OS X).

Next, start the whole project over in a software that doesn't do this kind of thing every few months. I'd recommend Adobe Premiere. In the future always use software that other people use, and not a software that has a name reminiscent to that movie Precious: Based on the novel Push, by Sapphire.

Next, you're gonna want to wake up the next afternoon (I'd recommend 3 or 4 pm) with a blinding soul crushing hangover (Mac OS X) and look out of the living room window at the people driving by, but don't pay attention. Be blank. You're eyes are pointed toward the street, but you see nothing.. Just a swirling suicidal blackness that consumes your mind. Next, go to your refrigerator and contemplate drinking more beer for a minute, while you mutter obscenities under your breath. Then VERY IMPORTANT: Switch to hard liquor. I used whiskey and it came out great. Next, compose an email to the client, but delete it over and over again (Linux) and try and turn the whole thing around to be their fault for delivering everything in Resolve: Based on the novel Push By Sapphire (Windows 95) and remind them that you warned them that we should be doing this in Final Cut or Premiere. VERY IMPORTANT: keep deleting and recomposing the email as your brain is technically scrambled from the booze+hangover+heavy depression.

Finally, go to the liquor store and buy more booze with the last money you'll see for a while. This will help you to not cry, or cry more as you contemplate what to do with the rest of your life.

I hope this helps.



Cheers!

also, this really did work!!

Just kidding. That was a total joke post. A lot of elements of the story were kinda true (2.5 straight days of fear, the beers, the whiskey) I would like to state that I LOVE Davinci Resolve and think it's the best linear editor by a country mile.
Also, I was able to solve/save everything (at 5:55am in a total panic) And the only way I was able to figure out what the problem was, was through the help provided in these forums, and especially by Dwaine Maggart, that dude is a badass. Thank you guys!
Very excited about all the stuff I've learned about this software through all the troubleshooting.
Thanks a bunch you guys.

And then when you made the in your eyes wise decission to use an alternative software like premiere, you wake up one morning to find premiere has wiped your entire san array in an attempt to clean the cache . (Not happened to me as would never use that pos software, but it was a real bug affacting large groups of people e few months back right after a simple version upgrade)

Realy sorry btw you had to go through this. And alcohol does help in these dark times. Wont help at all but can only say that in the last few years using resolve with a proper setup using a centralised properly backed up postgresql database i have yet to loose a single project or single second of anything. (Knock on wood)
Software is software and eventualy you/we will hit a point where either due to user stupidity (in most cases) or software bugs we will end up in a place where we had hoped not to come.
Backup is your ultimate friend in any of these cases and could have been your friend as well , as is a good friend, recommended by all and everyone.

And thank you, Scott and Glenn, for the best laugh I've had all year. (It's been a tough year.)

Have I mentioned the need to BACKUP? That's very important.

With Resolve there always seems to be a workaround, with Premiere that's not the case.. and don't get me started on iMovie lite (FCP X)

If it's possible, I'm using Resolve forever. Go Resolve!!

The real problem I had (not joking) was all of a sudden on saturday Resolve would crash at the splash screen. It was the app store version. I DL'ed the website version, and it worked, but the projects were all screwed up. I was able to grab the one from the app store again and figure out how to make it work. I didn't know the app store version and the website version stored directories in different places, which is why my projects looked like the ones I was handed 6 months ago. Very panic inducing because it looked as though 6 months of my hard work had vanished (of course it happened when all I needed to do was add end credits) It was indeed pilot error, and I'm glad I learned my lesson. Also, I had been saving new timelines and backing up that way, as you would in the other editors, so you KNOW as soon as I got it working I backed up multiples of everything the CORRECT way.

In closing, thank you forum peeps for all the sound advice, and I REALLY appreciate the guy at black magic who I spoke with on the phone who helped me, even though my version wasn't supported.

Davinci Resolve based on the novel Push by Sapphire forever!!!

Hey man , thats the only reason why we are all on here. Incl the dudes frommBM. To help each other .
Welcome back

I followed the recommendations on this thread to locate my DaVinci 16 database and projects after a sudden crash and subsequent reinstall of version 17, as suggested by Blackmagic error message.

Unfortunately, I only found today's reinstall database; my old database and project files are nowhere to be found.

Any suggestions?