Lightroom 2: Saving Non-destructive editing

[Headshotzx]

Hello guys! I've got an LR2 question.

Here's the sitch. I want to reformat my computer. All my photos are on an externally powered harddrive (risky, I know, I'm going to get a backup soon), and I've had numerous edits to a majority of my photographs.

However, I have come to expect a problem. When I reformat my computer, install lightroom, and import my photos-- they will not have the saved editing data on them, because they are still the RAW .CR2 files.

May I know how I can preserve this editing? I know there's file-format for LR2 that's used for saving editing purposes, but how do I do that for every photo automatically?

In summary:

I have done lots of editing. I'm going to reformat my comp, install LR2 and import back the photos. I want the editing settings to be exactly the same. Photographs will not be moved, only LR2 will be uninstalled when reformatted, and installed.

Cheers,
Zexun

[sirswa]

backup your LR catalogue first.
After you reinstall your pc, open the catalogue and then redefine the image location (may be locate at your external HDD)
That's how I normally do when I use other computer and continue editing from previous day work.
I hope it helps.

[kaikibbler]

Yup, that's the beauty of LR's catalog system.

Downside is you're stuck with LR if you want to preserve them. I dunno if Aperture/others are able to import that kind of data.

[Clown]

go to Edit>catalog settings>metadata> check the box saying 'automatically write changes to XMP'

THEN select all your pictures from ur library and press ctrl+s to save the metadata of the ones you've edited in the past.

that's it.