When I transfer files from my laptop to an external drive, there is no problem with the folders on the ext. drive keeping their cache so long as I work on them from the laptop. BUT, when I connect the same drive to my desktop, I can watch my labels etc. disappear as Bridge builds the thumbnails. The desktop is an iMac 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7, running OSX 10.7.5, while the laptop is 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, at 10.6.8. Perhaps the differing OS is the problem? In the past I have almost always uploaded photos from camera to the external drive while traveling with the laptop and there has been no problem going from drive to desktop. In this case however I uploaded from camera directly to laptop.
I'm running Bridge CS5.1, version 4.1.0.54, I have checked "Automatically Export Cache to Folders When Possible" on both computers. Also "Keep 100% Previews in Cache" is not checked on both. Thanks in advance for any help.