Backing up iPhoto files

I've been searching through the forum and see that this question has been posed in many different forms. Perhaps you might find it okay if I add another to the long list?
I have approximately 13 gb of space in my iPhoto library. Yes, long overdue to do a through backup of photos. I'd like to do that now. In the past I have tried to do this my dropping and dragging my iPhoto library to an external hard drive. However, I can't always seem to open some of the photos (they all have jpeg extensions). I am apprehensive to back up, delete off my laptop and then lose photos.
I'd like to know the best and most effecient way to backup my photos to an external hard drive. I don't want to lost any extensions or other hidden files that can happen at times. (I had that experience with iMovie)
I know I can back up to CD and DVD, however it seems to me that an external hard drive would be better.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks so much in advance. I will continue to wade through the other questions and comments, yet look forward to any other thoughts.
Powerbook G4 17" Mac OS X (10.4.4) Power Mac G4, iMac G3

Maina',
My desk here faces north. Howdy.
Go ahead and turn journaling on. It is generally a good thing that allows the OS to record the files and activity on the hard drive. This allows for some automatic repair to occur if there is a minor glitch. There is a slight chance of it slowing down performance with extremely CPU intensive tasks, but with most newer hard drives this will not be a problem. Leave it on unless you have major problems and are told to turn it off by a Mac expert. [I just learned most of this by interviewing my DH, who is a Mac expert. lol]
Ownership. With the drive mounted, click its icon in the Finder and do a Get Info (command-i). At the bottom of the info box below "Details" is a box that says: "Ignore ownership on this volume." You can check this box, unless you have roommates that you are concerned about getting into your files. What this accomplishes is that the ownership and permissions of the files on that drive will not matter. Sometimes they interfere with iPhoto's ability to import a photo. For example, when copying an iPhoto library from one Mac to another with a different User name, iPhoto may refuse to import or open the photos. Turning off ownership on your external drive will enable you to move it from one Mac to another, even if the user names are different.
Or, you can take a tip from Old Toad: "...download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administrative name in the owner and group sections. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field."
This sets the permissions for all photos so that there is no conflict with your user name. Old Toad often recommends this procedure when moving a library from one Mac to another.
I can't comment on Retrospect Express, as I don't have it.
As for the Automator tip from Toad's Cellar: I believe that the iPhoto 5 database file is called "library.iPhoto" (without the 6). Old Toad has said that the Automator workflow application can be edited to update this file for iPhoto 5. I haven't used his Automator app. I just make it a habit to duplicate the database file in the Finder. I do this every time I have made changes to the iPhoto library, right after I close iPhoto. While it's no substitute for a full back-up library, it is extra insurance against database corruption. The database can get corrupted if there is an interruption in power while iPhoto is writing to it. Our power blips off so frequently that I am sure to need this backup file sooner or later.
Having a backup of your backup is a good plan. You should be covered.
Regards,
Smtr

Similar Messages

Back Up iPhoto Files on CD or DVD- Correct Procedure

Can you post here or point me to the recommended Procedure for backing up iphoto files on external drive to disk (CD or DVD)? I have read many bits and pieces through various postings, but didn't see one procedure that contains all the steps.
My external hard disk crashed, along with my iphoto libraries. I do have a back up copies of my iphoto files, so I will be restoring most of the photos. However, among these disks I have one CD backup copy I did that doesn't seem to work. Not sure what I did wrong with that one.
Please advise specifically which file folders to copy (or drag? or import?) and any special settings. Also, if you could add a procedure for incremental back ups. I have read the recommendation to copy the iphoto6.library folder regularly Should I save this on the disk with the photo files or on a separate disk labeled with the same date and library name. Also, I'd like to hear your advise for handling incremental backups for new rolls added.
Finally, if I purchase SuperDuper or DejaVu, will these applications better serve me in other ways and accomplish the same goal? I do use Backup, but I am concerned that it has too many limitations.
As soon as I get my HD back, I plan to put the iphoto libraries back on the external drive and want to get a clean procedure going, after this scare.
I am learning lots from this experience...

Hello, Sue,
Sorry about your drive crash! Nice that you did back up your photos, though.
Are you using the external drive as a backup to your computer's drive for iPhoto?
Or, are you using the external drive as the primary location for your iPhoto Library(ies)? If you are using the external as the primary location, then you will need another external drive as a backup, or burn the photos to CDs or DVDs.
Re: your previously burned CD--I am not sure why it does not work for you, but, there are two methods of burning photos to disks:
1. Burning from WITHIN iPhoto Burn from iPhoto--this method creates a disk that appears in the Source Pane of iPhoto when the disk is inserted into the computer's drive. It will keep your photos and albums looking as they did in iPhoto, but you need to be in iPhoto to access the photos. They do not need to be reimported. This is a good method for storage and easy access. You can delete these photos from your current library and just pop in the disk when you want them.
2. Burning from FINDER Burn from Finder--this method stores the photos for you, and can be accessed by any computer. When the disk mounts, you will have to reimport these photos into iPhoto to work with them. They will not be in albums, unless you specifically export them from iPhoto giving them the album name. (Post back if you want to do this; more instructions). This is a good method for backing up and having access to the photos on any computer that can read a disk.
I think it is a good idea to have both a backup external drive and the photos burned to disks. I have most of my photos burned to disks via method 2 just to preserve the photos. These are my old scanned-in snapshots, and I am not so worried about losing them on a drive because I have the negatives and the actual prints. (It would take a while to locate the negatives, but the prints are all in photo albums and labeled!).
I also have created iMovies and burned to DVDs, all the photos and videos of our family for a 17-year time period. (I have about 10 year's worth more to do to 2006, and probably a couple more encompassing photos from 1890s-1970s).
So, I will eventually have three backups: my external drive, the movie-DVDs, and DVD disks of the photos; in addition to the prints.
Some purists and worriers think that for the long-term archiving, we should be printing out our digital photos onto acidfree paper and placing them carefully in albums designed to preserve the photos. They think that DVDs can become damaged or obsolete and that the only way to really keep a photo is via paper prints.
Specifically, you will want to back up the entire iPhotoLibrary folder from Finder. This is the folder that by default is located in your 'Pictures' folder. Initially, you just drag the entire folder over to the external drive. (By the way, be sure that your external drive is Mac-formatted. Most are preformatted for PCs, so check).
When it has finished copying, you have backed up your library.
If you import more photos, you need to back up again. It is easiest just to drag the whole folder over again.
Some of us like to break up our library into several libraries. I have about ten or so, broken by dates. Since I have scanned in all my old photos, and edited most of them, I don't need to back up those libraries until I do some more editing. The current year's library I back up after almost every photo import. I back up the whole library--not incrementally.
Old Toad recommends making a backup copy of that Library6.iPhoto database file:
+For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.+
If you do create multiple libraries, you will need to backup this database file for EACH of them. I created a Library6.iPhoto backup folder, and I made a subfolder for each of them with that library's name on it and put the corresponding Library6.iPhoto file into its subfolder, carefully noticing which library I am backing up.
Just remember, the three rules of computer data:
1. Backup
2. Backup
3. Backup
And, my favorite, "There are two types of computer users: those who have lost data, and those who will." Having been both.....lost some papers my daughter wrote when an external failed.....I am now more cautious.

What is the best way to back up iphoto "files"?

I use time machine but this backs up the "library". I want to back up the files.
I have about 40000 photos that I just want to put on an external drive. If I highlight too many photos or events in iphoto and drag them into a new folder, it crashes my system. If I do one event at a time its gonna take for ever...Any advice? I am running a pretty old OS...
One of the reasons I want to do this is when I upgrade the OS, its gonna erase the hard drive and I want to make sure that the files are stored in one other place besides the time machine, before I upgrate...
THANKS!
JB

File -> Export.
Select what you want to Export: Original, Jpeg or Tiff and then export to folders on the desktop. Drag those wherever you need them
Or, just drag the whole iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder to the External - that way you get everything, files included.
Regards
TD

Backing up iPhoto files to an external hard drive.

I cannot drag and drop, nor copy and paste photos from iPhoto to an external hard drive, whether as a copy of the complete iPhoto library or as individual photos, nor can I copy/drag a copy of the iPhoto library from the desktop to an external hard drive. It seems every thread I've read and tried on the internet hasn't helped, and yet this seems, from looking at forums, a very common complaint.... Any advice? Thank you..

Select or highlight the photos you would like to copy to your external hard drive. On iPhoto, File > Export > File Export > Kind: JPEG ( set JPEG quality, size & file name to your preference) > EXPORT > Double click the location you would like to send the copies to (In this case - your External Hard Drive) > open and place JPEGs in your new location. This action does Not remove your original JPEGs, but rather, copies to your new location. Hope this helps make your life easier….

IPhoto asked to upgrade library and has now come up empty even though my iPhoto file is over 130GB. How do I get back my photos?

iPhoto asked to upgrade library and has now come up empty even though my iPhoto file is over 130GB. How do I get back my photos? I am using OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 with Mavericks. My iPhoto is 9.6. I am very concerned as this file has all my photos for the last 15 years!

If the iPhoto Library is still 130 GB large, your photos are probably still inside; perhaps the library has a corruption.
Or the iPhoto Library is on drive, that is incompatible with iPhoto. Where is your iPhoto Library stored?
To check for a library corruption: Ctrl-click or right-click the iPhoto library and select "Show Package Contents". This will show the folders inside the library package.
Are there folders called "Masters" or "Old Masters"?
If there is a folder "Old Masters", you are having a problem with recent bug, that corrupts iPhoto Libraries when upgrading. In that case, it would be best to restore your iPhoto Library from a backup you made before you upgraded to Yosemite.
Or, if no backup is available, copy the "old Masters" folder to a folder on your Desktop and create a new iPhoto library and import the Old Masters folder.
If there is no folder "old Masters" try to rebuild your iPhoto Library with the First Aid tools :
Make a backup copy of your iPhoto Library, but don't overwrite any older backups.
To launch the "First Aid Tools" hold down the options-command keys ⌥⌘ while double clicking your iPhoto Library.
Keep the keys held down firmly until the First Aid panel appears.
Select "Rebuild Database".

Can synced photos on my iPad be sent back to my Mac? I lost pics in my iPhoto file needed for a presentation.

Can synced photos on my iPad be sent back to my Mac? I lost pics in my iPhoto file needed for a presentation.

And of course I forgot about the built in way to send them back to the Mac .... Email them. You can email up to 5 photos at at time.
Launch the photos app, while looking at the photos in thumbnail view - tap the arrow icon in the upper right corner - tap on up to 5 photos at a time - Tap the Share button in the upper left corner - tap email from the resulting window.

Importing iPhoto books back from pdf files

I saved my book on a cd in pdf. I want to put it back into iphoto to print more books - iphoto said it couldn't read the format. How do I do this?

sjrb:
You can't back engineer a book from the pdf file. You might however do a Print to PDF and select the Send PDF to iPhoto option. That will give you jpg files for each page of the pdf. You might be able to create a book with all pages in a 1 photo per page layout and use those jpgs of each page. It won't be as good as the original but may be acceptable.
The pdf conversion process produces jpgs that are 2200 x 1700 x 200 dpi which do not give a low quality warning when put a 1 photo/page layout. You'll have trouble with the cover and will have to find the photo for it and redo it with a photo. Worth a try.
If I may offer a suggestion. In the future create a separate library for the book, add the picture you want in the book to an album in the original library. Then use iPhoto Library Manager to transfer that album to the book library and any more photos as you go along. When you're done you can burn that book library folder to a CD using the Finder to archive that book. If you want to order another book at a later day, copy that library folder back to the desktop, open it iPhoto and order another exact copy. Delete the folder when done.
Do you Twango?

Back up large iPhoto file to DVD

I want to back up a 25 gig iPhoto library to DVD's to store off site. There is no breakdown into folders to burn individually. Any idea how to burn this large file onto multiple DVD's?

To add to Terence's suggestion make sure the total size of photos selected, probably best done by Events, is only about 4 GB. That's because the acutal burned size will be larger due to the overhead of modified, thumbnail and database files. If you select much more than 4 GB as determined by iPhoto you'll get part way thru the process and get the not enought room message.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Talk to me about backing up iphoto - the details of the files

when looking at the package content of my picture library, i see lots of files and folders. i'm wondering what this stuff is.
1. in reading Toad's info on backing up and using his automator program, it only backs up the LIBRARY6.IPHOTO line item. Reading thru various support questions I think I understand that this 'thing' is EVERYTHING of the interface we use (albums, keywords and events, etc.). is this correct? so if i'm unable to access my pix or they all just disappear because of a corrupted db, then all i need to do is to delete the current file in the package contents and replace it with the back-up version i had saved somewhere else and this restores all my hard work, right? .... more questions to follow once this is answered.....
2. What is the Library.iPhoto line item? It looks just like the Library6.iPhoto icon.
3. Originals Folder? The contents of this folder (sub folders) look nothing like the events I have created. Can you tell me what's going on here?
4. Modified Folder? Is it obviously just that?
Just trying to get a better grip of what is going on with the system. thx!

Here’s a tip:
Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
A Note about the iPhoto Library Folder:
In this folder there are various files, which are the Library itself and some ancillary files. Then you have three core folders
Originals are the photos as they were downloaded from your camera or scanner.
(ii) Modified contains edited pics, shots that you have cropped, rotated or changed in any way.
(iii) Data holds the thumbnails the the app needs to show you the photos in the iPhoto Window.
Backing up with Old Toads Automator App backs up the database file. IF your DB is corrupted you can replace it with the back up. This preserves your organisation but note that it does not back up your photos.
To back up iPhoto:
Use a Utility such as DejaVu or Chronosync or one of the many, many others (Search on MacUpdate). Use it to make a copy of the iPhoto Library. The more sophisticated ones will make incremental back ups.
Regards
TD
Message was edited by: Terence Devlin

I need help switching back to iPhoto

In February of this year I switched from iPhoto to Aperture for very specific reasons. My laptop's hard drive was running out of space, as it was housing my photo library that was quickly approaching 25,000 photos and pushing about 30 Gigabytes, and I wanted to take advantage of Aperture's ability to store photo masters on an external drive.
So why switch back? When I described why I had switched and my experiences doing so back in February I had said that I ran into many problems all of which I was able to solve save two:
"The two things I have yet to solve, which are rather large things: 1) Spotlight can no longer find my photos since switching to [edit: from] iPhoto. I am really not sure where to start with fixing this so I think I’m just going to have to ask someone. 2) Reorganizing my keywords in Aperture (since I had them set up in iPhoto) is impossible. When I bring up the Keywords HUD, I’m greeted with all of my keywords residing subordinately to a master keyword of 'iPhoto'. When I try to access the keywords that are “below” iPhoto Aperture freezes. Perhaps I have too many keywords (I do have an awful lot). I’m not sure how to solve this one yet either. Maybe there is a raw .plist file that I can manually edit (and I am willing to do so)." -- Me.
After using Aperture for the past 3+ months I've yet to resolve either of these issues. Recently there was an update to Aperture from Apple that, according to the documentation for the update, was supposed to help resolve my second issue with having too many keywords for Aperture to handle - but it hasn't helped much. So since switching to Aperture I've not tagged more than maybe fifty photos, which is discouraging because I know that once I switch back to iPhoto I'm going to be busy tagging photos again.
So I suppose you could say I'm switching back for two main reasons. First, I want it to be much easier to tag my photos since that is probably the single most important thing to me and the experience with iPhoto and Keyword Manager ( http://www.bullstorm.se/KeywordManager.php ) is far superior to that of using keywords in Aperture. Second, I want my photos to start showing up in Spotlight searches again. I'm more than willing to deal with the caveat, albeit a rather large one, that I won't have my photos with me wherever I go anywhere but that they'll forever reside on my firewire drive.
What I need help with...
When I open iPhoto I see all of the previews for the photos that I had the day I switched to Aperture. However, the originals have been moved by Aperture onto my firewire drive - so when I click on each photo all I get is a ( ! ) symbol. The previews still reference a file that does not exist yet the iPhoto database still retains all of the relevant metadata (date/time, keywords, comments, etc) that I had worked so hard to put into iPhoto. I need to retain this information and somehow get the originals back into place so that iPhoto sees them again.
What I thought about doing was this: 1) Somehow restore the originals for the almost 25,000 photos into the place where iPhoto thinks they should be. 2) Move the entire library to my external firewire drive. 3) Import the remaining images that I've taken since switching to Aperture into iPhoto.
Since I have Aperture store my photos by date - importing only the images that I've imported into Aperture should be a piece of cake. I do not need to retain any metadata from Aperture since I've only tagged a few photos in Aperture and all of the other information I may need should be on the original file (like date taken, etc.). I know I'm going to lose a lot of edits that I've done like cropping, rotating, color balancing, red-eye reduction, etc. but I'm more than willing to lose all of that if it means that I can pick up where I left off and get back into the swing of things in iPhoto.
I've Googled like crazy and haven't found someone doing exactly what I'm trying to accomplish so any help with my current situation is greatly appreciated. I've also posted this on my blog http://cdevroe.com/notes/back-to-iphoto/

cvdevroe
2) Reorganizing my keywords in Aperture (since I had them set up in iPhoto) is impossible. When I bring up the Keywords HUD, I’m greeted with all of my keywords residing subordinately to a master keyword of 'iPhoto'.
Bear with me, my terminology may not be right. I'm heading in the opposite direction, and one of the advantages i see to Aperture is that I've got the same advantages in Keyword management as I have with KM in iPhoto.
Have you tried re-organising them using the control bar: Below the thumbs there's a drop down menu, by default it shows Photo Descriptors. Click on it and Select 'Edit Buttons'. You can merrily re-organise your Keywords in this window, and even have your changes reflected in live in the HUD.
As to the Spotlight searching, I'm afraid someone else will need to help on that one. Personally - and it's a regular on the iPhoto forums - I've never had much luck getting Spotlight to search within iPhoto for keywords, apart, of course, from using the search window in the iPhoto Window. I suspect a system-based search of iPhoto keywords is simply not possible.
What I thought about doing was this: 1) Somehow restore the originals for the almost 25,000 photos into the place where iPhoto thinks they should be.
That will work, but they'll need to be exactly as they were.
2) Move the entire library to my external firewire drive.
Easily done, after you've copied it over launch iPhoto holding down the option (or alt) key and choose 'Locate'. Navigate to the new location and that''ll be your default iPhoto Library Folder thereafter.
3) Import the remaining images that I've taken since switching to Aperture into iPhoto.
That should work too.
But the key is, can you return the iPhoto Library Folder exactly as it was, otherwise you'll need to create and populate a new library - and that will inevitable mean losing your keywords in iPhoto too.
FWIW, I need to keep iPhoto going for others in the household who are daunted by Aperture. My solution is a referenced library pointing towards the iPhoto Library Folder / Originals folder.
Regards
TD

How can I transfer iPhoto files from one admin user to another on the same Mac?

i created a new admin user on my computer, so now my husband has one and so do i. how can i transfer our iphoto files from his admin user to mine as a shared file? i was able to do this with itunes easily but i am not able to do it with iphoto.

You want to share the Library?
For iPhoto 09 (version 8.0.2) and later:
What you mean by 'share'.
If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
If you want the other user to have the same access to the library as you: to be able to add, edit, organise, keyword etc.
Quit iPhoto in both accounts. Move the Library to the Users / Shared Folder
(You can also use an external HD set to ignore permissions, a Disk Image or even partition your Hard Disk.)
In each account in turn: Double click on the Library to open it. (You may be asked to repair the Library Permissions.) From that point on, this will be the default library location. Both accounts will have full access to the library, in fact, both accounts will 'own' it.
However, there is a catch with this system and it is a significant one. iPhoto is not a multi-user app., it does not have the code to negotiate two users simultaneously writing to the database, and trying will cause db corruption. So only one user at a time, and back up, back up back up.

How can you take a photo from one event and put it in another, without dragging to desktop and dragging back into iPhoto and moving it to the event folder I want it in.

As the title says I need help on how to take a photo from one event and put it in another, without dragging to desktop and dragging back into iPhoto and moving it to the event folder I want it in. Right now when I want to move a picture from one event to another I drag it to my desktop then delete it from iPhoto then I drag it back into iPhoto and put where I want it.An example would be taking a photo from the Christmas event and add it to a specific person event. Can I do that within the events section without all the dragging. Also is there anyway I can remove duplicates from iPhoto without going through each and every file. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Apple doesn't make it easy to do what you want. However, here's how I do it.
Select the photo you want to move and create a new Event for it via the Event ➙ Create Event menu option.
In the Event mode select the new Event with the one picture and drag it onto the Event you want to move the photo to.

How do I move my iPhoto files to an external harddrive?

Hi there
I only recently moved to Apple from Windows and am struggling to move my iPhoto files to an external harddrive, despite there being some quite old discussions on this on these discussion boards.
My late 2013 32GB Macbook Pro Retina is currently at full capacity because I have imported to iPhoto all of my photos from my past few months of travel. I have recently acquired a 1TB external harddrive which I have successfully partitioned, and I have backed up my Macbook Pro's harddrive using Time Machine to one partition.
I want to move my iPhoto library to the other partition to free up space on the local hard drive, but am needing some assistance.
My questions are:
1. How can I locate all of my iPhotos that I can see in iPhoto but nowhere else? I thought there would be some place I could find them and drag and drop onto the external hard drive.
2. How do I go about moving the photos so they are only on the external hard drive? Do I have to move to the hard drive first and then delete?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Alex

To move your iPhoto Library to an external drive is simple and straightforward:
Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
1. Quit iPhoto
2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
1. How can I locate all of my iPhotos that I can see in iPhoto but nowhere else? I thought there would be some place I could find them and drag and drop onto the external hard drive.
The point of iPhoto is that it replaces the File Manager for everything to do with your photos.
For help accessing your photos in iPhoto see this user tip:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4491

Need help in the process of trying to downgrade back to iPhoto '09...

I want to see all the exif info for my photos as I am getting into DSLR photography. This is one of the reasons I am trying to downgrade back to iPhoto '09 from '11 amongst other reasons; one being I just preferred it (and I have been using '11 since January and still want to downgrade). Anyway, this is what I have done so far:
Reinstalled iPhoto '09 from an old time machine backup in December '13 from before I upgraded late December. Then with the help of a youtube video I found I created a new iPhoto Library for '09 and was in the process of importing all my pics when 3/4 of the way through, my hard drive reached capacity and the importing quit. When I go into iPhoto '09 now, there are no pics. So I spent yesterday buying a large external hard drive and the past 18 or so hours formatting it for mac and moving files so now I have a bit more room on my internal 1tb hard drive.
So I am guessing I should next go to the newly created iPhoto library on my internal hard drive and delete all (not to mention this will free up more room on it). Then what I want to do is create a new library for iPhoto '09 on my new 3TB external hard drive and then import all the pics there. Can I create the iPhoto Library on an external drive?
If I am able to do the above and import all my pics and iPhoto '09 seems to be working properly, can I then go in and delete the iPhoto '11 app without causing problems? Am I right to believe that all my pictures, even the ones I imported to iPhoto '11 directly from a mail attachment, will not be deleted if I delete the iPhoto '11 app?
I don't want to find myself with 2 iPhoto programs, neither of which function. Thanks in advance!

You need the version of iPhoto that you wan tot use installed and then follow the IPLM directions
http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/Help/downgrading%20a%20library%20to%20an%20ea rlier%20version%20of%20iphoto.html
Downgrading a library to an earlier version of iPhoto
If you have a library from a newer version of iPhoto that you simply want "downgrade" to an older version of iPhoto, the easiest way to do that is with the "Rebuild Library" command. You will want to be running iPhoto Library Manager on the machine that has the older version of iPhoto you want to convert the library to. This will create a new library and import the entire contents of the original library into the new one using the older version of iPhoto. As with any rebuild, there are some items that will not be included (most notably, hidden photos, books, calendars, and slideshows), but if you have none of these items or don't mind losing them in the downgrading process, then this is a decent option for converting a library to an older version.
LN

How can I back up my files and photos on my iPhone to my iMac?

How can I back up my files and photos on my iPhone to my iMac?

You can back up the iPhone to your Mac with iTunes.
Make sure, your iTunes version is up to date. Connect your iPhone to an USB port and launch iTunes.
See this document: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
If you want a separate folder with your photos, download the camera roll contents by connecting the iPhone to USB. You emac will see it as camera and you can download the photos using Image Capture to a folder on your Mac, or using iPhoto or Aperture to your photo library.

Backing up iPhoto files

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