Error trying to backup iPhoto Library

I recently had a backup drive fail and is unrecoverable. Thus I am trying to create a new backup for my 130GB iPhoto Library. I'm using iPhoto '09 version 8.1. I'm using Mac OS X version 10.5.8. My library is currently on an external hard drive and I'm trying to create backup onto a different external hard drive. I keep getting the same error message when I try to copy/paste the library from one drive to the other: "The operation cannot be completed because the item "iPhoto Library" is in use." Nothing is running on my laptop except for the two Finder windows open to complete the copy. Any thoughts on how to proceed. Keep in mind I am running without a backup at this point. Thanks!

Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Also of note: I was not using Time Machine previously. I attempted to set up and run a first volume Time Machine backup. It failed without any detailed error message. It appeared that it might have failed during backup of iPhoto library. I had a partial iPhoto library of approx same size as where my iPhoto backup attempts have been failing previously on my backup disk.

Similar Messages

Finder Error -36 when trying to backup iPhoto Library

I am unable to backup my iPhoto Library to another drive. This is the error I get in the Finder "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “iPhoto Library” can’t be read or written.
(Error code -36)". I have done a complete rebuild of the iPhoto library, but the Finder won't identify the corrupt data inside the iPhoto library. Since the Finder is telling me "some data" can't be read or written, any suggestions on how to find the corrupted file(s) inside the library so I can remove them from the library?

Solved the problem. I browsed the iPhoto Library/Originals folder to determine which photos I imported today, since I was able to back up the library file yesterday. I exported the 56 various photos that I imported today, then deleted them from iPhoto. Afterwards, I was able to copy the iPhoto Library file. So one or more of the 56 files is corrupted, even though they all open fine with a graphics program, such as GraphicConverter.

Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup. Error message: The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

Trying to copy iPhoto Library to external hard drive for backup. Error message: The Finder can't complete the operation because some data in "iPhoto Library" can't be read or written (Error code -36).

That code is
-36
ioErr
I/O error (bummers)
Make sure the EHD is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and run Disk Utilty on the EHD and repair the disk. If that fails to help I'd try the following:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button,
navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the external HD as the location of the newly rebild library.
Click on the Create button.
Note 1: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost.
Note 2: Your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

I am trying to copy iphoto library Error Code 36

I am trying to copy iphoto library from one hard drive to another and get the message The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “iPhoto Library” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36) = Need to back iy up or my wife will kill me. thanks for help

Here is something you can try:
Obtain iPhoto Library Manager. It is an inexpensive program you can download. Run it and tell it to REBUILD your iPhoto Library from your original iPhoto Library. It will create a NEW file in a destination that you specify (you can specify the other hard drive and thus get a backup all at once) and try to recreate the iPhoto Library based on the info from your original one. Depending on the problem causing your -36 file error, iPhoto Library Manager may (a) successfully recreate your entire photo library successfully on the other hard drive; (b) recreate all of your original photo library except for the part that is damaged; or (c) won't be able to finish at all if the disk problems are severe enough.
If (c) happens, you may have to copy the actual photos individually out of the iPhoto Library and into a new iPhoto Library. The actual photos are inside the iPhoto Library. You can find them by control-click once on the iPhoto Library and select Show Package Contents. The folder called Originals or Masters has the photos (originals) and a folder called Modified or Previews has the edited photos. I suggest COPYING (not moving) these folders to the external drive. You will then need to re-import the actual photos inside these folders to a new iPhoto Library.

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

How did you rebuild?
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/"><b><u>iPhoto Library Manager</b></u></a> and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Following error message 'The item "iPhoto Library" can't be moved because "10.0.1.3" can't be modified' pops up, when I'm trying to copy my iPhoto library to my Synology NAS. Any thoughts what I need to do in order to succeed?

Following error message 'The item “iPhoto Library” can’t be moved because “10.0.1.3” can’t be modified' pops up, when I'm trying to copy my iPhoto library to my Synology NAS. Any thoughts what I need to do in order to succeed?

Would you rather recomment me to change to another programme like to iphoto to store and work with my photos?
I would use the NAS for documents and other data that do not need a library with database files inside. For iPhoto a small portable drive that you can plug in directly would be perfect; you can get one for 79$ http://mac-portable-hard-drive-review.toptenreviews.com/western-digital-review.h tml
Before you try to copy your iPhoto library anywhere, make sure it does not have any inconsistencies, that could prevent copying. Run a rebuild, using the First Aid tools. See this post by Old Toad on how to do it: Re: iPhoto version 8.1.2
The item “iPhoto Library” can’t be moved because “10.0.1.3”
That error message is very typical for copying between incompatible file systems. I get this error message usually when I try to move iPhoto libraries or Aperture libraries to drives with MS Dos (FAT) or unix formatting, or when some of the image files inside the library contain ethnic characters (Umlaute), have very long file names, or the filenames contain other special characters.
Do you have any other large data sets that you could try to move to your NAS instead of your iPhoto library? Movies, Music? Then move these first to have enough working space, when you try to move the iPhoto library. If you are running out of space, it will be difficult for the OS to move large amounts of data at once. That will need working space.

Best way to backup iphoto library to another computer

Hi,
I am looking for most efficent method to backup iphoto library from one iMac27(running Lion) to another iMac21(running Snow Leopard).
My iPhoto library is approx. 20GB. So I am also concerned with performance too.
Also, I only want to backup if iphoto library on iMac27 changes. There is no point to keep backing up all the time if the library has not changed.
I would also like to be able to schedule backup at certain time of the day. (Primarily overnight when I am not using the computer)
I have looked at Chronosync. It looks like it has the features I am looking for however I am concerned if it performs well.
What would you recommend for a solution to this process?
Thanks and I look forward to your reply.
...Bruce

Let me inform you of some things if I may.
A lot of people "run out of room" or want to make a backup and naturally look to their other machine as a source of space they are not utilizing, this isn't the best approach.
So let me inform you of your options.
1: You can backup your entire boot drive contents in a rotating in time fashion with Apple's built in TimeMachine, which only restores, it's not bootable. You use a external storage drive for this. Just hook it up and go.
2: You can make a hold option key bootable clone backup of your entire boot partition contents (not Lion Recovery Partition) in a permanent fashion that only changes if you change it or schedule it to change making a clone drive. Carbon Copy Cloner and you use a external drive for this. (best method as it's bootable in case your computer fails to boot normally)
3: You can manually or automatically use software that "syncs" the contents of two folders to a storage drive (even in either direction). SyncTwoFolders
What your asking to do is publish a shared folder on your network that resides on the Snow Leopard machine, you access it from the Lion machine over the Local Area Network and save your Lion iPhoto Library there using SyncTwoFolders like software.
You can do this, however it's not advised, first off network transfers are slow and cumbersome to setup and maintain. Second your taking up precious drive space on the other computers drive.
If this is what you want to do, then repeat your question again in a new topic, as my other machine is down and haven't done that in quite some time to remember the details exactly.
The larger picture I see is it appears to me you have no backup plan at all, and I think a separate storage drive for each computer, which if you hook it up to OS X, will ask to make a TimeMachine drive, will then do so, copying and backing up your entire drive so you have a constant backup of everything.
Also you should maintain a extra separate storage drive for each machine to keep a extra copy of your files in a permanent fashion, or to free up room on oyur boot drive, like what your trying to do with the other Mac.
With each computer with it's own backup, they are not so dependent with each other if your needs change for instance and the machines have to be separated.
The golden rule of backups is to maintain two seperate, easy accessible, hardware backup copies of your data at all times.
TimeMachine is ok and works mostly, but not if it gets messed up if your machine gets messed up, or if your TM drive mechanically or software fails without your knowledge. So maintaining a another copy of your data on a storage drive in a pernament fashion is also advised.
You can learn about TimeMachine here
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
And I've written a rather complicated advanced post here as a rough draft, but packed with information
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201
A bit much, but I hope that helps.

How do I resolve this error message? The iPhoto library is on a locked volume. Reopen iPhoto when you have read/write access, or reopen iPhoto with the Option key held down to choose another library.

How do I resolve this error message? The iPhoto library is on a locked volume. Reopen iPhoto when you have read/write access, or reopen iPhoto with the Option key held down to choose another library.

Hi j,
I don't know if this will work, but I'd try logging in to an admin account, going to your main library (not user library), opening it, opening Application Support, selecting iPhoto, hold down the command key and press i, click on the lock in the lower left, entering the password and making sure you have Read & Write privileges for System and Admin.

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just del

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iphoto '11, version 9.4.2

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro, but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. now iphoto won't let me do anything to fix!!

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229?viewlocale=en_US - I doubt that it will solve your problem, though. You may want to post on the iPhoto forum - that's where all of the iPhoto experts hang out.
Good luck,
Clinton

Error trying to backup photoshop elements 4.

Error trying to backup photoshop elements 4. Getting windows error: unable to save all data for file b0000408.jpg data lost try to save this file elsewhere;
and getting photoshop error "error encountered while writing file" and a bunch of numbers.
I have backed up to this device without problems.

Thank you for your reply.
I have tried the backup multiple times and it crashes in different places each time - it seems.
I did the select all and "ctrl W". This did nothing. Did you really mean "ctrl + W"? Remember I have version 4.0.
I was able to do a successful back up onto a drive that has none of my pictures on it. Could this be the problem? I have an external hard drive that I have been using for my backups which have been working just fine. I recently started storing my pictures in my catalog on this external hard drive. Since then, I have not been able to back up to that drive. Nor have I been able to back up to any other drive that has pictures on it.

Hung up trying to import iphoto library

Hung up while trying to transfer iphoto library from old imac iphoto 2 to new macbook iphoto. What to do?

Connect the two machines together (network, firewire target mode, etc) and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old machine to the pictures folder of the new machine and launch iPhoto on the new machine
LN

How to Time Machine backup iPhoto library stored on external drive

Hi Mac users.
Can you kindly teach me how to backup iphoto library stored on an external drive to my external time machine drive. My internal drive is full so I moved my iPhoto library to a separate drive and deleted the library to create space. Thank you.

Actually there's nothing to do. TM backs up all connected volumes automatically. One has to exclude a volume or folder(s) to keep them from being backed up in the TM preferences.
If you find that the EHD is not being backed up exclude it and the "unexclude" it and force a new backup.
OT

Unsupported File System Error When Trying To Upgrade iPhoto Library on QNAP

I upgraded to iLife11 from iLife08. My iPhoto Library is stored on a QNAP server and has worked just fine for many years. When iPhoto[9] tries to upgrade the library it gives an error "The library could not be opened because the file system of the library's volume is unsupported."
Other iLife11 applications such as iMovie recognize files from the QNAP just fine.
I have tried moving the original iPhoto Library into another folder and then creating a new library on the server but get the same message.
I have upgraded to iPhoto 9.0.1 already.
Any ideas?
Appreciation In Advance.

my NAS backup is going to see the whole disk image as a 'new file' and
I don't think that will be the case if you use a sparse bundle disk image.
+A sparse bundle is essentially the same as a sparse disk image. The difference is that a sparse image is one giant file on your disk and a sparse bundle is lots of small files (8 megabytes each). They work and look the same way, but you can right-click on a sparse bundle, select "show package contents" and see the individual 8 meg sections.+
If the backup software can do incremental backups and work on packages I think it will work on the sparse bundle disk image. Might be worth a try.
Happy New Year

Permissions Error message trying to restore iPhoto Library from Time Machine

I've tried several times to restore my iPhoto library from Time Machine. After 45 min. when it's almost finished, I get an error "The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access "iPhoto Library". Anyone know how to fix this?

Hi, and welcome to the forums.
Connect to the TC via Ethernet cable if at all possible.
Try repairing your backups, per #A5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

Error trying to backup iPhoto Library

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for