Fix for iPhoto lost thumbnails on an external drive

I've had a few times when iPhoto seems to have lost all my thumbnails and pictures. I finally figured out what caused it and how to solve it. I thought others might be interested.
The problem occurs because of 2 things:
1. I store my iPhoto Library on an external drive.
2. While running iPhoto, the external drive becomes disconnected by mistake (usually because I kick the power cord)
I found that the problem is that iPhoto still tries to write the library files to the same location as it used to be. In order to fix the problem, you just need to remove the files that were created accidently. Here are the steps I used for iPhoto '06 and Max OS X 10.3.9 on an eMac. I'm guessing they'll work with other versions, but have not tested them.
0. Quit iPhoto. Make sure you have a current back-up of all your files (don't you always
1. Write down the name of the drive where you store your iPhoto library on the external drive:
I'll use <drive> in the remainder of this description. Replace that text with the name you just wrote down.
2. Open the "Terminal" inside "Applications/Utilities/"
3. Type "cd /Volumes". This is where Mac connects external drives to your UNIX filesystem. "cd" means "change directory" to the "/Volumes" drive.
4. Type "ls". You should see the name of your drive there. "ls" means "list" the contents.
5. Eject the <drive> from you Mac via the Trash Can and turn it off as normal.
6. Type "ls". Normally your drive should disappear from this listing. However, you'll notice that the drive still appears there. The problem is that there are really 2 directories there, one gets over-written when you attach an external drive. But having 2 causes lots of problems.
7. With the drive off, you want to move the 2nd directory out of the way. To do this, you will need to become a root user for a moment. This is done with the "sudo" which means "switch user and do something then switch back". The first time you use it in a terminal you will be required to type the administrator password. It's a very powerful command, but keeps you from getting into the wrong mode forever.
8. Type "sudo mv '<drive>' '<drive>.wrong'". This switches users, "moves" the bad directory to another directory name (ie. rename for UNIX). Make sure to use the single quote (') in case the name of your drive has spaces in it.
This doesn't remove the bad files, just moves them out of the way. That way if this doesn't work, you can just move it back with the reverse command "sudo mv '<drive>.wrong' '<drive>'".
9. Now turn your drive back on.
10. Type "ls". Your <drive> should now re-appear in this listing.
11. Restart iPhoto. It may ask you to locate the Library again.
Please note that these instructions are only provided to help other users running into the same problem. Also, I am not responsible for any lost data by following these instructions.
Also, if anyone finds this doesn't work, or has way to improve these steps, please feel free to post a reply.
eMac Mac OS X (10.3.9) iLife 06

It would be much easier if you make frequent backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and when you have a disconnect like you did, just replace the damaged file with the backup version. It is important to have a "recent" backup so you can get back where you were. So I've created an Automator application that will copy the file to the Pictures folder, label it orange, any time you click on it. So you can backup after any import, or work on a book, slideshow,etc. You don't need to close iPhoto to do it. Just don't be writing the the database file. You can download the application at Toad's Cellar.
Do you Twango?
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 written 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
G5 Dual Core 2GHz, 2G RAM, 250G HD; G4 Dual 1Ghz, 1.5G RAM, 80G HD, QT 7.1.3, Mac OS X (10.4.9) 22 LCD, 250G/200G/160G FW HDs, Canon: SD700IS/i850/LIDE 50, Epson R200, 30G iPod

Similar Messages

Any recommendations for a recovery software for my lost photos on my external drive?

Would like recommendations for a reputable recovery software for my lost photos from my external drive that I used with my MacBook Pro.

General File Recovery
If you stop using the drive it's possible to recover deleted files that have not been overwritten by using recovery software such as Data Rescue II, File Salvage or TechTool Pro. Each of the preceding come on bootable CDs to enable usage without risk of writing more data to the hard drive. Two free alternatives are Disk Drill and TestDisk. Look for them and demos at MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.
The longer the hard drive remains in use and data are written to it, the greater the risk your deleted files will be overwritten.
Also visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on Data Recovery.

Is it better to store iMovies, iPhoto or iTunes on an external drive? I'm running out of space.

Is it better to store iMovies, iPhoto or iTunes on an external drive? I'm running out of space.

Movies for obvious reasons. Photo libraries can get extra large too. When that happens, you have to decide if all your metadata is worth losing, or if you want to keep the entire Pictures folder on a couple external hard drives on their own. Remember, you should never have less than two copies of your data at all times (meaning just before erasing anything, you'll have at least three temporarily). You can always switch the active library with an iPhoto rebuild. command-option keys held down when you startup iPhoto. That lets you pick the Library XML file in the Pictures folder in question out of the Users folder.

How do i transfer my IPhoto library from one troublesome external drive to a new one?

My iPhoto library is on older external drive that I no longer trust. How do I transfer it to a new drive? If both are hooked up to iMac can I simply copy from one to the other?

Be sure the new drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) and drag the library intact from the old to the new drive - depress the oprion key and launch iPHoto and use the select library window to select the new location as the default - be sure to fully test the new location before trashing the old one if you plan to
LN

Iphoto can't see my external drive

Hi,
I want all my photo's from Iphoto to go on an external drive I have. But if I click on Export and have to chose a place then I can't click on my external drive because it's not there on the list on the left side...
Is there an other why to move all my photo's to my external drive?

The question should be 'what's wrong with the external drive'
Can you see it in other programs? can you see it in Disk Utility?

How do I export my images from iPhoto 9.4, to an external drive?

How do I export my images from iPhoto 9.4, to an external drive?
mainly to back them up without using time machine.
Thanks

Just the Images?
File -> Export
This User Tip
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921
has details of the options in the Export dialogue.
To back up the Library: that is images, organisation, edit history etc etc
Most Simple Back Up:
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex: Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically.
Example of such apps: Chronosync - but there are many others. Search on MacUpdate or the App Store

A FIX for iPhoto 11 opening older libraries

Had the same problem everyone else has had. Then I was thunk in the forehead by an obvious trick. I use iPhoto Library manager. I opened IPLM and and clicked on the icon for creating a NEW LIBRARY (upper left corner of IPLM screen). I named it TestLibrary. I then launched this new file from within IPLM -- and iPhoto 11 (v 9.1) opened! That is, the app opened with a new library that contained no pictures. I dragged a couple of test jpg's into the library. Then I quit and reopened TestLibrary several times, to make sure I wasn't counting my chickens too soon. TestLibrary opened fine each time. I then quit IPLM and went directly to my picture libraries in the Pictures folder and launched them from the finder. EACH AND EVERYONE OPENED! They not only opened but iPhoto 11 performed the "update" function very quickly, even on the larger libraries. Again, I quit and reopened the files several times to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
I suspect the IPLM manager may be partially culpable. I note that many people who posted this problem also use IPLM.
FYI: I figured out this fix while standing here at a counter in my local Apple Store (Leawood, KS). The floor sales rep who tried to help me earlier -- a cute and very friendly blonde with a killer smile -- had no idea about the iPhoto problem. But she was very kind and took my emil address and set me up for a Genius Bar appointment for tomorrow. I'm looking all over the store now for her. nowto share my success -- but she has wandered off. Rats. She really is cute; I'm single. Which is none of your business. Where was I? Oh yeah. Before Ms. Cute saleswoman wandered off and aftyr my heart rate returned to normal, I decided to experiment a little more. That's when I came up with the idea of using IPLM to create a blank new file. Getting ready to leave now. ..... NEW UPDATE: I finally spotted the very nice (and very cute) Apple saleswoman who had been helping me. Some other customer was flirting with her, pretending that he didn't know a thing about his new laptop. Rightttttt... I interrupted and asked her for a dance. Just kidding. I told her I had fixed my iPhoto libraries. She smiled, nodded, said "GREAT!" I melted. I offered to hang around a few minutes in case she wanted to come over and see how I fixed iPhoto. While waiting for her I thought I should type this and post it on the Forum. The very nice (and BEYOND cute) saleswoman still hasn't stopped by yet. I will wait a few more minutes. I'm in love. But the store is very busy. I will wait a few more minutes. I am realllly in love. Did I mention she was cute and very polite? Gotta go now. Perhaps Ms. Cuteness and I will meet in another time, place or dimension. After all, she has my name an email address. Maybe she'll send an email later and ask me for a date — strictly for professional and technical information purposes, of course; to find out how I fixed the iPhoto problem so that she can share it with other staff and customers. She probably won't, which means other Mac owners who wander in today with the same iPhoto problem will also fall in love with Ms. Cute but they won't learn a darn thing about my iPhoto fix. That kind of customer relations conduct would normally make me very angry. But nothing is normal anymore. It's hard to be angry when you're madly in love. -- David

iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
Update 10/24: I released a quick 3.5.8 update yesterday, which doesn’t yet provide full iPhoto ‘11 compatibility, but does provide a couple improvements for iPhoto ‘11 users, including a fix for those experiencing the issue of being unable to reopen a library after upgrading it to the new iPhoto version. If you have such a library, simply open the library up via iPLM, and you should be prompted by iPhoto to upgrade the library again. Once it’s complete, you should then be able to close and reopen the library normally.
LN

IPhoto library locked on failing external drive

I have my iPhoto library on an external hard drive which I also used as a time machine/backup. I did this to save space on my much older macbook, and when I purchased a new macbook it would have taken months for the full iPhoto library to be moved to the new computer, so I left it on my external drive. Unfortunately, that external hard drive has started to fail. I ran the disk utility repair to try and fix the external drive, and I was able to retrieve everything off of the external drive except for my pictures, which are locked in that darned iPhoto library. I have not yet found a way to retrieve or move the pictures or the entire iPhoto library from the failing drive. My MacBook Pro is AOK, my iPhoto is fine- and I think the library would have been fine as well if not for the external drive failing. It hasn't completely crashed, and I'm afraid to do much more to it. I can still hack into the in the disk utility to see the files it's holding hostage. I desperately need to get the pictures back though. Is there any way to rescue my precious pictures? Please help!

Bear in mind that Time Machine will apply ACL's (extended permissions) to the backup disk so it may be completely normal to be unable to access files on that disk. If you are trying to use an iPhoto library inside the backups folder it may not work at all - it must be copied off to another disk to use with iPhoto.
With that said, if the disk is failing or damaged it may not mount in Finder - is that what is happening here?
It is also possible that the failure is the 'external case' and not the actual disk, if the controller is not working the disk may not mount - sometimes you can get a disk to work by using a different external case or a USB toaster
You will need to consider data recovery if the disk is on it's last legs or is corrupted. Frankly this is complex & you should send it to data recovery professionals if you are inexperienced - it is the best way to stand any chance of recovering data on a failing drive, but it is costly. You are also correct to se the disk as little as possible - if the damage is a mechanical issue reading the disk can cause the disk to fail quicker.
If you are intent on doing data recovery yourself you must get another disk that is larger than the disk you need to repair. Then you can use tools like Disk Warrior or or Disk Drill to repair the disk or recover the files.
Provide more info about where the library is & the state of the disk, you may not need to do recovery.

(Big) iPhoto Library opening empty from external drive

I need help! I have a new 2014 MacBook running Yosemite, as well as an older MacBookPro. I copied my large iPhoto Library from old laptop (labeled old library "iPhoto Pics 2008-2014", or similar) onto an external drive so that I could access all my photos on this new laptop in iPhoto. I have been holding the "option" key and then opening iPhoto & choosing this 2008-2014 Library to open, and it has been working great. All my 6 yrs worth of pictures immediately populate iPhoto just like it did on my old laptop. HOWEVER, my external drive was accidentally unplugged yesterday without properly "ejecting" it, and it gave me a warning/error message saying something like "your external drive was improperly disconnected". The next time I went to open iPhoto, choosing my 2008-2014 library, it said (something along these lines...) that I had to update the format of the library I was trying to open and it might take a few hours. I had received this message (or similar one) the 1st time I opened this library in my new laptop iPhoto app and so I said yes, for it to fix it. However, it didn't seem to do it properly this time and ended up closing itself. When I tried to open it again, it said some other errors needed to be fixed and I said yes again. Sorry, these details are a bit fuzzy about what went wrong & what messages I got...I just know something didn't seem right as my laptop wouldn't let me close iPhoto and I ended up having to do a force quit to shut down my laptop and reboot.
So now when I rebooted, and I click "option" and open iPhoto, I am able to choose my normal 2008-2014 Library, but it opens with the basic "To get started with iPhoto, do 1 of the following 3 things...", with NO PHOTOS or VIDEOS showing up at all in events, places, albums, etc. It looks just like a brand new Library. However, when I look in Finder and find my 2008-2014 iPhoto Library file, it says the size of it is 171.72 GB, which I think is large and would indicate photos are still in there? These are ALL My photos from the last 6 years. I have most of them still saved on my old laptop (everything before getting my new laptop Nov 20th), just don't have pics I've downloaded to that Library on the external drive between Nov 20th and now. Can anyone help me figure out why iPhoto is opening up an empty library when it should have 6 yrs wroth of pics in it? Did I accidentally erase all the photos in my Library on my external drive??? Thanks in advance for your help/thoughts.

Thanks guys. I did what you said and am about to choose option #4. I cannot really back up this drive before starting rebuild as I don't have a backup of this library exactly, but it is a copy of my entire iLibrary off my old laptop, which I copied over on Nov 20th, so I should have a complete copy of this Library though 11/20 date on my old laptop. I will just potentially lose any photos I've taken and downloaded to external drive since then (luckily not many or any since I haven't downloaded my SLR camera since Dec 5th, so all pics are still on my camera). One last question...is it worth doing the rebuild, or would be be safer (long term...this external library on this drive will be my primary source of ALL my 2008-2014 photos) to just copy over my original library again from my old laptop to this drive?
One additional question though...I just came back to my computer after being away from it for 30 minutes, and again got the "you improperly disconnected your external drive" message. However, my drive is still plugged in and I did not touch it!! So it is disconnecting itself somehow. Any advice on why it's doing this or how to get it to stop? Is it because my computer went to "sleep" or something? Should I not leave my external drive plugged in? Seems like a pain if that is the case as I need to access these pics on my drive often and don't want to be constantly plugging in and then ejecting my drive all the time to keep it safe.

IPhoto Going Haywire Since Got External Drive

I got a 150GB external drive at an apple store and copied my Iphoto Library to it. I had the G-Drive set as the default drive for Iphoto. I had no problems the first few times I downloaded photos from to my external drive from my camera. However, recently, i would get a pop-up saying i didn't properly remove my external drive when i hadn't touched it at all. Then, i had problems downloading photos to the external drive the other day. First all the thumb nails came up, but when i clicked `Import,' nothing happened and had to restart the computer. After two attempts, i noticed that i had actually lost the most recent download (or was the default Iphoto reset to the hard drive? i never deleted the library on my hard drive so the two are pretty similar). After a third attempt, i was able to download photos from my camera, but then Iphoto froze. restarted the computer and deleted .com.iphoto.pfiles. Still had problems with Iphoto freezing when i had my G-Drive plugged in. i am afraid now to do anything with the G-Drive, as didn't have these problems before i bought it.

Change the cable on the drive, use a different port on the Mac. See if the problem is related to the hardware.
What format is that G-Drive?
Regards
TD

How can I merge two iPhoto libraries stored on an external drive?

Today I was in a One-to-One at the Apple Store. I want to merge two i-Photo libraries into one. One library is on my Air, the other is on my iMac. Both libraries have been moved to an external drive. When I try to move one onto the other, they won't go. Yet I am certain that while at the store today, the person there started to merge them. He did not need the library manager software in order to do so. We stopped the merge in order to move on to another issue. Now that I am home, I can't get the libraries to merge. What am I failing to do? Thanks!

The only way to merge two libraryies is to use iPhoto Library Manager which will merge two libraries and keep keywords, titles, faces, places, and other metadata intact.
If one imports one library into another library every image file in the first library, originals, thumbnails, face files, etc, get imported as an original photo. You will end up with a total mess. DO NOT IMPORT ONE LIBRARY INTO ANOTHER LIBRARY!
If you have backup copies of your libraries get them back and use iPhoto Library Manager to merge them.
OT

HT1449 can i use this process for moving my library to an external drive?

My iMac is dying a slow death and I want to run itunes and iphoto off my external drive as the data may get corrupted if it stays on the computer hard drive.
If I designate a folder on my external drive and then cosolidate will that allow me to run itunes from the external drive?
When My iMac fails will I be able to take the data from that folder for the new iMac?
Thanks,

I'd suggest you just drag the entire iTunes folder (the _entire_ folder, _not_ just the iTunes Music folder) to your desired location. Then hold down the Option key while launching iTunes. You'll be given a dialog box where you can select the iTunes library you want to use. Navigate to and select the iTunes folder in it's new location. Note that this procedure assumes that all of your content is contained in the iTunes Media/Music folder. If things are scattered around your drive, moving them becomes much more complex.
As to moving iPhoto, you may want to confirm the correct procedure for your version of iPhoto in the iPhoto forums.
Your iMac cannot be running Mac OS 9.2.x, by the way. It will help people offer advice if you'll correct that.
Regards.

Storing iPhoto 8 Library on an External Drive

I have some data on storing (moving) iPhoto 2 to an external HD. Does this apply to iPhoto 8? Can there be more than one Library stored? Any practical suggestions on doing this?
Thanks
Mike

Mike,
The process is very similar. Drag the iPhoto Library +package file+ (previous versions have a regular folder) from your Pictures folder to your external hard drive, and it will be copied there. Hold down the Option key as you Launch iPhoto, select "Choose Library" and navigate to the new location. iPhoto should open the library in exactly the same condition as before you moved it. It will continue to open the library from the new location by default unless you tell it otherwise.
You may keep as many iPhoto Libraries as you like. To create a new library, Option-Launch and select "Create Library", taking care to not overwrite an existing library. A downside of running multiple libraries is that iPhoto can only read one library at a time, so photos in one library are not accessible when viewing another. A benefit is that you can maintain a full library on an external drive and a smaller, partial library in your laptop for when you travel. You can easily transfer photos/events/albums from one library to another using [iPhoto Library Manager|http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm>. It is the only way to transfer your titles, keywords, and other organizational efforts between libraries.
Regards.

Best way to change Iphoto library referenced across multiple external drives

Hello,
I am relatively new to mac and I think I've gotten myself into trouble with my large collection of photos. I have a single iphoto library which references photos on multiple external drives. However, iphoto is now very slow to launch and I believe this is due to the number of photos (~160k+, I think) in the library. How should I reconfigure my iphoto library for better performance? I would still prefer to have a single library if possible, am willing to have multiple if necessary.
Is the best approach to destroy my iphoto library and recreate multiple libraries, one for each drive with the libraries being located on the external drives with the photos? Any negatives to this? I am really worried about losing photos.
From searching the forums I believe I have an approach but I am uncertain if it is the best way. Is the best approach to destroy my iphoto library and recreate multiple libraries, one for each drive with the libraries being located on the external drives with the photos? Any negatives to this? I am really worried about losing photos.
The library itself is on the main hard drive while the photos are spread across 3 external drives, with some on the main drive as well. I have been manually importing the photos through finder, then adding them to iphoto. I am using Iphoto 11.
Any tips, pointers, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

1 - a referenced library is extremely problematic and is strongly not recommended - especially one spread accross several volumes
2 - iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - can convert to a managed library - check the option to copy imported items to the iPhoto library and rebuil using IPLM
3 - this is likely to cure the slowness too
4 - multiple libraries are not necessary or desireable
5 - the only protection against losing photos is a great backup scheme - I run Time Machine giving me hourly backups and do a daily bootable clone giving a second backup - plus do an occasional off site backup
LN

Can TM restore iPhoto Library to Non-Startup External Drive?

My iPhoto Library, 39GB+ contents now "disappeared", resides on LaCie external drive to where I moved it from internal MacBook Pro drive few weeks ago to make more room. Now when I try to restore via TM, I get message that the original drive from which TM backed up does not have room for restoring, very logical. Somehow I need to direct the restoring process to the external LaCie if possible. Any way to do this? Otherwise I have to attempt restoration directly on the LaCie using iPhoto Library Manager, likely a tedious process if practicable. Thanks for any guidance.

What is the size of the resulting file on the external HD? Also how is the external HD formatted? If it's one of the FAT formats for PCs that may be the problem. Try copying that file back to your desktop and see if it will reconvert back to a library. If that's the case, reformat the HD to OS X Extended (journaled).
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.

Fix for iPhoto lost thumbnails on an external drive

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for