IPhoto data folder gone, threw it out by mistake

I threw out the data folder called 2005 by mistake and when I emptied the trash my iPhoto stopped working, i.e. there are no pictures showing up when I open it. Can I reload the program from the software discs that came with my Mac mini, and if so how should I do it?

Liam,
Let's try creating anew library and see what photos you can get back.
Close iPhoto
Rename your messed up iPhoto Library to "iPhoto Library_old"
Drag this library to your desktop
Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto
This is the window you will get
Create a new library or choose a library to open
Choose to create a new library
Once this new empty library is open it is time to import the images from your old library
Go to File>add to library
Navigate to the old library on your desktop and highlight it in the window, then click the "open" button.
iPhoto will start importing the images from your old library
This is what to expect:
Your images will be imported in nice dated rolls. (make sure your view is set to sort by rolls to see it) There are a couple of caveats to this. You will get rolls named "Originals" These rolls will contain your video clips and your original images that you had edited. If you had RAW files they would be in those rolls too (I don't do RAW, so I don't know for sure) Delete what you don't want from those rolls. You will also get the jpeg pointer files to your video clips imported. They will just be jpegs and will not point to the video clips anymore as iPhoto made new ones when the clips were imported again. You can delete those. they should be in a roll right next to the newly imported video clips so they are not hard to find. The thumbnail files don't get imported as iPhoto makes new ones when the images are imported.
Once all you images have been imported, check through the library and make sure everything looks ok.
You can now start making your Albums, and do your keywords or any other organizational steps.
You can also delete the old library on the desktop.
It is also a good time to backup this new library to CD/DVD by burning the iPhoto LIbrary folder in the Finder, or copying the iPhoto Library folder to an external drive formatted for Macs, or copying the iPhoto LIbrary folder to an iPod.
Good luck!

Similar Messages

I accidently moved my iphoto data folder...how to restore thumbnails?

When trying to make space on my computer, I moved the iphoto data folder. Now all my thumbnails on iphoto are blank, but I can still see my pictures if I click on the blank thumbnail. Help! How can I restore the thumbnail images?

Put the Data folder back?
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,, deleting them or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.

IPhoto data folder missing

Hello -
It may be a stupid question but I just transferred iphoto from old PowerBook G4 to the new MBPro. And I can't find the iPhoto Data folder through the finder. The photos have transferred, they show up in iPhoto, and the data folder shows in spotlight but not in the finder. Are my settings wierd? or is this Leopard?
Thanks

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Since the Data folder only contrains the thumbnail files used by iPhoto why would you want to access that folder? Larry's link to how to access your files is what you need to use to see how to get to your files for use outside iPhoto.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 or later), 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 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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.
Note: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Iphoto data folder different than originals and modified

Some of the thumbnails in my Iphoto library have no picture file linked to them.
I played with some pictures which were brought onto my computer from a camera with the time poorly set up. In doing so, some of the pictures in the data folder cannot be found in Iphoto. They are all there when I search through the originals and modified folders. It seems I may be able to replace contents of the data folder with contents from the orig/mod folders, seeing as all of the data is on an external drive.
I routed Iphoto to use the backed up library as its source. All seems well, except for the folder issue. Is there and easy solution?

I moved a bunch of folders around to open up space on my meager 80g HD Macbook so I could up grade to SL and not risk loosing any data. I moved the iphoto library to the external HD. I may have updated a previous back up and not changed the Data folder in the process. I think I updated the original and modified folders only into the HD's previous iphoto backup. The only folders I moved out of the original Iphoto folder in "pictures" were the modified and original folders because they were the largest files. The data folder and all others remain unchanged.
Once SL was up and running smoothly, I opened Iphoto with the option button pressed and chose the program to read the pics from the Iphoto library on the external drive.
Interestinly, When I did the same thing with my Itunes library it took about 20 minutes to load the library, in contrast, Iphoto was instant. Like it was reading the data folder within the computers HD and searching for the picture in the external. Movie clips seem to not be working at all. They don't seem to open QT automatically, or even work when it's open.

Iphoto 8: Folder Gone!

After installing new iLife, the folder containing all photos in "2007" disappeared, leaving 2004-2006 OK.
Also, cannot access or attach iPhoto photos from desktop as before. Am rebuilding now to see if that makes a difference.
Any suggestions?

twomblym
Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
After installing new iLife, the folder containing all photos in "2007" disappeared, leaving 2004-2006 OK.
Where do you see this? he iPhoto Window?
Also, cannot access or attach iPhoto photos from desktop as before. Am rebuilding now to see if that makes a difference.
It won't make a difference. With iPhoto 7 the iPhoto Library Folder has become a iPhoto Package File.
There are three ways (at least) to get files from the iPhoto Window.
1. Drag and Drop: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.
2. File -> Export: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.
3. Show File: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.
To upload to MySpace or any site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.
This is also true for emailing with Web-based services.
If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves. If you're willing to risk database corruption, you can restore the older functionality simply by right clicking on the iPhoto Library and choosing 'Show Package Contents'. Then simply make an alias to the folders you require and put that alias on the desktop or where ever you want it. Be aware though, that this is a hack and not supported by Apple.
Regards
TD

Photos in Data folder not appearing in iPhoto albums

I was looking through some older albums the other day and noticed that many of them only had 1 picture in them. It did not contain a bunch of other missing photos, but rather no other photos at all. After freaking out for a second, I went into the iPhoto Library ("Show package contents") and in the Data folder under the album name for that year, found the JPG files for all these photos.
Is there a way to "rebuild" the iPhoto database or something? It seems to not be synchronized with the contents of the Data folder. I'm wondering how many other albums this may have happened to.
I did recently (in the last 6 months) upgrade to iPhoto '08 so I'm wondering if it's some strange side effect of the upgrade process.

LarryHN wrote:
1 - are you talking about albums (the logical entities that link to photos in the library) or events - the primary way to display the contents of your library
I'm talking about the Events themselves but also the Albums that I created using pictures in those Events.
2 - it is recommended that you do not mess around in the iPhoto library - doing so can corrupt or library and create problems
I was not messing around but rather confirming that there were still JPG files in there as opposed to them having disappeared completely.
3 - the photos in the data folder are not associated with albums - they are the thumbnails for displaying photos in events or albums
Cool, that helps. I checked the Originals folder and found the original JPGs there too. I'm sure they're not thumbnails because they are all 600KB+.
4 - you can rebuild by launching iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) and command (apple) keys and choosing the first three rebuild options - but this does not sound like a good bet
Why is rebuilding not a good idea?
5 - can you describe your situation in a bit more detail using the iPhoto terminology so we are all talking about the same things
Hope that helped!
Thanks,
Bradley

I have lost pictures in iPhoto, but I can see them in the data folder, except they are only thumbnail size. They will not open at regular size and are showing unreadable in the "originals" folder. I've rebuilt and nothing is restoring these pics.

I have lost pictures in my iPhoto. We moved my iPhoto to a external hard drive and I believe since then, I have random pics missing. Some pics will show up in the "photos" and some show with a title and a blank picture. When I click on "package contents" in iPhoto, I have found the "Originals" folder where all the pics are pulling from and the file is there but won't open. However, in the DataXML folder under package contents, I can open the file but it is much smaller (supposed to be 1 MG, but showing in the data folder as 63kb). How can I get these pics restored in the Originals folder? I've rebuilt the library several times and I just ran the iPhoto Library Manager and it won't pull from the data file. Help!!

Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
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 File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Deleted Data folder in iPhoto, now NO photos!

I just deleted my Data folder thinking it would free some space on my computer. Stupid, I know. I tried rebuilding my thumbnails and such but only have 7 photos to import (from my iPhone). Where did they go? And how can I restore them?
I can view the thumbnails in my Pictures file but I can't move them over to iPhoto. What do I do?

1 - remember two rules:
-- Always have a current backup so when something happens -and it will - you can simply load your backup
-- never make any changes of any sort to the contents or structure of any database - including iPhoto
2 - unless you can restore your data folder exactly as it was before you deleted it you will have to start over - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library to the desktop - launch iPhoto and create a new library - open the iPhoto library on your desktop and open the originals folder and drag each folder in it onto the iPhoto library window (or on the iPhoto icon in the dock) - this will recreate events with all of your photos - no edits, no projects, albums, keepsakes, MobileMe galleries, etc
Once your new library is finished and tested you can trash the remaining parts of the iPhoto library that is on your desktop
LN

Yikes, half my photos have gone to iphoto.data....

Half my photos disappeared from my library, I found them in iphoto library DATA but how do i get them back in my library? It won't let me import them back...
imac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

David,
Rebuilding the thumbnails is okay to do and should not cause problems. (Although I've read several threads where the database broke after a rebuild attempt. I don't know why this happens.)
If your backup is current, from right before the upgrade, I think you should try to have iPhoto open it as your library. Is it a backup of the entire iPhoto Library folder, with all pieces inside intact? (Or did you only copy folders and files inside that folder?) A complete iPhoto Library folder should work. Here's how to do it.
Make a backup of your backup Library folder, just in case. Move the current, broken iPhoto Library folder (the whole thing) outside of your Pictures Folder. Rename it (iPhoto Library Broken). Move your original backup iPhoto Library folder into the Pictures folder. Hold down the Option key and launch iPhoto. You will be asked to create a new library or choose one. Click choose, and navigate it to the backup library. If the backup is a version 5 library, iPhoto will probably tell you it needs to update it. Allow it to update. Hopefully nothing goes awry again. Perhaps you should disable your Mac's sleep mode before doing this, so it doesn't try to sleep or shut down during the library update.
Old Toad has a tip about a file inside the iPhoto Library folder called "Library6.iPhoto". This is only created by version 6 of iPhoto. If your update is successful this could help in future. Keep a current copy of this file, because in the event of a power disruption while iPhoto is writing to its database, this file can get corrupted and ruin the whole library. If you keep it backed up and the database gets damaged, you can replace the broken file with the backup and restore your library without having to start over again.
Let us know if your backup is able to update and function properly. If it doesn't work, you will need to elicit the help of Old Toad or Terence Devlin.

Movies gone after exporting out of iphoto

does anyone know why my movies were reduced to mere pictures after i exported them out of iphoto? they were working fine in iphoto, but took up too much space so i wanted to put them with other movies on a disc. and now there only pictures, no more movies. what happened and how can i get the whole movie back? please help!

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. What are the options you're using to export the movie file? Have you run the latest iPhoto updates? Other's have reported that but I think the latest update has fixed it as I can export with either the Original or Current format option and get the full .mov file.
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.

Iphoto Library: Data Folder versus Originals Folder

Hi. I've been trying to save some space. I realized that I have the same photo stored in 3 different folders: my personal file folder (from where I imported), and within the "iphoto library" in 2 different folders: Originals and Data Folder.
I got rid of the first one (the personal folder - the source). I still have them duplicated in the data and originals folder within the iphoto library.
While reading thru this forum, many people recommend not to mess up with this folders. Thougts?....I still have thousands of duplicates.
Also, how can I share this library with other account on the same computer....without duplicating again??? Thanks.

Carlos
Move the iPhoto Library Folder to the Users/Shared folder OR an external HD.
Set the Permissions on the iPhoto Library Folder to allow everybody read/write access.
In your account - and each account in turn - hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. Select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location you have for the iPhoto Library Folder.
From that point on the iPhoto Library Folder will be the default location for each account, so each use shares access and ownership of the library, and any change made by one user is visible to all.
Now for the caveat: iPhoto is NOT designed for multiple users It simply does not have the code to support more than one person accessing the library at the same time. If more that one person manages to access it, (and that can happen) then the chances of database corruption is increased exponentially. If both users try to write to the database file - by changing something, for instance - then the db will be corrupted. So backing up is the order of the day.
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.
Regards
TD

Modifying the iPhoto Library Data Folder

Having no idea what havoc it would reek with my iPhoto, I changed the folder names in my Library Data so I could better organize my large (8 mega pixel) originals. I tried re-setting with the command-option suggestion in this forum but I only los more photos and I think my only option is to re-import.
BUT, I'm wondering what I have to do to re-name my large original files once they've been imported into iPhoto. I don't know... I'm all lost with this program for some reason.
Thanks for any help you all can send my way.
-gigiproj-

I changed the folder names in my Library Data so I could better organize my large (8 mega pixel) originals.<<<</div>
iPhoto IS an organizer and your error was in attempting to do the job yourself. The bottom line is that you should NEVER use the Finder to tamper with the innards of the iPhoto Library folder. It's comparable to opening the hood of your car and tampering with the wires and hoses and then expecting the car to run properly afterwards. It's a sure invitation to bleeding ulcers. You can rename the library folder (perhaps because you want several libraries) and you can move it as an entity but don't open it up.
Truthfully, your best recovery at this point is to start all over again. I suggest that you move the library to the desktop and, since it's no longer useful, open it up and trash everything except the Originals folder. Then, open iPhoto and allow it to create a brand new (empty) library. From INSIDE iPhoto, import your photos.
Now, for your problem. Open up the "Information" pane via the "i" at the lower left of the screen. Use that to change the titles of the photos. Go to the View menu and check Titles. Now, while you're inside iPhoto, the titles will replace the file names. If you need to give these files to someone else and you want the title to be reflected as the name, File/Export them to the desktop and select "Use title" as the name.
Go here for a tutorial
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304770
and post back should you need more help.

IPhoto 08 - Original Folder gone

I am using iPhoto 08 and I have over 10,000 pictures. I wanted to move my pictures to an external drive but when I went to look for the Originals folder there is not one. I have been using Time Machine to back up my pictures and all of my pictures are in my iPhoto Library. How can I restore the Originals Folder? Where are my pictures saving to?

LuAnneJackson
With iPhoto 7 (iLife 08) the old iPhoto Library Folder is now a Unix Style Package File. The change was made to the format of the iPhoto library because many users were inadvertently corrupting their library by browsing through it with other software or making changes in it themselves.
You can look inside the Library by right clicking on the icon in the Pictures Folder and choosing Show Package Contents.
To back up your Library simply back up the iPhoto Library in your Pictures Folder. You can do incremental back ups with applications such as Chronosync and DejaVu
Regards
TD

My iphoto library folder with files of my pictures is missing from the pictures folder, only the application icon remains. I have read through similar discussions but have not managed to fix the problem with the recommended solutions. Can anyone help?

I have a Macbook Pro with iphoto '08 running on Mac OS X version 10.5.8. I used to be able to go to my pictures folder on my HD and access my pictures via that iphoto library folder. There used to be a small arrow next to the iphoto icon with all the albums then listed within the folder (to the right). That arrow is now gone and all I have is the iphoto application icon which just reopens iphoto when I click on it, but I want to be able to access the data files. Somehow I do have files btwn 2008 and 2009 but it hasn't created these since then...Could someone please help me to restore this ability? I have read other similar posts but they seem to be related to lost data all together and I do luckily have all my pictures in iphoto still. I just can't access them in the pictures folder which means I can't access them on my external hard drive. I am now out of start up disc space somehow so I figured I had to delete some albums (I have 12,090 pictures) and do have them backed up but want to make sure I can go back for them when I need them. I did export all the pictures to a folder on the hard drive but it is all 12,090 in one long list with only numbers as names and not in any order, this will be a nightmare to access later! Please help! Thank you!

You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto.
That indicates that that is your library. Put it in your Pictures folder if it already isn't there and make sure it's named "iPhoto Library". It should look like this:
Now launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select that library to open. If you get that same message close iPhoto and try the following;
Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
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 File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Frantic-Photo's not in Iphoto but in iphoto library folder

Yes, i did something very stupid, but i went into my iphoto folder through my hardrive, and to "clean up" that folder, i dumped all the stray files into a simgle folder. Then i checked iphoto and there was nothing there. Nearly passing out, i went back to the iphoto files through my hardrive and all the files were still there, so i tried to dump them all back into the intial iphoto library folder. I checked iphoto again, and still there was nothing there. So i am stuck, i havn't lost my photo's but i can't see them in photo. If there is a way to get them back, and maybe maintain my filing system in iphoto itself that would be great.
Thanks
R

Hi, I have a similar problem to Richard's.
Last night I unwrapped my brand new Lacie external drive and thought, how difficult could it be? I installed it and then immediately backed up my iphoto and imusic libraries and other documents. Then I set about getting rid of files on my Powerbook, which was running out of room.
After first carefully checking ot make sure that iphoto could read the photos on the Lacie drive, I 'noticed' that in my Finder window, I had a pictures file in the sidebar, as well as in my user directory. It seemed to be the exact same file, with the exact same amount of data. I thought it was a duplicate! So I trashed -- not only that, I 'secure' trashed -- the extra pictures file in my user directory, along with other files. I had about 18,000 files chugging through the trash. After about 1,000 files were gone I got cold feet and stopped the trash operation. That's when I retried iphoto, only this time there were no pictures in the library. I tried to get iphoto to point to the backup files on the Lacie, and it would still not show any photos.
The good news is, I know the photos are there. I can see individual files on the Lacie. The bad news is, I think i've really screwed up my finder window on my Powerbook-- the pictures file no longer exists. I made it again, and put it in my user directory, but these new file folders are lacking the cute little photo icon (ditto for itunes, but i figure i'll solve the iphoto problem first).
So: now I have a new pictures file in my user directory on my powerbook; I have copied all the items from the Lacie backup picture file into the picture file on my powerbook. And iphoto still can't see the photos. A few times iphoto has asked me to choose the library -- i've tried pointing to the backup library on the Lacie, but it won't read it -- says there is some sort of problem. (I am thinking maybe it is because I included an apostrophe in the Lacie Drive's name? I'm afraid to rename the Lacie Drive because I don't know how to do it without wiping the backup.)
In the meantime I'm trying to import photos from the old library. It is chugging away. 9,000 photos total. Problem is, my iphoto library was heavily edited. (I had deleted bad shots and had only about 5k shots). Will I now have to re-delete bad shots, re-crop, and add in all new comments? That would kill me.
Thanks for any help.

IPhoto data folder gone, threw it out by mistake

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for