IPhoto/external hard drive woes

I use a WD external drive to store my iPhoto library. iPhoto has lost the link to the library (I assume through a non-ejected disconnect), but also doesn't prompt me to find the library when I open iPhoto. I can get it to prompt find library by renaming the library it creates, but when I select the correct iPhoto library from my external drive, I can't click ok! It's positively nonsensical... I can create new libraries, I can select other folders, just not the correct one. Do I need to create a new library and just reimport everything?? How much data would I lose that way? Completely bizarre.

I can get it to prompt find library by renaming the library it creates, but ... I can't click ok!
The one thing you don't describe having done is moving the "com.apple.iPhoto.plist" file to the trash. Include that step with the above and you should be able to click "OK".

Similar Messages

Iphoto external hard drive transfer to erased macbook pro does not look like my orgirinal

While on an Apple Care phone call, the tech had me erase my hard drive when logging me in as a test user did not fix the problem.
Mountain Lion is reinstalled but when I transferred my iPhoto Library from the external hard drive to my laptop, rather than putting in the 297 events & 11,292 photos that were on it, it put on some 48,000 photos and very few of my events are still original. Some photos show up 4 times, some randomly, some together.
It also has done strange cropping things with other photos, part of a face or objects shows up as if it had been cropped, it is a self-induced cropping. Very strange indeed. Information under the photos show lots of different letters and numbers that are foreign.
So, should I return to the Apple store? This is the second logic that has been put in in the month of December. One on December 12, picked it up on the 18th and it failed. Returned it and another logice board was put in. Is this a software problem, they re-installed Mountain Lion on December 30th.
Any help would be most appreciated. Hoping to not have to make another trip to Apple. Thanks.

I imported all info from the external hard drive to the new MacBook Pro. Seems most all data transferred ok.
Exactly what did you do? With iPhoto there is no "importing" involved - you simply drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the pictures folder of the new machine and launch iPhoto letting it convert as needed
With the following exception with iPhoto application,
You would do nothing with the iPhoto application - you use the new iPhoto application installed on yoru new system - you only move the iPhoto library as noted above
You can try Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your iPhoto library
LN

IPhoto, external hard drive and iPhoto Buddy

Currently, I use iPhoto Buddy on my iMac and store all my iPhoto databases on an external hard drive (about 5 data bases with 10,000 photos in each).
I have a need to take the databases with me on my MacBook this week and wanted to know the best way to do so. Would this work?
Download iPhoto Buddy on my MacBook and plug in my external hard drive. Map the databases to the external hard drive. Now I should be able to open up the iPhoto databases. But, what happens when I return and plug the external hard drive into the iMac and try opening the iPhoto database on the iMac? Will it be messed up since I made changes on the MacBook?
Are there any other, better solutions I should use? I want the changes I make this week on the MacBook to save when I plug that external hard drive into the iMac.
Thank you,
-D-
MacBook, iMac (duo) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

-D-:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You can do what you suggested - copy the 4 libraries to your MacBook and have iPhoto Buddy link them up in it's database so you can easily move between the two.
When you get back home one way to quickly update your iMac is to use a backup program likeSynk and backup the libraries from the MacBook to the iMac (DO NOT SYNC THE LIBRARIES - JUST BACKUP FROM THE MACBOOK TO THE IMAC). That will take much less time that copying all of the libraries back in their entirety. There are a number of backup apps you can use. Just do a search at VersionTracker.com for backup. The Feb. issue of MacWorld has a review of several backup programs.
If you need to move photos from one library to another you should consider iPhoto Library Manager which can move rolls/albums between libraries while preserving the keywords and comments like this.
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.

IPhoto External Hard Drive Backup Issues

Hi All,
I'm have trouble with iPhoto on my iMac G5.
I'm running out of space on my hard drive so I want to permanently move my iphoto library over to my external Lacie hard drive. I've created a copy of the iPhoto library on the external hard drive, but it does not update automatically when I add new photos, and ultimately I want to move the entire iPhoto libray over to this drive to save space on my iMac.
Any ideas on how to do this?
Thanks in advance
Sky

Sky:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. What you need to do is launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed and, when asked, opt to locate your library. Then navigate to the library on the external and select it.
If you have photos in your old library that you want to copy to the external library either drag the appropriate roll folder in the Originals folder into the open iPhoto window to import those files or use iPhoto Library Manager to cpy the rolls from the old library to the new one like this. This way you can retain any keywords or comments you've added to those files. When you're satisfied that your external library has all of the photos you can delete the one on your boot drive.
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.

External Hard Drive woes (possibly Time Machine related)

Hello everyone,
I am using one of the partitions on my WD My Passport for Mac (1 TB) partitioned into two sepaprate partions (both Mac OS Extended Journaled) of 500 GB each as my backup disk for Time Machine.
Now, Time Machine seems to work fine on it for some time. However, after a period of time (~5 hours) time machine stops working. Here are the relevant logs.
2/2/12 5:35:26.221 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
2/2/12 5:35:26.424 AM com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb
2/2/12 5:35:27.351 AM com.apple.backupd: 2.52 GB required (including padding), 243.30 GB available
2/2/12 5:35:39.920 AM com.apple.backupd: Copied 1408 files (49.3 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
2/2/12 5:35:40.073 AM com.apple.backupd: 2.46 GB required (including padding), 243.25 GB available
2/2/12 5:35:43.099 AM com.apple.backupd: Copied 876 files (199 bytes) from volume Macintosh HD.
2/2/12 5:35:43.631 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting post-backup thinning
2/2/12 5:35:43.631 AM com.apple.backupd: No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
2/2/12 5:35:43.655 AM com.apple.backupd: Backup completed successfully.
2/2/12 6:35:26.125 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
2/2/12 6:35:26.379 AM com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb
2/2/12 6:37:30.081 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (-50) Creating directory 2012-02-02-063730.inProgress
2/2/12 6:37:30.081 AM com.apple.backupd: Failed to make snapshot container.
2/2/12 6:37:43.118 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly size:37
2/2/12 6:37:53.131 AM com.apple.backupd: Backup failed with error: 2
2/2/12 7:35:25.953 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
2/2/12 7:35:26.129 AM com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb
2/2/12 7:35:26.190 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly size:37
2/2/12 7:35:26.192 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly size:37
2/2/12 7:35:36.207 AM com.apple.backupd: Backup failed with error: 2
2/2/12 8:35:25.847 AM com.apple.backupd: Starting standard backup
2/2/12 8:35:26.020 AM com.apple.backupd: Backing up to: /Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb
2/2/12 8:35:26.076 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly size:37
2/2/12 8:35:26.078 AM com.apple.backupd: Error: (22) setxattr for key:com.apple.backupd.HostUUID path:/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly size:37
2/2/12 8:35:36.091 AM com.apple.backupd: Backup failed with error: 2
When this happens, the Hard Drive makes beeping noises (each time Time Machine tries to access it). It refuses to unmount, and Disk Utility refuses to either verify or repair the hard drive. Forcibly unplugging the hard drive and replugging it does not help either. It makes beeping noises for about half a minute and then goes quiet. However, neither is it mounted nor is it visible in the disk utility.
The only way I have managed to fix this is to plug the hard drive in another mac, where it mounts without any problem. I then run disk utility to verify the hard drive (on that mac) and then when I replug the drive to my laptop, it works. Until it breaks again.
The only other "error" related to my external hard drive that I have found in system logs is also pasted below:
2/2/12 12:50:07.161 AM com.apple.backupd: Error (256): fetching properties: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=256 "The file “objects.nib” couldn’t be opened." UserInfo=0x7f9097807460 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh%20HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/ar.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/ar.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f9097833650 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Not a directory"}
2/2/12 12:50:07.289 AM com.apple.backupd: Error (256): fetching properties: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=256 "The file “objects.nib” couldn’t be opened." UserInfo=0x7f9097096050 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh%20HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/hu.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/hu.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f9097095f40 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Not a directory"}
2/2/12 12:50:07.294 AM com.apple.backupd: Error (256): fetching properties: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=256 "The file “objects.nib” couldn’t be opened." UserInfo=0x7f9097359940 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh%20HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/ko.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/ko.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f90973598e0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Not a directory"}
2/2/12 12:50:07.313 AM com.apple.backupd: Error (256): fetching properties: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=256 "The file “objects.nib” couldn’t be opened." UserInfo=0x7f909772fc90 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh%20HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/sv.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/sv.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f909772bcc0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Not a directory"}
2/2/12 12:50:07.326 AM com.apple.backupd: Error (256): fetching properties: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=256 "The file “objects.nib” couldn’t be opened." UserInfo=0x7f909709b6f0 {NSURL=file://localhost/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh%20HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSFilePath=/Volumes/Mridanga/Backups.backupdb/googly/2012-02-01-222347/Macintosh HD/System/Library/ColorPickers/NSColorPickerWheel.colorPicker/Resources/zh_CN.lproj/NSColorPickerWheel.nib/objects.nib, NSUnderlyingError=0x7f9097095e30 "The operation couldn’t be completed. Not a directory"}
I don't know what the problem is, but I would like to be able to use an external. I also have another external plugged in my computer (NTFS, and I have NTFS write enabled via http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/) and that hard drive works perfectly. Also, the problem was there before I enabled NTFS write so nothing was harmed in enabling NTFS write.
System Info
OS X 10.7.3 (problem existed with 10.7.2) as well
RAM: 8 GB
Macbook Pro 15" (i7 2.2 GHz, 2011 model)

OSX is having trouble reading or writing to the drive. That's usually hardware (the drive, port, or cable).
Try different ports, cables, and combinations of the two (a plug that works fine in one port may not make good contact in a different one).
Be sure it's connected directly to your Mac -- no hubs or daisy chains, and not a port on your keyboard.
Also, what Partition Map Scheme does the drive have? (Check via Disk Utility - select the top line for the drive -- it should show at the lower right.)

More external hard drive woes.

Hi all,
I'm using an old Seagate U Series 5 (30GB) that I harvested out of an older computer along with an external hard drive enclosure. It's been initialized and formatted to HFS+ and is at the moment completely empty. However, when I try to transfer large files or large amounts of files (more than around 800MB), it stops at anywhere from 400MB to 1.2GB through and just keeps on displaying the progress bar with whatever estimated time it had left before. Nothing short of unplugging the drive will cancel the operation. This has actually happened with a different hard drive (even older, though) and I've used two different kinds of enclosures. Any ideas?

Shutting down your Mac without properly ejecting your drive (put icion in trash) can fry an external drive. I know, I did it! Maybe you'll have some luck with my tips.
Thought you could use this info about getting FireWire to work!
First, you should always Repair Permissions in Disk Utility before and after any update; I would do that now. If you installed your update with FireWire plugged in, your Mac may not recognize it anymore.
Try resetting your FireWire ports by disconnecting all FW devices, shut down your Mac and unplug it from AC power (wall socket) for 30 minutes. plug it back in and try FW.
If that still didn't get it Zap the PRAM. While restarting Mac hold down the following key combo Command-Option-P-R. Keep holding those keys down till you hear the second start-up chime, then release.
For those of you with Macs that are not PowerBooks or iBooks, a bad internal battery can cause FireWire to not be recognized, so make sure it's good! Also, here is Apple doc.#88338 on getting FireWire to work.
Here's some more FW tips.
 Cheers! DALE

Iphoto/external hard drive

Aloha,
I would like my iphoto to live on my external LaCie hard drive, so I can free up all of that space on my emac. How would I do that?
I have it all data backed up daily onto my hard drive, but I believe that means that the total of my iphoto program and library are then on both.
I would like to be able to open Iphoto from my dock, but have it live on the hard drive.
I also have Iphoto backed up to idisk everyday as well.
Any ideas?
Thanks so much, C.

C:
What you want to do is put your iPhoto Library package, not the application, on the external HD. Move it first to the Desktop and then copy to the external HD. Now launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed and, when asked, select Find Library, navigate to the external HD and select the library there. Once you have it up and running successfully you can delete the library that's on your Desktop.
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 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. 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.

ESATA external hard drive woes under Bootcamp

Hi everyone,
I have just taken delivery of a early 2009 MBPro 17 inch and a WD MyBook USB/eSATA/Firewire external HD.
I am trying to use the MyBook with eSATA in bootcamp with a generic expresscard that utilises the Silcon Image Sil3132 chip. I'm only wanting to use it as a single drive with no RAID. The drive shows up and works fine when booting into Leopard but under bootcamp it is nowhere to be seen in explorer. I have installed the ATA controller driver and in control panel it shows up as it's own "app" (and even tells me theres a WD drive attached to it). It also shows up in Device Manager under SCSI/RAID controllers as "Silicon Image SIL 3132 Softraid 5 controller.
In the device info panel this is what i see:
Available controllers: SIL 3132 revision 1
Location: PCI bus 6 device 0
IRQ number: 5 (0x5)
Device location: Channel 1 Target 1
Type: Disk Drive
Model: WD My Book
Firmware revision: 01.00A01
Serial number: blah blah
ATA version: ATA/ATAPI-6
Current transfer mode: Ultra DMA mode 6
Host link speed: Generation 2 (3.0gb/s)
Device link speed: Generation 2 (3.0gb/s)
Look Ahead: Unsupported
Write Cache: enabled
But as for gaining access to the drive in Explorer, it isn't recognised.
Am i missing something here?
I am really stuck with this, so if anyone can help i'd be very grateful.
Cheers
John

Where / how can i find that information?
When i "get info" in Leopard it just says it's formatted as "Windows NT File System"
It came formatted as FAT32 but i reformatted in NTFS. Leopard has read and write access thanks to Paragon.
Windows on the other hand can see it if it's plugged into the USB socket, but not under eSATA.
I was wondering maybe that the express card slot might not be fully supported under Bootcamp, meaning no matter what you plug into it the thing won't ever work properly?
The express card is an unnamed generic one with this chip: SiI3132 - PCI Express (1x) to 2 Port SATA300
Drivers are here..supposedly: http://www.siliconimage.com/support/searchresults.aspx?pid=32&cat=3&os=4

External Hard Drive Woes

I just the other day moved my 130+ gig. iTunes music folder to a portable external drive. I changed the itunes music folder location in the advanced prefrence, and restarted iTunes. Now, an apparently random, but quite sizable number, of songs won't play because of the exclamation point stating that the original file cannot be found. I know I could just re-import them all, but I would lose an extensive playlist library, as well as all of my import dates, ratings, and play counts. Is there any way to get itunes to recognize the files, or am I doomed to either "Find Song" for 10,000 songs, or have to lose all that info?

It would be wonderful if some way was invented to do track-file re-association automatically, but I figure it isn't easy..
Check http://dougscripts.com/itunes/scripts/scripts07.php?page=4 for iTunes Track CPR v1.3 and some of the other scripts that do similar things.

How can I use one external hard drive for both Time Machine and iPhoto Library?

I have been using a 1 TG LaCie external hard drive for Time Machine backups. My (older) Mac has 160 GB and is almost full. I would like to move my iPhoto Library to the external hard drive, but I've heard Time Machine doesn't share one space well. Should I
1. create another partition (but will this erase what I've already saved) with Disk Utility? *I am running Snow Leopard*
2. create another volume to use for iPhoto, and if so, should the two volumes be of equal size?
3. leave it with one partition and move the iPhoto Library to the same partition with Time Machine back ups?
I know I don't need the entire 1 TG for back up of 160 GBs. Please advise the best path to take. Thank you!

You are getting incorrect information from your ASP. If you look at drive specifications the heat generated is no different for high vs low capacity drives.
I have upgraded the internal drive in my iMac 2007 with a 3TB Hitachi drive without any heat issues or other problems.
Larger hard drives have higher density platters so to access any given amount data the drives travel a shorter distance. Higher capacity drives should therefore run cooler than lower density drives because the drive spends less time spinning to access data.

I need to delete a lot of duplicates on iPhoto. I just bought my MacBook Pro and was so excited I downloaded my external hard drive without thinking through the process. I now realize I had my photos doubled up. So I actually have the same library twice.

Hello All!
I am so excited about my new computer and I didn't know that my external hard drive had so many pictures duplicated on it. So I downloaded the entire hard drive. I thought iPhoto was going to be my answer, and now after reading a lot of discussions, it seems I have royally screwed up. Please help me fix this problem. I am a computer novice. An even more Mac novice. I need very simple directions. I would just start over with iPhoto, but I downloaded my digital camera with brand new photos on iPhoto and also downloaded my digital camera software on my new MacBookPro. I am afraid if I "start over" with iPhoto I will lose my digital camera pictures. I bought the Mac to finally get my pictures straight, and look at the mess I have made. I had AVG PC cleanup and used that program last night to delete duplicates from my PC. I also used it to delete duplicates from my external hard drive. I omega. I know, I know, too late huh? But I am teachable. And I now have my external hard drive fixed. But now, my question to the community is how to fix my new Mac, and my iPhoto.
Thanks,

SweetThunder73 wrote:
When you say to remove the photos out of the iPhoto folder, then import the clean single copies, I am understanding that the "original" file that the decloner was run against is now the "clean" single copies?
Ok, you've got iPhoto Library that you have imported everything into, you can't delete the iPhoto Library and start over because you have only one copy of some pictures in there, combined with a lot of duplicates.
You want all the duplicates out, but it will take you ages to do it by hand.
What you do is.
1: Right click on the iPhoto Library and "Show Package Contents"
2: You will see a folder called Originals, these are all your original photo's, copy this folder to a external drive someplace, it's your backup.
3: Select the Originals folder again and from the Finder Menu > File > Duplicate.
4: Now you will have a OriginalsCopy folder, move that OriginalsCopy folder onto the desktop area out of the iPhoto Library folder. Close the iPhoto Library folder/window.
5: Download the Decloner software and install it, use it to find all the "real" duplicates, via it's content on the OriginalsCopy folder.
6: From the Finder menu > New Folder, now send the duplicate files to that folder, so all that is left in the OriginalsCopy folder is 1 copy of your pictures, minus all the duplicates which are now in New Folder.
7: Open iPhoto and remove all your pictures in there. The iPhoto Library will update to become empty.
8: Now import the pictures from the OriginalsCopy folder, these will now have only one copy of each picture.
9: Open your New Folder, from the Edit menu > Select All and
10 From the Finder > File Menu > Open With > Preview.
Now you have one copy in your iPhoto Library and the duplicates in a New Folder opened with Preview which you can compare to make sure.
Make as many backups of your pictures as you think you need during this prcess, but eventually you only want 1 picture of all you have in the iPhoto Library.
Some pictures may be the same thing but a little smaller etc., these obviously are not duplicates, and you can weed those out by hand in iPhoto.
Good Luck.

I downloaded the iPhoto update and now it won't open the library on my external hard drive telling me it is locked (which it isn't) what do i do?

i downloaded the iPhoto update and now it won't open the library on my external hard drive telling me it is locked (which it isn't) what do i do?

What version of iPhoto?
What format is the disk?

I just had to reformat the external hard drive that houses my iPhoto library, then restore it from a backup. Now Time Machine is telling me my backup hard drive suddenly does not have the space to complete a backup. I also noticed when I go in to Time Mac

I just had to reformat the external hard drive that houses my iPhoto library, then restore it from a backup. Now Time Machine is telling me my backup hard drive suddenly does not have the space to complete a backup. I also noticed when I go in to Time Machine, there are only about 5 backups recorded on the ext. hard drive. There were many more before. Any idea what happened and if I have to buy a new back up hard drive?

Hallo Kieth ,
I am not quite ready to restore the full iphoto library , as I have days of work re - imputting titles,descriptions and enhancement . I hope that your suggestion works , as I use my Macbook basically to work with digital photography. Through time , I will need to delete my library to recover more disc space and I would hate to have to spend more time re - imputting titles and descriptions all over again .
Thanks for your interest and advice.
regards - Alan

I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite. Beforehand I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE. I then in

I upgraded MacbookPro 2009 from 10.6.8 to Yosemite 2 weeks ago. My iphoto is now a nightmare. i went to our local apple retailer but they could not help either. Perhaps someone can help. Beforehand the OS upgrade I made a backup copy of my Iphoto library onto an external hard drive. Lets call it BU with 50GB. I also deleted half of my photos from the default library on my laptop, lets call it DE, now with about 20GB, to gain space. I then upgraded to Yosemite.
I have also installed since a long time Iphoto Library Manager 3.8.6. (this may be the cause of the problem as it was not upgraded and perhaps thus not compatible with iphoto 9.6 which I have now after the upgrade to Yosemite) It all worked fine before the upgrade, switching in iphoto between the two libraries DE and BU.
It also worked fine after the upgrade for a few days. At one stage Iphoto asked me to upgrade the iphoto version as it otherwise could not read the photos when I tried to load the BU library into iphoto. I did click yes to upgrade iphoto. As a result I became a brand new but totally empty library, no photos.
BU was still on the external disc, however the "Master" file was empty. We fortunately discovered all photos were in another file called Old Master, also under BU. We made another copy of the Old Master file onto the external disc. Lucky we did, because shortly afterwards we could not open anymore the BU file thus had no access to anything in there. Now I have 17000 photos in a file called Old Master on my external disc and another smaller library DE on my laptop. When I tried to import the photos from Old Master into a new iphoto library it was very messy. All events dates were mixed up, many photos were imported twice. I have no idea whether all my 17000 photos have been imported.
Can anyone suggest what is the most time efficient way? How do I best import my 17000 into a new library ensuring I don't loose any in the process. I do not wish sorting through 17000 photos for a week or so. Shall i also get a new iphoto library version now? Thank you for anything that may work.

Yes, the Old Master file has a folder for each year where I find all photos from that specific year. I am attaching a screen shot of the file.
In the meantime i have managed to download all photos (it did not download any video files though in mpg, avi, 3gp, m4v,mp4 and mov format) to a new iphoto library. Unfortunately the photos are quite mixed and often doubled up. I ma considering to purchase iphoto library which checks all duplicates in iphoto. this will save me a lot of time. What do you think?

I have a new MAcBook Air and my photos don't fit on the internal hard drive. I want to store my photos on an external hard drive which I will connect to my Air when using Iphoto. How do I set an external hard drive as the default drive?

I have a new MAcBook Air and my photos don't fit on the internal hard drive. I want to store my photos on an external hard drive which I will connect to my Air when using Iphoto. How do I set an external hard drive as the default drive in Iphoto?

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.
Regards
TD

IPhoto/external hard drive woes

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