Library consolidation and disc space

Question

Dear Mac community
When the latest iPhoto 6 update (6.06) was installed, it didn't contain my active iPhoto library. I realized that it was probably because that library a) wasn't named iPhoto Library, and b)wasn't in the "my pictures" folder. The larger problem was that there are multiple libraries in different locations in my HD, some with imported (copied) photos, others originals.
Solution was to consolidate all libraries into a new one. Bought and tried to use iPhoto library manager, and started merging 2 libraries. After some time, I got a "startup disc nearing capacity" notice, and realized it was copying all my photos to the new library, not moving them. I cancelled the migration with 165mb left on my HD.
Questions:
1) What is the best way to consolidate several photo libraries, with a mix of good and probably corrupted files?
2) When doing that consolidation, how can I keep within the capacity of my HD
3) What libraries/folders can I then delete without risk of losing my original images?
Many thanks!

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Let’s get the really important stuff out of the way first:
OS X needs about 10 gigs of hard drive space for normal OS operations - things like virtual memory, temporary files and so on. Without this space your Mac will slow down as the OS hunts for space on the disk, files will be fragmented, also slowing things down, apps will crash and the risk of data corruption - that is damage to your files, photos, music - increases exponentially. Your first priority is to make more space on that HD. Nothing else can be done until you do. Purchase an external HD and move your Photos and Music to it. Both iPhoto and iTunes can run perfectly well with the Library on an external disk.
When the latest iPhoto 6 update (6.06) was installed, it didn't contain my active iPhoto library
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
1) What is the best way to consolidate several photo libraries, with a mix of good and probably corrupted files?
As you’ve tried, using iPhoto Library Manager.
2) When doing that consolidation, how can I keep within the capacity of my HD
The only way to do this is to make space on the HD.
3) What libraries/folders can I then delete without risk of losing my original images?
Once you’ve merged two libraries, it depends: dis you merge Library A into Library B? Then you can trash Library A. Did you merge A and B and into a new Library C? Then trash A and B.
Regards
TD