Lost iphoto originals file

I have somehow managed to lose the pictures from my iphoto - the albums are there and say how many pictures are in each but the pictures are represented by a grey thumbnail.
Ive tried to look in finder in show package contents but I neither have a file in there called originals or master??!! HELP - my pictures date back to 2003!

If you do not have a backup and if you do not have the original photos and if the trash has been emptied then they are gone
check the iPhoto trash and the system trash
And for the future you must alway have a good curtrent backup - without one it is only a matter of time untill you lose your files and photos - people, cpomputers and software ll make mistakes adn you need a backup as insurance
And NEVER make any changes of any sort to the structur or content of t eiPhoto library - doing so will corrupt the library
LN

Similar Messages

  • IPhoto Originals File now by Date and not Event - why?

    Ever since I upgraded to iPhoto 09, I realized the original file structure in the iPhoto Library has changed back to Dates, rather than by Events, even though all my photos belong in a non-date event. This is the same as Iphoto 06. I got used to the Event structure in iPhoto 08.
    All my previous events are still intact, but I have this problem for my new pics where if I put them in an event, the original file structure would be sorted by date. This is very annoying if I want to send an event to someone or if I'm using Front Row/Boxee to view a particular event. Does anyone have the same issue? I thought if I put a photo into an event, it would automatically update in the file structure immediately as well.
    As you can see below, some files are sorted by Events and some files are sorted by Dates:
    This is my 2009 iPhoto Originals file:
    4 Jul 2009
    5 Nov 2009
    7 Aug 2009
    7 Jul 2009
    7 Nov 2009
    8 Aug 2009
    8 Aug 2009_2
    8 Aug 2009_3
    8 Aug 2009_4
    8 Aug 2009_5
    15 Mar 2009
    18 Nov 2009
    19 Jun 2009
    Australia 2009 Jayne's Photos
    Australia Sue's Photos 2009
    Bedroom Project
    Dublin
    Oz Quick Album
    Portugal 2009 Sue
    Rovinj Sue Photos
    Take That
    Is there anyway I can have this file organised by Events and not Dates?
    Thank you for your help.
    David.
    Message was edited by: David Spencer5

    Is there anyway I can have this file organised by Events and not Dates?
    No.
    The strict link between the Events in the iPhoto Window and the folders in the Finder was broken with iPhoto 09 and no one outside of Apple knows why.
    However, it shouldn't matter, because you ahould not be accessing the files inside the iPhoto Package File anyway - bluntly it's not a supported way of accessing the files.
    Make Albums of the photos to view in other apps.
    fwiw:
    There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:
    *For Users of 10.5 and later*
    You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Command-Click for selecting multiple pics.
    Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
    (Note the above illustration is not a Finder Window. It's the dialogue you get when you go File -> Open)
    You can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:
    Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!
    *For users of 10.4 and later* ...
    Many internet sites such as Flickr and SmugMug have plug-ins for accessing the iPhoto Library. If the site you want to use doesn’t then some, one or any of these will also work:
    To upload to a 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. However, if you're using Gmail you can use iPhoto2GMail
    If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto.
    If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.
    *If you want to access the files with iPhoto not running*:
    For users of 10.6 and later:
    You can download a free Services component from MacOSXAutomation which will give you access to the iPhoto Library from your Services Menu. Using the Services Preference Pane you can even create a keyboard shortcut for it.
    For Users of 10.4 and later:
    Create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use this free utility Karelia iMedia Browser
    Other options include:
    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.
    Regards
    TD

  • Iphoto lost my original files

    I have several folders in iPhoto, the one in question, I have opened several times, and have edited some photos. For reason unknown, I tried to open, and enlarge a photo to full screen image to view it, and I suddenly could not. I got a warning that iPhoto could not locate the original file. I neither deleted or anything else with these files other than some editing, they are recent pics.I can still share the pics in iPhoto, but can no longer open the files to full image to view. My concern is that iPhoto lost my originals, and it could happen to my other folders. I did backup my photos, but when I redownload to iPhoto, I get the same warning of "original files lost"? What can I do to fing the originals on my MAC book, and how to prevent in the future?

    Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
    A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
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  • I've lost Iphoto and have deleted the original files - help!!

    I have just bought a new WD My Book Studio external hard drive to store all my photo's and free up space on my imac. I moved all the files to the EHD checked to see they were there - checked my back up other EHD to see that they were there then deleted them. I have just come back to view the pics on my WD EHD and all I have is a blank page with a turned down corner called iphoto labraryand no folder - this is the same on my other back up EHD. When I try to open them it says there is no application to open them with. Have I lost all my photo's? 354gb (the info on the page says theat amount is there) and how do I get them back? The iphoto icon at the bottom of my desktop has turned into a question mark too.....Please help!! Thanks you My Mac is OSX Version 10.9.2

    What format are these external drives?
    It sounds like you have deleted the iPhoto Application.
    To re-install iPhoto
    1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
    2. Download it from the App Store to reinstall It's on your Purchases List* there.
    For older versions that have been installed from Disk you'll need these additional steps:
    2a: On 10.5:  Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
    2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows:  In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
    /var/db/receipts/
    2c: on 10.7 or later they're at
    /private/var/db/receipts
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    3. Re-install.
    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
    If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
    *Sometimes iPhoto is not visible on the Purchases List. it may be hidden. See this article for details on how to unhide it.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4928
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    iPhoto the application and the iPhoto Library are two different parts of the iPhoto programme. So, reinstalling the app should not affect the Library. BUT you should always have a back up before doing this kind of work. Always.

  • Restore lost iphoto library (iphoto v.8)

    Hi, I was making an iMovie and when I hooked up my DV camera it would not load the camera and an error came up and said you should put away in finder or data will be lost. Well I thought that was the camera not my external hard drive. The cables are next to each other and when I unplugged the Hard Drive LaCie Hard drive d2 Quadra, then my camera was found. So I proceeded to install the video. After I finished I went back to the photo library part of the iMovie and all the pictures were missing. I could not save the new stuff I did on iMovie. When I went into the iphoto library on my hard drive all 4,000 pictures where gone...So my question is can I retrieve my photos? Are they on that hard drive somewhere and I'm not seeing them. Time machine does not have them. Please help?
    Thanks,
    Fam5

    Fam5:
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    If you don't have a backup copy you have two possible fixes to try:
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    2 - if #1 didn't do the trick you'll have to start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from the old one as follows:
    Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
    Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
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    Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
    This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
    Do you Twango?
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    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.

  • Old Toad - help with lost iPhoto Library

    I posted in the iPhoto 06 board by mistake, I am actually running 08. I found the iPhoto library in Pictures, but it stopped in July 07, and I seem to have lost a year's worth of photos. Do you have any advice?

    Miriam:
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    1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all options.
    2 - rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
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    1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    3 - 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
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    5 - Click on the Create button.
    Note: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos.
    3 - start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:
    Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
    Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
    Open the library package like this.
    Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
    Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open Photo window
    This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
    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. 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.≤br>
    Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

  • IPhoto DB file size discrepancy

    I had my macbook pro stolen, but a week before I backed up my iPhoto DB 15.7GB file using Finder to copy/paste the file to an external drive. I copied the backed up iPhoto DB file to my new Macbook Air, but now iPhoto is missing a large amount of pictures. When I launch iPhoto now, it says I have 923x pictures using 4.3GB. I am lost as to how I can recover the remaining 11.4GB and why they're not being displayed. What's interesting is that I used iPhoto Library Manager Rebuild option and it rebuilt my DB to a new file and that DB is only 5.04GB. This makes more sense and proves I'm missing 11GB+ of photos. Any assistance and guidance is greatly appreciated!

    Depress teh option key and launch iPhoto - use the select library option to select the library on the EHD and see if iPhoto will open it
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    For the future copy and paste is NOT a good way to work with the iPhoto library - it is best to drag it to the new location to be sure that an exact copy is made
    LN

  • What is saved in the iPhoto library file when photos are backed up?

    I have been using an external hard drive to back up my Mac files. My Mac stopped working, so now I have a PC netbook. I am trying to get some photo files off my external hard drive, but I can't find the ones I want. Instead, I found the iPhoto library files. What is in those? How can I open them? If I open them on my friend's Mac, will it hurt her files?

    Assuming you had a managed Library the iPhoto Library will contain your photos, and many databse files.
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    No, they won;t hurt your friend's Mac.
    Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' to choose which Library to open.
    Regards
    TD

  • Why is the iPhoto Library file so big?

    Why is the iPhoto Library File so big?
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    You have disabled "Copy items to the iPhoto Library"?
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    You know, that  disabling "Copy items to the iPhoto Library" is quite risky, don't you? Just in case you are not aware of the risks - iPhoto does provide no tools at all, if the connection between your referenced original files and your thumbnails in iPhoto gets broken. Or if you need to move your photos to a different drive, when the drive fails, as will happen one day. You will not be able to migrate the library to a new computer or restoring from your backup will be difficult. You will need third party apps like iPhoto Library Manager to recover from such a situation.
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    -- Léonie

  • IPhoto to file error message

    Upgraded to Mavericks. Trying to scan photo and when the scanning is complete, I get "iPhoto to file" cannot open. So I hit reopen and the same message occurs. How can I correct this?

    Try using the free version of  iPhoto Library Manager   to rebuild your library and have it safe the rebuild version directly to the EHD.
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    1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.>Click on the Add Library button,
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  • In upgrading my OS X to 10.6, I lost iPhoto.  How do I regain capability?

    In upgrading my OS X from 10.4 to 10.6, I lost iPhoto.  How can I regain iPhoto capability so I can access to my iPoto Library in the backup disk and downlaod from my camera?
    Thank you!
    <Edited by Host>

    To re-install iPhoto
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    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
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  • IPhoto library file includes what?

    Hi, I store my photos in folders under "Pictures". Sometime ago I opened up iPhoto and used it for my photos. I don't use it anymore as I find using my folders under "Pictures" far easier.
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    By default all photos you import into iPhoto are copies to the iPhoto library - normal procedure is to delete them from the source and ony have them in hte iPhoto library.  We obviously have no way to knwo wha tyou have done
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    The choice is yours
    enjoy
    LN

  • IPhoto library file unrecognizable

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  • I moved my iPhoto Library file, now it wont work !

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    tim

    went to finder, selected 6 photos and put them in a folder in my Pictures folder.
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    Exactly
    there is no automatic import - on photos you specifically import either from disk or from a camera are imported to iPhoto
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    That is good but does not solve the problem for the photos that were imported while this was not checked  --  at this time it is probably best to start over with a new managed library and import all photos again
    which brings me nicely to my next query, it looks to me as if ALL the pictures that got initially imported into iPhoto were all in folders. so am i correct in thinking that the pictures in my pictures folder which are NOT in a folder, will or should only be seen in iPhoto if they were in a folder when they were/are imported.
    I am not sure what you are saying
    But when you import a photo it is iPhoto no matter where it came from - until you import it it is not in iPhoto - finder folders make no difference and have no bearing on iPhoto  --  folders in iPhoto do not hold photos, just other folders or albums
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    LN

  • Screensaver configuration problem with lost iPhoto library

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