Macbook pro iphoto 6.0.2 won't recognize iphoto library (backup from DVD)

Question

Just purchased a Macbook Pro with iphoto 6.0.2. Had a G4 powerbook with iphoto 4.0.2 and backed up that iphoto library to 2 DVD's. I loaded the photos and albums from the 2 DVDs to the iphoto library on the macbook. when I launch the iphoto 6.0.2 it does not load any photos and states there are no photos.
Is this an issue of the DVD back up being made under iphoto 4.0.2? Is there another way to back them up if it is....any help would be appreciated....thanks in advance...-D

Answer 1

Hi kaiman,
I have all the advise in one post here (including Old toad's)so as not to confuse you.
Backing up your iPhoto Library
1. Burn the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder to a CD or DVD
This method will give you a burned iPhoto Library folder that can be copied back to your computer to replace a damaged library. You can also use this method to backup an old library when you want to create a new Library to use as your current library.
insert a blank CD into your internal or external CD-RW drive and copy the iPhoto library to the CD icon on your desktop. When you drag the CD icon to the Trash/Eject button in the Dock, you are given the option to burn the CD. Click Burn and the CD is created. To burn a DVD backup of your digital images, use a DVD and a SuperDrive-equipped Mac
The easiest way to burn an iPhoto Library folder in the Finder that is larger than 4.7 gig to fit on one DVD is to burn sections of the folder.
For an iPhoto 5 Library:
Drag the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop
Double click the folder to open it.
Drag each Year folder to the desktop.
You should be left with the iPhoto Library folder containing all the data files, and the Year folders.
Combine whatever year folders that amount closest to a DVD burn size on one DVD. Make sure that you have burned all the Year folders, then the iPhoto Library folder with all the data files.
If you ever need to use this backup, insert the DVDs into your computer and copy the folders to the desktop. Put all the Year folders back into the iPhoto Library folder. Then put the iPhoto Library folder back into the Pictures folder.
For an iPhoto 6 Library:
Do almost the same thing except there are three main folders to backup now. the Data, Originals, and Modified. Then the iPhoto Library folder and all the data files within it. It might get too confusing so it might be better to get disc spanning software.
You can also check out applications for disc spanning:
Disc-spanning software
DropDMG
Toast
Dragon Burn 4
Retrospect Express-comes with some external drives
Retrospect for Macintosh Desktop Edition
2. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to an external drive formated for a Mac. Do not use this as your only back up as the external can also go bad.
3. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to your iPod in disk mode
4.Creating your own CDs and DVDs for viewing in iPhoto
This method is a great way to back up Albums of older photos or even your entire library if it is small enough to fit on a DVD. This method will give you a library that will mount within iPhoto in the source column to be viewed. To import any images from this library they need to be dragged into your library in the source column.
If you just want to backup the images in your library:
1) Within iPhoto select the images, albums or rolls you want to backup. Go to Share>Export and export them to a newly created folder on the desktop. Follow the directions in the next link.
Creating a CD or DVD to be viewed in Windows or by a photo processing company
1.. If you backed up the entire iPhoto Library by burning within iPhoto or burning the folder in the Finder, make sure the burned copy is a good working copy before you delete the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder. You delete the iPhoto Library in the finder by dragging it to the trash when iPhoto is closed. When you next launch iPhoto it will create a new empty library for you to start anew.
2. If you burned just the images, be aware that that is all you are archiving. No metadata will travel with the images such as comments, keywords, etc.
You can then delete those images within iPhoto by highlighting them and hitting the delete key, then empty iPhoto's trash. Do this often and in groups so iPhoto will not choke on too many images.
And here is the info for transferring a library from one Mac to another:
Copy iPhoto Library folder from one Mac to another
-If the library is small enough, burn the ENTIRE iPhoto Library folder to CD/DVD.
Drag the iPhoto Library folder from the CD/DVD to your Pictures folder of the iMac.
-If the computers are networked, copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder of the other Mac.
-If you have an iPod, copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library folder to the iPod. Connect the iPod to the other computer and copy the iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder of the other Mac.
-If you have a firewire cable, copy the ENTIRE iPhoto LIbrary folder to the Pictures folder of the other Mac
Things to keep in mind:
-If the usersnames are different you might have to set the permissions on the iPhoto Library folder to Read/Write for the new user. Check the "apply to enclosed items" at the bottom of the "get info" window.
-If there is another iPhoto Library folder on the other Mac, change it's name so it doesn't get replaced by the iPhoto Library folder you are copying into the Pictures folder...or....drag it to another place on your hard drive.
Now that the library is in the Pictures folder, launch iPhoto and it will open the library. If the library you moved to the new Mac was created on an older version of iPhoto, iPhoto will tell you the library needs to be upgraded. Let iPhoto do the upgrade.