Moved iPhoto library to EHD and lost events, ratings, other info

Hi, I just moved my iPhoto Library to an external drive to free up space on my full mac book internal drive and it didn't transfer any of the events, ratings, or other info I had made over the years. I used the export library function from my old library, closed iPhoto, opened it again holding the option key, created a new library on the EHD and then imported the library. I worked, I can see the pictures fine it's just that I now have 15,000 pictures over 6+ years in one big event. I wasn't suprised to lose my edits because I chose to export as the original file (would rather have the RAW than the post processed JPEG). is this decision the cause of my problem?
much thanks,
Lou

The cause is you did it wrong - exporting does not maintain the library structure - the iPhoto library is a SQL database and must always be treated as a single entity
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

Similar Messages

  • Error -36 when moving iphoto library to ehd

    I want to copy my iphoto library to my eHD to free up space on my laptop. but it stops part the way through and gives an error.
    Iphoto library first aid did not cure the problem. or using iphoto library manager.
    I have managed to extract the photos using ILM. but i also want to move over
    all the photo details as well.Any ideas? Iphoto seems to work fine on my macbook pro 3,1
    with no problems or errors.

    I found a fast soution 45 Gb Library copied in ~30 min. over USB 2.0 - first I rebuilt the library with iPhoto Library Manager and it still wouldn't drag and drop, took forever and errored out.
    I did a semi-manual copy, by opening the iPhoto Library - "Show package contents" (in right click menu)  then copying the contents to a new iPhoto libaray "Package"
    Instead of copying all at once copy the small files/folders in one batch, wati to complete, then copy the larger files folders.  You can copy the package contents one folder at a time or a few at a time. I found that copying the Library files in one batch, then copying the Masters, Previews, & Thumbnails in a second batch seemed to work well without choking up.
    Here's the steps
    Connect your hard drive or Mac in Target disk mode
    navigate to the folder containing the iPhoto Library you wish to copy
    'Right click'Show Package Contents
    You'll see apx 19 files - select all but exclude 3 folders: Masters, Previews, &Thumbnails you'll come back for theses later
    Copy these files to an empty folder on your destination drive/Mac (Later you'll use iPhoto to make a new libary "Package" then you'll put these files inside it) The copy should take  a few minutes, high volume + tiny files
    When the first copy is finished, go back and copy the remaining 3 folders Masters, Previews, & Thumbnails.  This is the opposite as previous step, lower volume + larger files.  Copy speeds should be normal ie 30 min. for 45 Gb over USB 2.0.
    Once all these files and folders are copied you need to put them into an empty iPhoto Library container.  An easy way to do this is
    Launch iPhoto holding the Option key
    Choose 'New Library' (choose an apprpriate name)
    Quit iPhoto
    in Finder go to the new Library you just created (User/Pictures/) - be sure its the one you just made
    Right Click (Control + Click) the iPhoto Libraray
    Choose - Show Package Contents (now you're looking at the contents that makup an iPhoto library)
    Select all these files and folders and delete them to the trashOpen the folder that has your freshly copied files and put them in this empty iPhoto Library package.
    Close finder windows (disconnect your hard drive or Mac)
    Launch iPhoto (you can hold the Option Key while launching iPhoto to choose the correct Library if you have more than one).
    Viola. You should have a functional copy from your old Mac/External hard drive.
    REMEMBER!
    The easiest way to mess up your iPhoto Library is to move things around inside the "Package contents" of your iPhoto Library.  Its hidden in there for a reason, so don't go mucking about under the hood.  Best practice is to touch nothing inside the "Show Package Contetns" of your iPhoto library.    As described above, we're merely just speeding up a file transfer and copying files so they mirror their source in a new destination.  Good luck.

  • My iPhoto library has disappeared and there is no past library for me to import. Where did my pictures go?

    I was cleaning up my laptop last night to free up some space. I deleted some unessecary pictures from iphoto and re-organised my events. I then deleted some pictures from 'images' which shows up in 'all my files' - I didn't delete any of the pictures that I kept in my iphoto, but not all my pictures showed up in 'images' anyway. I also then deleted the pictures that were loose in the 'pictures' folder but these were all edits I had done in photoshop not the originals. I emptied my trash before I went to sleep and this morning when I turned on my laptop my iphoto library was gone and there was no past library to import so I had to create a new one. Although I have the pictures from my 'images' folder not all of my pictures are there. Have I lost my pictures for good?

    No previous backup?  When you opened iPhoto did you get any error messages?  iPhoto normally stores the images inside /Machintosh HD/Users/YOURNAME/Pictures/iPhoto Library you won't be able to simply look at the images if you go there directly you have to open it with iPhoto.  You can hold the option key > then open iPhoto to make sure you didn't somehow create a different library.

  • How do you locate the file where iPhoto library is kept? I moved iPhoto library from hard drive to external dedicated photo drive.

    I am trying to restore some elements of my iPhoto library using time machine.
    Apple instructions call for locating the file where iPhoto library is kept, and tells you where it is on your hard drive. But I've recently moved my iPhoto library to a dedicated external hard drive, and copied my i photo library there. when i click on it, all the photos are there, but it's an iPhoto library, not a file. 
    When I go into time machine and click on the date i would like to enter, most of my apps have a circle with a line through it, unaccessible. So: a related question, how would i retrieve a photo file from time machine's previous backup? thank you.

    Thank you!
    I am trying to retrieve photo uploads from my Android phone. When I last updated my OS, most of these vaporized, leaving only thumbnails. I have had two lengthy sessions with Apple phone support, but still haven't solved the problem.
    Apparently I can't go back to July '14 iPhoto in time machine and browse files; i have to copy the entire library.
    Which I just did, taking 2 hours.
    In order to open the iPhoto library from July '14, I had to first update iPhoto.
    When I went into the files, the same problem existed -- photo files gone, only thumbnails there. So now I'm thinking that it's the update that was the problem. This scares me to death, because when we're asked to update, we don't get a menu of preferences to make sure something has been unchecked, like the copy option i had enabled when opening photo files from my phone, which i store in a dropbox folder.
    No one at Apple could tell me why this happened, so I have no idea how to prevent it from happening in the future.
    That's why I'm trying to create better backups...but i can't figure out deja vu, because it won't open and sync the iPhoto library folder -- it wants me to find the file, and i don't know where it is on the external dedicated photo drive.
    I realize this is about six issues, not one. But I'm really appreciative of any help i can get!

  • Moved iPhoto Library but instead it copied?

    On the same network, I've a MBA, an iMac, and a backup harddrive dedicated to just photos. The iMac's iPhoto Library is stored on the backup harddrive. I wanted to do the same with the MBA's iPhoto Library. Read Help on how to move; closed iPhoto; opened a finder window>Pictures and dragged and dropped the MBA's iPhoto Library to the backup harddrive. Rather than moving it, however, it copied the Library. There is still an iPhoto library in Pictures and another on the harddrive. When I look to switch Library's both Libraries appear. What did I do wrong? Should I try to drag/drop the MBA version into trash? Don't want confusion of 2 libraries.
    Thanks, Armando

    if iPhoto Library is not stored on MBA, then am I correct that TM on the MBA, which backs up to a separate RAID harddrives, is not backing up iPhoto?
    Time Machine will back up both your Mac and the attached hard drive.....IF.....you have removed the attached hard drive from the list of items that are Excluded from backups in Time Machine Preferenes > Options.
    In other words, a drive that is connected to a Mac via USB or FireWire will not be backed up since it will be Excluded from backups by default.  You have to remove it from the list of Excluded items if you want it to be backed up.
    When you do this, Time Machine will back up both your Mac and the attached hard drive on the next pass.

  • IPhoto library on EHD

    Due to lack of space on my internal hard disc I have moved my iPhoto libraryto an external HDD. Is it possible to back this up using Time Machine to a different external HDD which I currently use for back up?

    Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
    And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
    And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
    LN

  • IPhoto doesn't import after moving iPhoto library back to original (?) spot

    Hello:
    Because I needed space on my original drive, I moved iPhoto library to another drive and then moved it back. iPhoto works perfectly well - It automatically loads my photos. But - when I attempt to import from my Canon Digital Rebel, it won't do it, giving a message that these files (all 7 photos in the camera) may be corrupt.
    However - the photos do import correctly on my wife's Mac.
    I am thinking that I did not put the iPhoto library back in exactly the right spot.
    Where should it go?
    Oh - and Happy New Year!
    Ian
    933 MHz G4   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  

    Hi Iann,
    There is really no right spoet as you can place the iPhoto Library folder almost anywhere in your Users folder. The Pictures folder is the default location for the folder.
    What I need to know is, when you moved the library to another spot, did you open iPhoto when it was there? And when you moved back to the original spot, did iPhoto open?
    When you move the iPhoto Library folder, you must then launch iPhoto with the Option key depressed. iPhoto will then tell you that it can't find the library , and do you want to open another one or create a new one. You must then choose to open another one and navigate to where you moved it, then highlight it in the window, then click "open"
    Lori

  • Moving iPhoto library from iPhoto 8 to iPhoto 9

    I moved iPhoto library created under iPhoto 8 to Time Capsule Disk and when I open the library under iPhoto 9 I can't see the pictures, only the names etc.
    Please help. It's the only problem I have when moving from my old iMac (2007) to new MacBook Pro.
    Martin

    Take it off the Time Capsule disk. That's nt an appropriate place for it.
    Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Include the option to rebuild the thumbnails. It can take 3 or 4 goes for this to work

  • Trouble moving iPhoto Library (9.6) with Yosemite to External Hard Drive

    I fresh installed iphoto, and updated it to current version (9.6) on Yosemite. There are no photos on it yet.  I am trying to transfer it to my new hard drive that is formatted Mac Extended Journaled.  Every time I get error code 36.
    Previously, I tried moving iphoto library over to hard drive when I had photos on it, and I got the error code.  So I uninstalled iphoto, reinstalled it, I am still getting the error code.
    Any ideas?  I am moving library from House icon > pictures> iPhoto Library and dragging that to Hard drive.

    Thanks for the speedy reply.
    I am not sure what you mean by "create the library on the drive".
    I just tried importing 10 photos into iPhoto on my mac and then i quit iPhoto and went User>Pictures> iPhoto Library and dragged to my external, but got the same error 36.  I just cannot get the iphoto Library to drag over to my external without being stopped by error code 36.
    My goal is to import my photos into iPhoto that is stored on my hard drive, so I dont have any of those photos on my mac.  Any ideas or clarification if I didnt follow your instructions Thanks

  • My IPhoto library is gone and I cannot find it. I have found an earlier version witha few photos but the big one is gone. Any ideas?

    My IPhoto library is gone and cannot be found. There is an IPhoto in Applications marked "original". I can find the one I'm looking for using Time Machine but when I try to open it it says that it cannot be opened as there is a newer version installed. Any help would greatly be appreciated:-)

    Download and use  Find Any File  to search for the file "Library6.iPhoto" which is in every iPhoto Library package. If you find more than one check both to see if one is your missing library.
    OT

  • I can't upload or import videos from my iphoto library, into final cut pro x.  When i click, IMPORT MEDIA in FCP, It lists iPhoto Library as GRAY, and will not let me access it.  I need the videos out of there.  I have tried every way I can think of.

    Like the title says...
    I can't upload or import videos from my iphoto library, into final cut pro x.  When i click, IMPORT MEDIA in FCP, It lists 'iPhoto Library' as GRAY, and will not let me select it.  I need the videos out of there.  I have tried every way I can think of.
    I have also tried from the iphoto side, to export the videos or share them to final cut.  I have had no luck.
    I have tried to drag and drop indidual video clips from iphoto to fcp, and the programs simply do not respond to each other
    I can see in the OLDER version of final cut pro x, where it has IMPORT FILES as an option, it was possible.  I see this on forums and youtube videos of the older versions.
    However, the newer version that i have, does not have IMPORT 'FILES' as an option, it is simply all lumped together as IMPORT 'MEDIA'
    Thank You for the Help

    at the end, you say "import preferences", which program are you describing?
    So im safer using footage that is remotely being pulled from iphoto...
    vs
    using footage that is imported into FCP from imovie?
    Is there anything i can do in fcp to make this footage more reliable or safer or more stable as i pull remotely from iphoto?
    All the footage, and all the libraries to all programs, or on a new pegasus 12tb raid 5 setup fyi.

  • Just downloaded trial version -- don't see iPhoto library in Aperture and need to import selected photos-not entire library!

    I just downloaded trial version -- don't see iPhoto library in Aperture and need to import selected photos to edit, not entire i Photo library! I read manual and it says:
    Browsing and Selecting Images in Your iPhoto Library
    You use the Aperture iPhoto Browser to review iPhoto images and import specific images into the Aperture library. The iPhoto Browser gives you a handy way of looking for certain images without having to import your entire iPhoto library.
    So, where do I review the iPhoto images...there is nothing in there that says "iPhoto Library"   Everything I see pertains to Aperture Library which of course is empty since I haven't imported (or dragged) any photos in there yet.
    Also is tech support available for Aperture?  I have Apple Extended Support and I sure would love it if I had individual help.  I have a deadline --3 days to edit 300 photos and I'm a complete amateur.  iPhoto doesn't  have the capability to erase parts of a face (I need to contour the neck of a mannequin to make it proportionate to the separate head I put on top of it. I'm sure Aperture must have a tool to help me do that!  At least I hope so.

    where do I review the iPhoto images
    File -> Import -> Show iPhoto Browser
    I have a deadline --3 days to edit 300 photos and I'm a complete amateur.  iPhoto doesn't  have the capability to erase parts of a face (I need to contour the neck of a mannequin to make it proportionate to the separate head I put on top of it. I'm sure Aperture must have a tool to help me do that!
    Sounds more like a job for Photoshop to me
    if I decide to import entire iPhoto library into Aperture will it delete my iPhoto library?
    No.
    Regards
    TD

  • Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo lib" is 15gb?

    Why does my Finder indicate that my "iphoto library" is 13gb and "photo library" is 15gb if they are supposed to 1 library used by both?

    kenamac1 wrote:
    Thanks Larry, but sorry if I'm being dense, but are you saying that the space being used is not 13gb (Iphoto) + 15 gb (Photo) = 28gb?  And that if I toss the iPhoto Lib I won't save 13gb?  That's what I not getting about this 'shared' library.
    Yes that is exactly what I said - and what the article I liked said with a somewhat detailed description
    Basically both libraries  use Linux HardLinks to the original photos - the finder sees each has containing the compete set of photos although the photos are only on disk once
    And deleting one library only deletes the links and a few overhead items - so again as I said would save very little space
    LN

  • HT1351 We had 2 computers: his itunes library on one, and mine on the other. We got rid of both of those and got a new computer.  I put music on the new computer.  My ipod songs are not on itunes.  Will I erase them if I sync?  How do I add new music?

    We had 2 computers: his itunes library on one, and mine on the other. We got rid of both of those and got a new computer.  I put new music on the new computer.  My ipod songs are not on itunes on the new computer.  Will I erase them if I sync?  How do I add new music?

    See this older post from another forum member Zevoneer covering the different methods and software available to assist you with the task of copying content from your iPod back to your PC and into iTunes.
    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2452022?start=0&tstart=0
    B-rock

  • TS3772 please help i tried to sync my iphone 4 to a computer and lost all of my info, my pics and my games. how do i get them back?

    please help i tried tosync my iphone 4 to a computer and lost all of my info, pics and games how  do i get them back?

    Everything should be on your computer. Just sync it back.

Maybe you are looking for