MyPassport won't backup iPhoto Library

How do I get a WD MyPassport Essential to backup my iPhoto Library? I have over 13,000 photos and the drive is 500GB. It sees documents but not the photo library. Pls Help.

Michael
There are few anomalies turning up with iPhoto libraries on NAS shares.
See here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1100543&tstart=0
here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5326685&#5326685
here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5235933&#5235933
Some of those solutions may work.
Be sure to let Apple know of your issue: iPhoto menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

  • Best way to backup iphoto library to another computer

    Hi,
    I am looking for most efficent method  to backup iphoto library from one iMac27(running Lion) to another iMac21(running Snow Leopard).
    My iPhoto library is approx. 20GB.  So I am also concerned with performance too.
    Also, I only want to backup if iphoto library on iMac27 changes.  There is no point to keep backing up all the time if the library has not changed.
    I would also like to be able to schedule backup at certain time of the day. (Primarily overnight when I am not using the computer)
    I have looked at Chronosync.  It looks like it has the features I am looking for however I am concerned if it performs well. 
    What would you recommend for a solution to this process?
    Thanks and I look forward to your reply.
    ...Bruce

    Let me inform you of some things if I may.
    A lot of people "run out of room" or want to make a backup and naturally look to their other machine as a source of space they are not utilizing, this isn't the best approach.
    So let me inform you of your options.
    1: You can backup your entire boot drive contents in a rotating in time fashion with Apple's built in TimeMachine, which only restores, it's not bootable. You use a external storage drive for this. Just hook it up and go.
    2: You can make a hold option key bootable clone backup of your entire boot partition contents (not Lion Recovery Partition) in a permanent fashion that only changes if you change it or schedule it to change making a clone drive. Carbon Copy Cloner and you use a external drive for this. (best method as it's bootable in case your computer fails to boot normally)
    3: You can manually or automatically use software that "syncs" the contents of two folders to a storage drive (even in either direction). SyncTwoFolders
    What your asking to do is publish a shared folder on your network that resides on the Snow Leopard machine, you access it from the Lion machine over the Local Area Network and save your Lion iPhoto Library there using SyncTwoFolders like software.
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    If this is what you want to do, then repeat your question again in a new topic, as my other machine is down and haven't done that in quite some time to remember the details exactly.
    The larger picture I see is it appears to me you have no backup plan at all, and I think a separate storage drive for each computer, which if you hook it up to OS X, will ask to make a TimeMachine drive, will then do so, copying and backing up your entire drive so you have a constant backup of everything.
    Also you should maintain a extra separate storage drive for each machine to keep a extra copy of your files in a permanent fashion, or to free up room on oyur boot drive, like what your trying to do with the other Mac.
    With each computer with it's own backup, they are not so dependent with each other if your needs change for instance and the machines have to be separated.
    The golden rule of backups is to maintain two seperate, easy accessible, hardware backup copies of your data at all times.
    TimeMachine is ok and works mostly, but not if it gets messed up if your machine gets messed up, or if your TM drive mechanically or software fails without your knowledge. So maintaining a another copy of your data on a storage drive in a pernament fashion is also advised.
    You can learn about TimeMachine here
    http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
    And I've written a rather complicated advanced post here as a rough draft, but packed with information
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201
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  • How to Time Machine backup iPhoto library stored on external drive

    Hi Mac users.
    Can you kindly teach me how to backup iphoto library stored on an external drive to my external time machine drive. My internal drive is full so I moved my iPhoto library to a separate drive and deleted the library to create space. Thank you.

    Actually there's nothing to do.  TM backs up all connected volumes automatically.  One has to exclude a volume or folder(s) to keep them from being backed up in the TM preferences.
    If you find that the EHD is not being backed up exclude it and the "unexclude" it and force a new backup.
    OT

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

    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.
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    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.
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    Drag each Year folder to the desktop.
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    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:
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    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
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    If you just want to backup the images in your library:
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    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.
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    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:
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    -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
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    -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.
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  • Can't backup iPhoto library to external drive

    I've tried three times today to backup my iPhoto libray to an external hard drive.  The file is 22.2 GB in size. Using Firewire the transfer is supposed to take about 45 mninutes.  Each time at around :25-:30 it suddenly stops and I get an error message that it can't complete the transfer due to corrupted data.  But it doesn't say where in the file the corrupted data is located.  Any ideas on how to get around this problem?  Do I need to export every photo I have and then re-import and even then how will I know that the new file won't be corrupted?  I tried to open the backup iPhoto file to see if I could see which photos didn;t tarbsfer and work back from there.  Unfortunately I think it opens the original library on the computer instead since all the photos can be seen.  Any ideas/help?

    What version of iPhoto?

  • Finder Error -36 when trying to backup iPhoto Library

    I am unable to backup my iPhoto Library to another drive. This is the error I get in the Finder "The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “iPhoto Library” can’t be read or written.
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    Solved the problem. I browsed the iPhoto Library/Originals folder to determine which photos I imported today, since I was able to back up the library file yesterday. I exported the 56 various photos that I imported today, then deleted them from iPhoto. Afterwards, I was able to copy the iPhoto Library file. So one or more of the 56 files is corrupted, even though they all open fine with a graphics program, such as GraphicConverter.

  • Time Machine doesn't backup iPhoto Library (if iPhoto is open)

    I just wanted to alert other people to the fact that Time Machine DOES NOT backup your iPhoto Library (that is, any of your photos), if iPhoto is open when Time Machine performs the backup (which in my case, is all of the time).
    I've just posted this information to my blog: http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/2010/01/timemachine-is-not-backing-up-your.htm l
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    best,
    Liz
    http://www.lizcastro.com/iphotobookthemes
    http://www.elizabethcastro.com

    OK, ran a test with iPhoto open and got this from Time Machine Buddy:
    Starting standard backup
    Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Node requires deep traversal:/Users/lizx/Pictures/Big iPhoto Library/iPhoto 7 Library current reason:kFSEDBEventFlagContainsChanges|kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSubDirs|kFSEDBEven tFlagReasonFSEvent|kFSEDBEventFlagReasonMissedReservation|
    No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.91 GB requested (including padding), 60.52 GB available
    Copied 12483 files (50.9 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
    No pre-backup thinning needed: 1.06 GB requested (including padding), 60.47 GB available
    Copied 1088 files (16.6 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
    Starting post-backup thinning
    Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-145941: 60.54 GB now available
    Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-095812: 60.57 GB now available
    Deleted backup /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb/lizxp/2010-01-14-085710: 60.60 GB now available
    Post-back up thinning complete: 3 expired backups removed
    Backup completed successfully.
    Also, when I look on my external drive, the latest backup says it was opened on January 14, but of course, I had iPhoto open when I ran the backup (that is, it was last opened TODAY).
    Now, I closed iPhoto and ran Time Machine again. I got a pretty similar message from Time Machine Buddy:
    -------Starting standard backup
    Backing up to: /Volumes/Time Machine Backups/Backups.backupdb
    Node requires deep traversal:/Users/lizx/Pictures/Big iPhoto Library/iPhoto 7 Library current reason:kFSEDBEventFlagContainsChanges|kFSEDBEventFlagMustScanSubDirs|kFSEDBEven tFlagReasonFSEvent|kFSEDBEventFlagReasonMissedReservation|
    No pre-backup thinning needed: 3.90 GB requested (including padding), 60.60 GB available
    Copied 10309 files (2.4 GB) from volume Macintosh HD.
    No pre-backup thinning needed: 1.06 GB requested (including padding), 58.19 GB available
    Copied 2935 files (16.7 MB) from volume Macintosh HD.
    Starting post-backup thinning
    No post-back up thinning needed: no expired backups exist
    Backup completed successfully.
    If there's a significant difference there, I can't see it.
    On the other hand, when I go look at the backed up file, although it still won't tell me how big it is (or I'm too impatient to wait), it does say the (backed up) iPhoto Library was last opened today. Much better.
    What do you think?
    best,
    Liz

  • How to organize and backup iPhoto library

    I'm a slob anyway, and then there were the hard drive troubles, and now I have an iPhoto library on my internal HD, and an external drive (not the same libraries) and loose photos here and there on the internal HD and both externals.
    How can I clean up this mess? I want the main library on one extHD and a backup on the other extHD and to not have a library on the intHD at all, and of course, I don't want to loose a single frame!

    I did download and pay for iPhoto Library Manager and started to merge libraries as you suggested. But iPLM listed the current Library as "iPhoto Library_2." So, I wondered where was _1, and did a Find file search. There are three iPhoto libraries in my internal HD in my user folder in the "Pictures" folder, and there is a smaller Library on an external HD with only one annual folder in it.
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    So, what is all this, what should be preserved, and what can be thrown away?
    733 G4   Mac OS X (10.2.x)  

  • Warning: Time Machine won't backup iPhoto if left open

    I just learned the hard way that Time Machine will NOT backup iPhoto if you leave it open. In the past, I usually have iPhoto left open, and now I've lost TONS of data. Can Apple change how Time Machine works so that it backs up data of open applications?
    http://www.pigsgourdsandwikis.com/2009/05/timemachine-doesnt-back-up-iphoto-if.h tml
    The next question is, does this mean I haven't had a REAL iTunes backup for months either? I AWLAYS keep that one open.

    polishedstaple wrote:
    I just learned the hard way that Time Machine will NOT backup iPhoto if you leave it open. In the past, I usually have iPhoto left open, and now I've lost TONS of data. Can Apple change how Time Machine works so that it backs up data of open applications?
    Probably not. Few backup apps can manage to back up a single file that's being written-to by another app at the same time. What would it do with a partial file? What would YOU do with part of a photo, if you had it and could restore it?
    iPhoto is much more complex than a "normal" folder -- it's a "package," with various files, indexes, and cross-references, many of which can be open at the same time -- worse, all the data that the app has written isn't necessarily on the disk yet; it's likely in an OS buffer somewhere, and may not actually go out to disk until the app is closed.
    The next question is, does this mean I haven't had a REAL iTunes backup for months either? I AWLAYS keep that one open.
    I can't be sure, but I think iTunes is probably ok (but by all means check it), depending on what you were doing at the time of the backup. If you were downloading a file, that file most likely wasn't backed-up; but if you were just playing songs, it's probably up to date.
    Click here to download the +Time Machine Buddy+ widget. It shows the messages from your logs for one TM backup run at a time, in a small window. If you look at the messages for various backups, you may see some that mention doing a "deep traversal" on your iPhoto library, because of a "missed reservation." That's a clue that some things weren't backed-up earlier because of open file(s).
    But I would agree entirely that Time Machine ought to send some sort of message when it skips things -- perhaps if something like iPhoto doesn't get backed-up in a 24-hour period.
    Feel free to suggest that to Apple at: http://www.apple.com/feedback

  • Backup IPhoto Library

    I appologize for the basic nature of this question......but....
    How do you backup the IPhoto library to an external HD or CDs? Do you need a backup utility or is there some piece of software in the basic OS somwhere?
    Can IPhoto use these backup files without importing the file back into the original library?
    I need the confidence of backup, and more HD space on the computer.
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    Hi JGGiant38,
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    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.
    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.
    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.
    Moving your iPhoto Library to an external to use as your working library:
    Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library folder to a Mac formatted external drive.
    Launch iPhoto while holding down the Option key.
    At the prompt, choose to open another library.
    Navigate to the library on the external and highlight it.
    Hit the "open" button
    iPhoto will open the library on the external and from now on will use this library to import images too. This will now be your working library. Make sure everything is working correctly and everything is fine in the library.
    You can then delete the library on the internal if you wish.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93037

  • Need to reinstall my system, how do I backup iPhoto library?

    I have a very large iPhoto library and now need to reinstall my system. I dodn't want to loose the library but how can I make a save backup that I can import later again?

    Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. The disk should be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) This will make a copy on that disk.
    Test this to make sure it works. Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and open the copied Library.
    Really, the amazing thing is that you say you have a "very large library" and claim you don't want to lose it but you don't already have a back up?

  • HT4927 What if I can't restore the backup iPhoto library because I get an error message that there's not enough free space?

    After iPhoto crashed, it automatically tried to rebuild and ten repair itself. iPhoto opens and all my albums are there, but no thumbnails. I've tried rebuilding the thumbnails twice, to no avail. So I tried restoring from backup (Time Machine) to the last version before the crash, but I can't because it says there's no enough free space to do so. What else is there left to try?

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  • IPhoto won't select iPhoto Library

    I upgraded to the newest iPhoto. No problems. My iPhoto Library is very big, about 50 gigs, so I keep it on a NAS. I opened iPhoto once, and it wouldn't open my iPhoto library because my NAS share wasn't mounted. OK, so I quit iPhoto, mounted the network share, and then opened it again. It didn't see my iPhoto Library so I opened it while holding the option key, and went to manually select my library. However, the library is greyed out. It won't let me select it.
    How could this of happened? How can I get my photos back and get iPhoto to see the library it had been using for weeks before?

    Michael
    There are few anomalies turning up with iPhoto libraries on NAS shares.
    See here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1100543&tstart=0
    here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5326685&#5326685
    here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5235933&#5235933
    Some of those solutions may work.
    Be sure to let Apple know of your issue: iPhoto menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback
    Regards
    TD

  • If I backup iPhoto library am I backing up my picture files?

    To simplify my photo backup I backed up my Iphoto library.  Will thre backup file I created contain my photos?

    If you are using the default settings (in the iPhoto preferences the preference to "copy imported items to the iPhotolibrary" is checked) then all imported photos are copies to the iPhoto library and are backed up when you backup the iPhoto library
    LN

  • Error trying to backup iPhoto Library

    I recently had a backup drive fail and is unrecoverable.  Thus I am trying to create a new backup for my 130GB iPhoto Library.  I'm using iPhoto '09 version 8.1.  I'm using Mac OS X version 10.5.8.  My library is currently on an external hard drive and I'm trying to create backup onto a different external hard drive.  I keep getting the same error message when I try to copy/paste the library from one drive to the other: "The operation cannot be completed because the item "iPhoto Library" is in use."  Nothing is running on my laptop except for the two Finder windows open to complete the copy.  Any thoughts on how to proceed.  Keep in mind I am running without a backup at this point.  Thanks!

    Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
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