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?

Similar Messages

  • How do people backup iPhoto library for offsite backup?

    I use time machine for a local backup and I also copy the iPhoto library to another external USB HDD for extra backup.
    So I know you should also have a backup offsite in case of disaster. So how do people do this? What methods, cloud? External HDD? DVDs? Etc and where do you keep it?
    What I'm thinking is as the iPhoto library can become very large 100's of Gb it's not easy to backup to say the cloud or to DVDs (is this possible at all?), how do I do this?
    Also once copied to say another external USB HDD, every week it changes so do I have to do a full copy of the library again everytime?
    Cheers

    My Library lives on my iMac. It’s Backed up to two external hard disks every day.
    These disks are permanently attached to the iMac. These back ups run automatically. One is done by Time Machine, one is a bootable back up done by SuperDuper
    It’s also backed up to a portable hard disk when ever new photos are added. This hard disk lives in my car. For security, this disk is password protected. For this job I use DejaVu because it makes a simple back up that is clear and can be tested easily without doing an full restore.
    I have a second off-site back up at a relative’s house across town. That’s updated every 3 or 4 months.
    My Photos are backed up online. Personally I use SmugMug but there are many options including flickr. However, check the terms of your account carefully. While most sites have free uploading, you will often find that these uploads are limited in terms of the file size, or the bandwidth you can use per month. For access that allows you to upload full size pics with no restrictions you will need to pay.
    Every couple of months I test the back ups to make sure they are working correctly. It’s very easy to mis-configure a back up application, and the only way to protect against that is to do a restore.

  • Used TB previously. Files backed up. Operating system reinstalled. Need to reinstall TB. How access old TB e-mail accounts, folders, e-mail?

    My operating system was became defective. I backed up all previous files. Operating system has been reinstalled. I need to reinstall TB. How can I access all previous data (e-mail accounts, folders, and e-mail) when I reinstall TB?

    You need your old profile:
    https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb?esab=a&s=profile&r=1&as=s
    http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird

  • I need to reinstall the system software on my older iMac. I have lost the system disks, though... so now what? It had 10.4.

    I need to reinstall the system software on my older iMac. I have lost the system disks, though... so now what? It had 10.4. We moved, and I have looked everywhere. Am I doomed to find a way to buy it? Can taking it into the Apple Store fix it? Will it be expensive THERE? I've already saved all of the files I want off of it.... I just need it to work now.

    You've lost me on why you need to reinstall Tiger, when you already have all the files you wanted (which means Tiger worked perfectly fine). If you want to upgrade to Leopard, that's a different issue: your Mac needs to meet the minimum system requirements for that, which you can easily determine.
    If you just want to get a replacement set of Tiger install discs, you can try calling AppleCare and see if they're able to send you a replacement set, and if not, you'll have to buy a new set yourself. You can get them on eBay, Craigslist, and HardCore Mac (http://store.yahoo.com/hardcoremac/), although they sell it for ridiculous prices.
    < Edited by Host >

  • I am trying to recover from a hard-drive crash & need to reinstall photoshop.  How do I do that?

    I am trying to recover from a hard-drive crash & need to reinstall photoshop.  How do I do that?

    What version of PS?  If it's CC, just reinstall the CC application manager then PS and sign in.  For an earlier version you will need to call Abobe to have you S/N reset.

  • I need to reinstall but system was pre-installed and i do not have the apple id used

    I need to reinstall but system was pre-installed and i do not have the apple id used OSX Lion.

    I need to reinstall but system was pre-installed and i do not have the apple id used OSX Lion.

  • How do I unlock my hard drive ... I need to reinstall mountain lion os from my backup partition

    Can I unlock my hard drive without erasing it? I need to reinstall mountain lion os from my backup partition but it says my hard drive is locked.

    Can I unlock my hard drive without erasing it? I need to reinstall mountain lion os from my backup partition but it says my hard drive is locked.

  • HT4137 I need to format my computer, how do I backup entire itunes

    I need to format my pc, how can U backup entire itunes.
    Thanks

    Backup the library with this User Tip.
    Deauthorize the computer.
    Format & rebuild your computer.
    Restore the backup using the same tool used to back it up.
    Install iTunes.
    Keep your backup up-to-date in future.
    tt2

  • HT204414 how to merge my iPhoto Library into my Photos System Library or how to import photos from iPhoto to Photos?

    Can anyone tell me how to merge my iPhoto Library into my Photos System Library or how to import photos from iPhoto to Photos?

    How many did you trash at one go? iPhoto will baulk and possibly corrupt if you try trash too many at one go. Expereinced users recommend getting rid of them in batches of about 100 or so.
    What's your plan for the remaining images in the iPhoto Library (the 2k photos and 4 videos)?
    Regards
    TD

  • IPhoto 9.6: How to move your iPhoto library to a new location?

    Hello,
    How do I move my iPhoto libraries from my system disk to a data only disk in iPhoto 9.6?
    I followed the instructions on this support website titled " iPhoto 9.5: How to move your iPhoto library to a new location."
    However, this only appears to have copied the libraries, not move them.
    According to what I see in Finder, I now have the same library on two different disks, but that was not my intention.
    Thank you

    So, delete the one from the unwanted location.
    When you move data across volumes by default it is copied to the new location, afterwards you delete it from the previous location. It's a sensible protection against dataloss of anything goes wrong with the copy.

  • How to share administrator iPhoto library with other users on same iMac?

    How to share administrator iPhoto library with other users on same iMac?

    This is the part I'm referring to:
    If you want the other user to be able to see the pics, but not add to, change or alter your library, then enable Sharing in your iPhoto (Preferences -> Sharing), leave iPhoto running and use Fast User Switching to open the other account. In that account, enable 'Look For Shared Libraries'. Your Library will appear in the other source pane.
    Any user can drag a pic from the Shared Library to their own in the iPhoto Window.
    Remember iPhoto must be running in both accounts for this to work.
    The library stays in the Pictures folder for this.

  • Can some please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates?  I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my Mac

    Can someone please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates?  I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my new Mac.  I ended up getting a bunch of duplicates. My old Mac has an older version of iPhoto while the new Mac has iPhoto '11.  Is that the cause of the problem?  Please advise.  Thanks.

    Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
    Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
    This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
    Regards
    TD

  • How to move my iPhoto library to a new iMAC?

    how to move my iPhoto library to a new iMAC?

    To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
    Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network, Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
    But however you do choose to link the two machines...
    Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
    Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
    This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

  • How do I export iPhoto library to a flash drive and can photos be viewedon a PC?

    How do I export iPhoto library to flash Drive and can it be viewed On a PC?

    This User Tip
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921
    has details of the options in the Export dialogue.

  • 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

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