Sorry folks, I did something bad, I was looking how to save my current iphoto library to my external drive and I hit a wrong button, lost my current iphoto and now have only the backed up version from 2007, Woops I never was the quick witted one... PLEASE

I switched my current iphoto library out for the saved one on my external drive by mistake. It said, Switch Libraries.... Do you want to switch the current iphoto library from AAA iphoto library (what I called the old one I guess - in my OWC) toOWC Mercury on-the-go and relaunch iphoto? cancel or relaunch
Sorry, I was looking for a way to save my current iphoto images to my hard drive. Yeah, I guess just drag something over right? Anyway, now I cannot retrieve my last 2 or 3 years of photos, Can You HELP me?
Mac os X  version 10.6.8
2.66 GHz Intel core 2 Duo
etc

Depress the option key and launch iPhoto = use teh select library option and select the correct one
yes to move your library to an external drive
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

  • I just backed up my photos by copying my iPhoto Library onto an external drive. Now the Library on my MacBook won't open. I can only open the photos if the external is plugged in. How can I resolve this issue?

    I just backed up my photos by copying my iPhoto Library onto an external drive. Now the Library on my MacBook won't open. I can only open the photos if the external is plugged in. How can I resolve this issue?

    Exactly what did you do?
    The correct steps are
    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
    My guess is that that you have not switched iphoto to use the external drive yet - opttion launch and select libary
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  • I have Mavericks and I want to transfer my iPhoto library to an external drive

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    Hi Terence,
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  • What is the best way to copy my iphoto library to an external drive?

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    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
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    b: When you're removing the unwanted pics from the Internal Library you need to delete them in batches of about 100 or so. Trashing more at one time can cause problems with the database.
    c:
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    Regards
    TD

  • I want to copy my iPhoto library to an external drive but I cannot find the folder on my Mac Air. When I open Finder there is no Picture folder showing so I cannot find the iPhoto library.

    I want to copy my iPhoto library to an external drive but I cannot find the folder on my Mac Air. When I open Finder there is no Picture folder showing so I cannot find the iPhoto library.

    Choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu and provide ~/Pictures/ as the path. If that doesn't work, control-click a photo in iPhoto, show it in the Finder, and Command-click the folder's name in the window's title bar to find the path.
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  • How do you get Photos to recognize the "old" iPhoto Library on an external drive without it copying it to the internal drive on the computer which is low in HD space?

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    Launch Photos while holding down the alt/options key.
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    (66929)

  • Moved my iphoto library to an external drive and now I can't import photos from my camera or iPhone - will only import previously impoted photos - why?

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    No that is not a problem and no one has reported it here
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    What format is the external drive?
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  • How do I transfer all my iPhoto library to an external drive without losing the organising

    My iMac's internal drive is almost full - mainly with 25,000 photos accumulated over the last 10 years. These are carefully sorted into Events, Smart Albums, etc., and given titles, ratings, etc.
    As my iMac is becoming rather 'clunky' with little space left, I want to transfer most or all of my iPhoto library onto a newly purchased 1TB external hard drive to be used just for photos / movies.
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    It's successfully copied all 25,000 photos into the new iPhoto library on My Passport, but I'm dismayed to find that all the original events, titles, etc. are now all shuffled up and haphazard, with all titles, grading, etc. apparently gone.
    Fortunately I haven't yet started to delete the photos on the original Iphoto library on my internal hard drive .................. but surely there's a way to 'back up' my iPhoto library without losing all the hard work I've put into the organising & editing ............isn't there ???
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    I followed Apple's support team's instruction to create iPhoto on the new external hard drive (My Passport) - and then drag and drop the existing iPhoto library onto it from the Master file.
    Don't know who told you that but it would be difficult to be more wrong.
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    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
    4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
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    TD

  • I have my iphoto library on an external drive, but it filled up.  Can I have another library in another external drive and use them both?

    I have old pictures in my external drive that I filled up.  I would like to make another iphoto library in a new external drive and have this one for new pictures.  Can I do that? And how will I be able to see my old pictures on my older external drive? My iphoto is 9.5.1.

    Yes.  Another way to switch between libraries is with this menu in iPhoto:

  • I was trying to move my photos from the iPhoto library to an external hard drive.  I now have a desktop display of thousands of cascading photos.  How do I remove them from my desktop screen?

    I was trying to move my photos from the iPhoto library to an external hard drive.  I now have a desktop display of thousands of cascading photos.  How do I remove them from my desktop screen?

    Strangely enough we can not see you so it really helps if you share with use exactly what you have, exactly what you did and details about the problem
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    The correct way to move your iphoto library to an external drive is to verify the drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journal) and then drag the iphotl library intact as a single entity to is
    The correct way to move some or all of your photos is to select them in iphoto and export 9file menu ==> export  --  https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4921 ) to the external drive
    LN

  • I was trying to move iphoto library to my external hardrive, realised it was incompatible with Mac.  The iphoto will not open now, message is "Iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".  I have read other posts.

    Hi,
    I was trying to save a copy of my iphoto library by copying images to my external harddrive.  I wasn't sure how to do it, realised the hard drive is not compatible. Now the iphoto library wont open and reads "iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".
    I have tried to use options command and click on iphoto then rebuild yet nothing happens and same error message occurs.
    I have gone to  my personal drive, desktop, iphoto library, and found file Albumdata.xml and when i click on it, there is a lot of text in it, i am assuming these are all my photos.
    I have tried clicking and dragging this file to iphoto app and it doesn't work, as the same error comes up in iphoto being in use or unreadable....
    What am I meant to do with albumdata.xml file and how do I reopen Iphoto from here on in?
    Please help as I am not technically minded and still trying to understand how to use the Macbook at all as I am used to Microsoft.
    Thank you very much,
    KS

    Rule Number One - NEVER go directly uinto the iPhoto library - there are no user servicable parts in it and making any change no matter how small can corrupt your library and cause data or photo loss
    Exactly how were you trying to save a copy of your iPhoto library?
    Albumdata.xml does not contain your photos - and again NEVER make any changes to the content of the iPhoto library - no dragging - no changes - never go into the library
    We need to know exactly what you did
    And probalby the easiest solution is to load your backup from before you messed things up
    For reference after you get things working
    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

  • Hi, can I move my iTunes library to an external hardrive without having to consolidate it as my prehistoric computer just doesn't have the space even though I have deleted everything possible to make room? Please help :(

    Hi, can I move my iTunes library to an external drive without having to consolidate it as my prehistoric computer just doesn't have enough space even though I have deleted everything possible to make room? Please help

    Hi, do you know if this works if I then want to move my library to a new computer as that is my main intention bacause my old computer hasn't got enough space for me to add new albums so I want to ditch the computer (its got to be about 100 years old and doesn't seem to cope well with modern technology!!) and start using my laptop for my iTunes. I am at the point now where i'm ready to throw both my computer and iPod out the window!!!! I might point out as well that in trying to clear space on my computer I accidently deleted the Bonjour programme which is aparently needed to use the home share option, oops!!!!
    Thanks, Kerry

  • I´ve moved the iphoto library to an external hard drive. Now I want to create space on my macbook by deleting the iphoto-files from the internal iphoto.. How do I do this?

    My macbook has been telling me that it is running out of space. Therefore I moves the iphoto library to an extarnal hard drive. How do I free space on my macbook now? If I erase the files/library (I don´t now witch of them?) from the internal hard drive, will they still be there on the external one?

    Moving iPhoto Library - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229. and http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2506.
    First, set up finder to show your external drive on the desktop.  To do this, click finder in your dock, then click the word finder beside the apple.  Select preferences.  When the preferences window opens, select the "general" tab, and under "show these items on the desktop" ensure you check off "external disks"
    Connect an external drive.  You should see an icon appear on the desktop.
    In order to move an iPhoto Library to this external drive, the drive must be formatted for a mac.  To check the format of the drive, open up disk utility (applications / utilities).   In the disk utility window, you will see the external drive on the left.  Select it.  Then go to the "erase" tab.  This tab will show the current format of this drive.  It must be "Mac OS Extended Journaled", or the iPhoto Library will not allow you to move it to that drive.
    As long as it is formatted correctly, simply click finder in the dock and go into your pictures folder.  Here you should see your iPhoto Library.  Simply drag the Library to the external drives icon on the desktop.   This will start to copy.  It may take some time to copy the library to the drive. 
    Once the copy is finished, you can then drag the iPhoto Library in the pictures folder, to the trash.

  • How do I add events from my iphoto library to my current iphoto backup on my external drive?

    I have backed up 80% of my current iphoto library to my external drive and continually adding to the mac hard drive with all my new photos.  Is there an easy way of updating my backup library event by event, like an overflow?  I like to keep 2-3 months of my photos for editing and mailing but need to find a way of moving older ones to my existing backup.

    Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    Now you have two full versions of the Library.
    3. On the Internal library, trash the Events you don't want there
    Now you have a full copy of the Library on the External and a smaller subset on the Internal
    Some Notes:
    As a general rule: when deleting photos do them in batches of about 100 at a time. iPhoto can baulk at trashing large numbers at one go.
    You can choose which Library to open: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
    You can keep the Library on the external updated with new imports using iPhoto Library Manager
    However:
    You do not have a back up of your Library. Let me say that again. You have no back up.
    What you have are two libraries, one on your internal disk and one on the external, and they have some material in common.
    If the external is damaged then your library is toast. The vast bulk of your photos will be gone. You need a second disk to back up the first. Remember a back up is a copy, on another disk, of the data. At this time you have no copy.
    Regards
    TD

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