Moving iPhoto '08 library into external hard drive: library moves, photos don't

dizrythmia · Jan 4, 2013, 02:01 AM

Sorry to be a jerk and just basically be registering to beg for help, but I'm at a loss for what to do. I've got iPhoto '08 on my iMac (running Snow Leopard). I'm trying to move my iPhoto library from one external hard drive to the other. I just copied and pasted everything (I just used one drive for iPhoto so it was easy) to the new drive, no problems. I held down option when opening iPhoto so I could set the new location for the library to reflect the new hard drive. That seemed to work fine I guess, it didn't tell me it didn't.

The only problem is the photos themselves are still located on the old hard drive. iPhoto won't reorganise everything so the files move - I wish there was a feature like iTunes had. Moving those files was a lot easier.

Anyway, does anyone have any idea as to what the issue might be? I've tried having a poke around Google to see what might be wrong, but most of the solutions didn't seem applicable to this problem.

Schtumple · Jan 4, 2013, 02:19 AM

I'm pretty certain you have to move the library yourself, setting a new location is like telling iPhoto "Hey, ignore that library, this is the new one now".

Also, iPhoto is pretty smart, if you move the library, it'll figure out where you put it.

dizrythmia · Jan 4, 2013, 05:16 AM

Oh sorry, I should've clarified. I did move the library to the other hard drive first.

Dave Braine · Jan 4, 2013, 09:18 AM

When you say that the photos are still on the old hard drive, do you mean that they are still in folders somewhere in Finder?

In iPhoto Preferences>Advanced there is the "Copy Items to iPhoto Library" option. When importing photos into iPhoto from somewhere other than a camera, it puts a copy of the photos in the Library.

If this is not ticked, and you import from an external drive, then you have to have that drive connected to view the pictures.

It sounds like you imported your photos without this option ticked, which is why they don't show in iPhoto on the new drive.

Just find the photos on the old drive and import them to iPhoto this time ticking that "Copy" option.

dizrythmia · Jan 5, 2013, 02:37 AM

I just checked and I did have that box ticked. I've since quit and reopened iPhoto several times since moving the library and if I click on any random photo in my library and click on view file, it's pointing to the old hard drive. I even tried specifically opening the library file on my new hard drive hoping that might fix it, but of course it wasn't that easy.

Dave Braine · Jan 5, 2013, 08:34 AM

Even though it's trying to go to the old drive, are the photos in your new Library file on the new drive?

dizrythmia · Jan 8, 2013, 12:32 AM

Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, when I go to the library file on the new drive and open the package contents, all the photos are there. If I didn't have so many events, I'd just start over and re-add them.

Dave Braine · Jan 8, 2013, 06:27 PM

If you are happy that all your photos are on the new drive, then just delete the old iPhoto Library on the other drive.

dizrythmia · Jan 10, 2013, 03:26 AM

I tried doing that and the photos stopped working. It should not be this hard to move an iPhoto library!

James Craner · Jan 10, 2013, 04:25 AM

These are Apple's instructions for moving an iPhoto Library. Have you tried double clicking on the new locations Library file icon as suggested ?

dizrythmia · 02:56 AM

Yep. I don't know why iPhoto is being so stubborn about this. I'm afraid I'm going to have to just give up and re-import the photos manually.

Edit: Wait, I stand corrected. Just double checked (for the thousandth time) and it finally did work. Thanks again everyone for all your help.

James Craner · Jan 12, 2013, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizrythmia

Yep. I don't know why iPhoto is being so stubborn about this. I'm afraid I'm going to have to just give up and re-import the photos manually.

Edit: Wait, I stand corrected. Just double checked (for the thousandth time) and it finally did work. Thanks again everyone for all your help.

Out of interest what did you do differently to get it to work ?

Dave Braine · Jan 12, 2013, 01:54 PM

Quote:

and it finally did work

An everyday tale of computers.

dizrythmia · Jan 12, 2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Craner

Out of interest what did you do differently to get it to work ?

I have no idea! I'd been trying both manually setting the library (by holding down the control button) and opening the file itself. I'd rebooted iPhoto countless times and my computer a few times too. I guess it finally stuck.

Jan 4, 2013, 02:01 AM	#1
dizrythmia macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	Moving iPhoto '08 library into external hard drive: library moves, photos don't Sorry to be a jerk and just basically be registering to beg for help, but I'm at a loss for what to do. I've got iPhoto '08 on my iMac (running Snow Leopard). I'm trying to move my iPhoto library from one external hard drive to the other. I just copied and pasted everything (I just used one drive for iPhoto so it was easy) to the new drive, no problems. I held down option when opening iPhoto so I could set the new location for the library to reflect the new hard drive. That seemed to work fine I guess, it didn't tell me it didn't. The only problem is the photos themselves are still located on the old hard drive. iPhoto won't reorganise everything so the files move - I wish there was a feature like iTunes had. Moving those files was a lot easier. Anyway, does anyone have any idea as to what the issue might be? I've tried having a poke around Google to see what might be wrong, but most of the solutions didn't seem applicable to this problem.
	0

Jan 4, 2013, 02:19 AM	#2
Schtumple macrumors 601 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Los Angeles or England	I'm pretty certain you have to move the library yourself, setting a new location is like telling iPhoto "Hey, ignore that library, this is the new one now". Also, iPhoto is pretty smart, if you move the library, it'll figure out where you put it. __________________ Leave Only Footsteps / Flickr / Bandcamp / DU Bandcamp Urban Exploration Documentary / Photography / Solo Musician / Dirty Uniform
	0

Jan 4, 2013, 09:18 AM	#4
Dave Braine macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, UK	When you say that the photos are still on the old hard drive, do you mean that they are still in folders somewhere in Finder? In iPhoto Preferences>Advanced there is the "Copy Items to iPhoto Library" option. When importing photos into iPhoto from somewhere other than a camera, it puts a copy of the photos in the Library. If this is not ticked, and you import from an external drive, then you have to have that drive connected to view the pictures. It sounds like you imported your photos without this option ticked, which is why they don't show in iPhoto on the new drive. Just find the photos on the old drive and import them to iPhoto this time ticking that "Copy" option. __________________ PPC Mini, 10.4.11, Intel Mini, 10.6.6, White MacBook 10.6.8 iPhone 3GS, using o2 PAYG
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 08:34 AM	#6
Dave Braine macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, UK	Even though it's trying to go to the old drive, are the photos in your new Library file on the new drive? __________________ PPC Mini, 10.4.11, Intel Mini, 10.6.6, White MacBook 10.6.8 iPhone 3GS, using o2 PAYG
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 06:27 PM	#8
Dave Braine macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, UK	If you are happy that all your photos are on the new drive, then just delete the old iPhoto Library on the other drive. __________________ PPC Mini, 10.4.11, Intel Mini, 10.6.6, White MacBook 10.6.8 iPhone 3GS, using o2 PAYG
	0

Jan 4, 2013, 05:16 AM	#3
dizrythmia Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	Oh sorry, I should've clarified. I did move the library to the other hard drive first.
	0

Jan 5, 2013, 02:37 AM	#5
dizrythmia Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	I just checked and I did have that box ticked. I've since quit and reopened iPhoto several times since moving the library and if I click on any random photo in my library and click on view file, it's pointing to the old hard drive. I even tried specifically opening the library file on my new hard drive hoping that might fix it, but of course it wasn't that easy.
	0

Jan 8, 2013, 12:32 AM	#7
dizrythmia Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, when I go to the library file on the new drive and open the package contents, all the photos are there. If I didn't have so many events, I'd just start over and re-add them.
	0

Jan 10, 2013, 03:26 AM	#9
dizrythmia Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	I tried doing that and the photos stopped working. It should not be this hard to move an iPhoto library!
	0

Jan 10, 2013, 04:25 AM	#10
James Craner macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bristol, UK	These are Apple's instructions for moving an iPhoto Library. Have you tried double clicking on the new locations Library file icon as suggested ? __________________ Productivity Orchard Be more productive with your Mac
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Jan 12, 2013, 02:47 AM	#11
dizrythmia Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Memphis, TN	Yep. I don't know why iPhoto is being so stubborn about this. I'm afraid I'm going to have to just give up and re-import the photos manually. Edit: Wait, I stand corrected. Just double checked (for the thousandth time) and it finally did work. Thanks again everyone for all your help. Last edited by dizrythmia; Jan 12, 2013 at 02:56 AM.
	0


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