Can't re-open iMovie file from External HD...!

[iron2600]

Hi.... help please!


I'm working on a video project and am using the Macs at my University. The new macbooks don't have a firewire port (fail), so I imported my video onto a desktop Mac, and saved the iMovie file to an external hard drive so that I can take the project and work on it elsewhere on campus.

I'm now on a MacBook at the library since desktops are not available here, and plugged in my external hard drive. The file is there, but when I open it in iMovie, there are no video clips to be found... it's like I opened a blank file. Is it because I didn't change the default name from "My First Project" or is there something I'm missing? The file saved to the external HD with no problems, and I can see thumbnail images from my imovie file when looking at the external HD folder, but once I open it.... nothing. Any help please???

Thanks!

KC

 

[spice weasel]

Which version of iMovie are you using? In iMovie '08 and '09, there are two folders, one called iMovie Events and one called iMovie Projects. The Projects folder contains a file for each project you have created that simply references the video you imported. That video is located in the Events folder. If you only copied the Projects file, then your actual video clips are still in the Events folder on the other machine.

If you are using iMovie HD ('06), then your project and video should all be in the same file.

It sounds, however, like iMovie simply doesn't know to look for your video clips on the external drive. I'm not at my Mac now, but there should be an easy way to point it in the right direction.

 

[iron2600]

Hey again-

Thanks. I was sure to save both the "events" and projects" and I had the video. However, when I work between two computers, the changes I make to the video on one computer don't appear on the other when I plug in the external HD again. It only opens the most recent edit I had made on that particular machine. Any other advice there?

Thanks!

 

[xStep]

Which new iMovie are you using, 08 or 09, or both?

On the external drive at the top level of the folders, do you have both "iMovie Projects" and "iMovie Events" and the appropriate files within them?

 

[Lily Hooker]

Hi!! Help!! The same thing happened to me! Did you ever figure out how to fix this issue? I moved a bunch of imovie's off of my old computer onto a hard drive and now can't access them from the hard drive on my computer. It shows files of the music I have used in different videos as well as a "preview" almost screenshot of a clip in the movie. I'm so sad if I lost this all. Please lmk!!! <3

 

[Dave Braine]

Hi!! Help!! The same thing happened to me! Did you ever figure out how to fix this issue? I moved a bunch of imovie's off of my old computer onto a hard drive and now can't access them from the hard drive on my computer. It shows files of the music I have used in different videos as well as a "preview" almost screenshot of a clip in the movie. I'm so sad if I lost this all. Please lmk!!! <3

Which version of iMovie did you use to create the files that you are trying to open, and which version of iMovie are you trying to open them with.