MirunaKawaii

Q: I accidentally erased my iPhoto Library to Trash and had emptied securely

Dear All,

 

I'm feeling very stupid because I accidently erased my iPhoto Library to Trash and had emptied the trash securely a few days ago... I dont understand how to use time machine app in my Mac. Can anyone help me pull back my lost iPhoto data that I had empty securely from the trash plus guidance to activate Time Machine ? Really need those photos back.

 

Thank you so much for the answer and guidance.

 

Sincerely,

Mirna.

Posted on May 18, 2014 12:16 PM

Close

Q: I accidentally erased my iPhoto Library to Trash and had emptied securely

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin May 18, 2014 12:27 PM in response to MirunaKawaii
    Level 10 (139,475 points)
    iLife
    May 18, 2014 12:27 PM in response to MirunaKawaii

    If Time Machine was running then this article

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4927

     

    explains what to do.

     

     

    However, if Time Machine was not running

     

    and

     

    If you securely emptied the trash

     

    there is no way to get the photos back.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 18, 2014 12:28 PM in response to MirunaKawaii
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 18, 2014 12:28 PM in response to MirunaKawaii

    Your only choice is to rerstore your backup - instructions form restoreing form TM are here -  http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427

     

    Basically you launch The Time Mahine appliation and go back to  the time you want to restore from - select the iPhoto library (by default in your pictures folder) an click restore

     

    LN

  • by fjwhiston,

    fjwhiston fjwhiston May 18, 2014 12:34 PM in response to MirunaKawaii
    Level 3 (540 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 18, 2014 12:34 PM in response to MirunaKawaii

    HI, I think you'll have lost them, but it's possible you could get them back from Time Machine.

     

    What you do first is to enter Time Machine.  You can do this if you have it in the taskbar at the top of your screen, otherwise you'll need to go in via Finder > Applications > Time Machine.app

     

    Once in Time Machine, you'll see a series of folders that all look just like the Finder folder.  Choose Pictures, and see if you can find your iPhoto Library.photolibrary

     

    If you can't, then click on an "older" folder in the stack, and see if you can find it in one of your older TM backups.  If you can, then right click (or ctrl click) and either Restore to... if that option exists, or Copy the iphotolibrary.  Then exit Time Machine, go to Finder from your desk top, go to pictures, and paste the library back in.

     

    It may be a long shot, and I'm not going to test it out to see if it works, but it might.  Either way, you have nothing to lose, because you won't get it back from a secure trash empty.

     

    Good luck, amnd let us know how you get on.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 18, 2014 12:48 PM in response to fjwhiston
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 18, 2014 12:48 PM in response to fjwhiston

    Good repeating the answer for the third time but including incorrect information - the copy and past methof you suggest will not work and should not ever be suggested

     

    You can not copy the iPhoto library from a Time Machine backu past it into your pictures folder and have it work - you must use the TM application to restore the library as both TD and I explained and provided links to the Apple instructins for TM

     

    LN

  • by MirunaKawaii,

    MirunaKawaii MirunaKawaii May 18, 2014 6:40 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 18, 2014 6:40 PM in response to LarryHN

    Hi Everyone!

    Thank you for answering my Q. I have tried to activate my Time Machine (before it was OFF). Then when I activated it, it says : I have to slect another back up disc, and I clicked it. Then this showed up : Other Time Capsule then I clicked Set Up. It went to : Internet and it said that : no configured AirPort based stations have been found. AirPort Utility will continue searching.

    1. What does it mean ?

    2. If I have never activated the Time Machine before and if I activate now, will I be able to get my photos back ?

    Anyway, my iPhoto series is 9.5.1 and I'm using iOs 10.9.2

    Thank you so much for answers and tutorials given!

    Regards,

    Mirna

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 18, 2014 7:53 PM in response to MirunaKawaii
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 18, 2014 7:53 PM in response to MirunaKawaii

    Time Machine is a backup program - it can not (obviously) backup something that does not exist

     

     

    If you did not have a backup when you made the mistake then your photos are irretrievably gone

     

    For the future I strongly suggest that you start using Time Machine and backing up to avoid a repeat of this in the future - with no backup you will lose your photos again some day

     

    to use TimeMachine you need an external hard drive

     

    LN