HT202321: iPhoto '11: Restoring from Time Machine with iPhoto '11 (9.2 or later) and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (or later)

Learn about iPhoto '11: Restoring from Time Machine with iPhoto '11 (9.2 or later) and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (or later)
mamie94

Q: I cannot restore my iPhoto library

I  have no idea what happened but I cannot get iPhoto to show any of my pictures in the library. I tried to restore them from my back up drive but it still did not work.

HELP !!!!!!!!!!!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.5), OS X 10.8

Posted on Dec 23, 2014 4:29 PM

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Q: I cannot restore my iPhoto library

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  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 23, 2014 4:37 PM in response to mamie94
    Level 10 (106,799 points)
    iLife
    Dec 23, 2014 4:37 PM in response to mamie94

    What happened, before you could no longer see the photos in your library? Did you upgrade software?

    Import new photos? Did iPhoto crash? Did you run any cleaning application?  Move your iPhoto Library?

     

    Which version of iPhoto do you have? And MacOS X?

     

    What happened when you tried to restore from backup? Could you not restore the  library, or has the restored library the same problem?

  • by mamie94,

    mamie94 mamie94 Dec 23, 2014 5:09 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2014 5:09 PM in response to léonie

    I was trying to print a picture and I somehow hit a wrong button, really not sure what I did. I have OS X Yosemite 10.10.1 and the latest version of iPhoto. I thought I restored from the back up drive but it did the same thing. I just get a yellow box that says "To get started in iPhoto connect camera or drag photos, etc." I am usually good at troubleshooting with the help of the internet but I am stumped on this one. Thanks, Denise

  • by mamie94,

    mamie94 mamie94 Dec 23, 2014 5:17 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 23, 2014 5:17 PM in response to léonie

    Hello Again,

     

    I just did another "restore " and was able to fully restore my library. Thanks for answering me, I appreciate it. Denise

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 24, 2014 7:23 AM in response to mamie94
    Level 10 (106,799 points)
    iLife
    Dec 24, 2014 7:23 AM in response to mamie94
    I just did another "restore " and was able to fully restore my library

    Great! 

    Merry Christmas, Denise!

  • by mlona,

    mlona mlona Dec 27, 2014 1:54 PM in response to mamie94
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2014 1:54 PM in response to mamie94

    I have this question too.  Last week everything was fine.  Yesterday, went to open iPhoto and all photos and movies are lost.  I have tried to restore from time machine but either nothing happens or I am told that there is not enough room to copy the library.  Latest version of OS and iPhoto on machine.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 27, 2014 2:52 PM in response to mlona
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 27, 2014 2:52 PM in response to mlona

    With the amount of information you've provided it's impossible to offer a solution.  We can't see your computer so we need to know the details of your problem and setup, i.e.:

    • what version of iPhoto are you using?
    • what system version are you running?
    • how much free space on your boot drive?
    • what do you see in the iPhoto window when you open the library?
    • what fixes have you tried?
    • where is your library located?
    • did you apply any updates or upgrades just prior to the problem occurring?
    • are you running a "managed" or "referenced" library?

              iP11advprefs.png

    • what type of Mac?

    NYToad.png

  • by mlona,

    mlona mlona Dec 27, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Old Toad

    As i said, I believer I am running the latest version of iPhoto and OS X Yosemite.  I upgraded last a couple of months ago and everything worked fine through last week.  my iMac is from 2009.  when i have opened iPhoto starting yesterday, I get various messages - need to upgrade your library (I press ok and it either lets me see photos before 2009 but nothing since or just gives me the postcard "to get started with iPhoto" screen.  I have tried to restore from time machine but either nothing happens or I get a message that there is not enough room to coy the library.  I have never moved my iPhoto library, so it is in home and pictures. 

     

    Storage says I have 151.05 GB of free space and that photos are taking 207.81 of space.  I don't know what a managed or referenced library is. 

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Dec 27, 2014 3:18 PM in response to mlona
    Level 10 (141,085 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 27, 2014 3:18 PM in response to mlona

    Comparing your iPhoto's Advanced preference pane to my screenshot above will tell you if it's referenced or managed.

     

    Do the following:

     

    1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.

     

    iP95firstaid4.png


    2 - run Option #4, Rebuild Database.