HT204484: If Photos can’t copy or create a library

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James Iacobelli
Level 1 (5 points)

Q: my photo library is on an external drive...how would i fix those permissions?

i'm trying to use the terminal command to fix my photo library permissions but don't know to type it out.

i updated to os 10.10.3 with the new photos app and my library won't open anymore, or be copied to another location.

please help

Posted on Apr 14, 2015 9:14 PM

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James Iacobelli

Q: my photo library is on an external drive...how would i fix those permissions?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 14, 2015 9:20 PM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2015 9:20 PM in response to James Iacobelli

    Copy and paste the lines instead of typing them out. If desired, you can edit them from a program such as TextEdit before pasting them into the Terminal; once in the Terminal, you can also drag a folder into the application window instead of typing/pasting in its path.

     

    (125992)

  • by James Iacobelli,

    James Iacobelli James Iacobelli Apr 14, 2015 9:21 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 14, 2015 9:21 PM in response to Niel

    apples site only has the command line if your library is in the default location. which mine isn't

    so i don't know how to type it out.

    i'm just trying anything i can find.

    i'm also now getting a S.M.A.R.T. status: failing on the drive my photo library is on.

    major issues over here

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 14, 2015 9:25 PM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2015 9:25 PM in response to James Iacobelli

    1. Don't type out the path; instead, type/paste everything before it in the line, locate the folder in the Finder, and drag it into the Terminal.

    2. That drive's about to fail. Put the library on a different one immediately.

     

    (125993)

  • by James Iacobelli,

    James Iacobelli James Iacobelli Apr 14, 2015 9:29 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 14, 2015 9:29 PM in response to Niel

    the library won't copy anywhere

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 14, 2015 9:33 PM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2015 9:33 PM in response to James Iacobelli

    Run the Terminal commands after modifying them as described above, and then try dragging the library to the new drive in the Finder. If this produces any error messages, post them here.

     

    (125995)

  • by James Iacobelli,

    James Iacobelli James Iacobelli Apr 14, 2015 9:37 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 14, 2015 9:37 PM in response to Niel

    i don't know the terminal commands

    my library is on an external drive and apples site only states them for the default location.

     

    would you know how i can figure them out?

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 14, 2015 9:40 PM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2015 9:40 PM in response to James Iacobelli

    Insted of providing the path, drag the folder into the Terminal window; it'll fill in the path. You don't need to work out anything.

     

    (125996)

  • by nelsonnn,

    nelsonnn nelsonnn Apr 20, 2015 12:43 PM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2015 12:43 PM in response to James Iacobelli

    go into your external HDD properties info, and change it from read only to read/write

    it worked for me.

  • by Ewan Photo,

    Ewan Photo Ewan Photo Apr 21, 2015 9:21 AM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2015 9:21 AM in response to James Iacobelli

    Not sure if this is the same issue as discussed under another topic but here is the issue I had and the solution I found in the other discussion, hope you get it sorted.

     

    My iPhoto Library is on an external drive, I updated OS to Yosemite, I tried to open iPhoto Library on the external drive, after 8% completion of "Preparing Library" I got an error message about permissions. I tried to type commands into Terminal with no success. It was a simple fix in the end!

     

    I right clicked the drive, selected get info, then clicked the padlock on the bottom right of the info panel to allow privileges for everyone to be read & write.

     

    The library now appears to be preparing ok, it's reached 43% so far and my fingers are crossed for accessing my images

     

    Before using the external drive with my Mac, I had to reformat it due to having used it previously on a PC.

    I thought I had it all set up with read and write permissions allowed, but obviously not!

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 21, 2015 10:51 AM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (84,857 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 21, 2015 10:51 AM in response to James Iacobelli

    What format is the drive and how is it connected?

     

    It needs to be Mac OS exteded (journaled and connected via a fast hard wired connection

     

    No need for Terminal commands - right click on it and check ignore ownership and be sure that everyone has read/write permission

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 21, 2015 10:50 AM in response to James Iacobelli
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2015 10:50 AM in response to James Iacobelli

    You don't need the Terminal to do that.  As Larry pointed out the EHD must be formatted OS X Extended (journaled).  Then bring up the Info window for the drive, click on the padlock, unlock it and check the Ignore ownership on this volume checkbox.

    ignoreownership.png

    OTsig.png