HT204655: Updating from iPhoto to Photos for OS X

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johnfromutrecht

Q: photos library not recognized

With the new OSX Photos app (version 1.0.1) I started my main library on a (synology) NAS. This is not the system library (which is local) but the larger library (over many years using iPhoto) that doesn't sync with iCloud that I use to sync all photos from several devices and sources.

 

Now suddenly opening Photos - with the option key pressed to select the Photo library (± 70 GB) on the NAS, via the 'select another library' dialogue I receive the message that the library has inconsistencies and that it needs to recovery. This failed a couple of times - stopping the recovery progress ending up Photos showing an empty library (the get started screen). At several tries at some point it completed the recovery ± 40 % and then I received the message 'unexpected error occurred and that the library cannot be opened. After closing the application the next attempt to open the library gave the message that the library can not be opened because it is not recognized!! this made me worry!! The idea of loosing my photos is very disturbing.


Searching for possible answers come back with non-relevant iPhoto experiences. So if anybody can help me out - much appreciated.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 15, 2015 2:44 AM

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Q: photos library not recognized

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  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Aug 15, 2015 3:06 AM in response to johnfromutrecht
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Aug 15, 2015 3:06 AM in response to johnfromutrecht

    Try, if you can open the Photos library, if you move it to a locally mounted volume. Then repair it while it is on the locally mounted volume.

    It is not clear at all, if it is supported to store a Photos library on a NAS. For other photo libraries (iPhoto, Aperture) we have Apple Support documents that advise against storing the library on network volume.  For Photos it is not yet documented if a network volume is supported or not, but I suspect it is not. Whenever I tested with a Photos library on a remote server, I could only open it a few times until I got similar warning messages and was no longer able to open the library.

  • by lescornwell,Helpful

    lescornwell lescornwell Aug 15, 2015 4:10 AM in response to léonie
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 15, 2015 4:10 AM in response to léonie

    According to Old Toad's reply here: Move Photos Library to NAS

    "The Photos library can't be copied to or run from a NAS drive.  It must be on a directly connected OS X Extended (journaled) external HD. "

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 15, 2015 4:35 AM in response to lescornwell
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Aug 15, 2015 4:35 AM in response to lescornwell

    It is our experience that Photos does not work from a NAS, just like iPhoto or Aperture .  But as I said, there is still not one word from Apple if a Photos library on a remotely mounted volume will work. 

    The only requirements for Photos libraries I found are here:  https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht211de786

    By default, your System Photo Library is stored in the Pictures folder on your Mac, but you can move it to another location on your Mac or store it on an external storage device. However, to use iCloud services, the external storage device must be formatted using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, also known as HFS+.

    Judging by Apple's documentation for iPhoto Libraries and Aperture libraries on remotely mounted volumes, and my own tests with Photos Libraries on remote volumes, it still is not safe to have the library on a volume that is not formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled) or on a remote volume.

  • by lescornwell,

    lescornwell lescornwell Aug 15, 2015 4:39 AM in response to léonie
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 15, 2015 4:39 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks, Léonie: a fair and well-balanced reply, but towards our topic starter: don't!

  • by johnfromutrecht,

    johnfromutrecht johnfromutrecht Aug 18, 2015 1:34 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 1:34 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks, I think I take lescornwell final comment serious... and start a new plan and that it finding a good external drive that can be directly attached to the computer. I hope I didn't loose my photos.

     

    the photo library is that like a zip file? I am still worried that I have lost photos. I will try to open it on a directly connected drive first.

     

    Both thanks for your replies

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 18, 2015 3:07 PM in response to johnfromutrecht
    Level 10 (106,848 points)
    iLife
    Aug 18, 2015 3:07 PM in response to johnfromutrecht
    the photo library is that like a zip file? I am still worried that I have lost photos. I will try to open it on a directly connected drive first.

    The Photos Library is a package.  It is a folder containing original image files, thumbnails, previews, and database files describing the edits and properties of the photos.  This package is looking like a single item in the Finder, but your original photos will all be there in the subfolders of this bundle. To reassure yourself that all photos are still there, ctrl-click the Photos Library and use the command "Shw Package Contents".  Have a look at the folder "Masters" inside the Finder window that will open.  But be careful not to modify anything inside package - just look!

  • by lomarga,

    lomarga lomarga Jan 15, 2016 11:32 PM in response to johnfromutrecht
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 15, 2016 11:32 PM in response to johnfromutrecht

    Same problem here. Have used the new photo since it was released. My library was on the internal 'data'disk from Apple's 3T time capsule.

    This worked for a year or so via wifi - over the air. Library is quite large 330 Gb and 40.000 pics. Lately I got problems when opening the file and was asked to repair.

    Than one day it was not recognized though the icon still looks like a photo library.

    Copied the 330 Gb to a external disc which I connected to my macbook directly but still same remark. Impossible to open and no recognition of this photo library. Now I know everything is inside the package but will take loads of time to rebuild a new library or maybe should I think of another way to archive my pictures? Maybe better to set up library's per year?

     

    Anyone a suggestion?