HT204259: If Photos won't open a library that you already migrated

Learn about If Photos won't open a library that you already migrated
Geoff K

Q: Is it safe to delete my "already migrated" iPhoto file?

I get the Cannot open... already migrated message when trying to open an iPhotos library. Does this mean I can safely delete the iPhoto library without fear of loosing my pictures? I need to do so because my MBA is nearly full.

 

Geoff

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 19, 2015 10:20 PM

Close

Q: Is it safe to delete my "already migrated" iPhoto file?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Solvedanswer

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Oct 19, 2015 11:04 PM in response to Geoff K
    Level 10 (139,532 points)
    iLife
    Oct 19, 2015 11:04 PM in response to Geoff K

    Yes, if you're sure you have no need for it.

     

    But...

     

    You'll not get back as much space as you think. Both Photos and iPhoto libraries share the same original files. So while they both claim to manage 30 gigs(or whatever)  of data, it's pretty much the same 30 gigs...

     

    So remember this:

     

    OS X needs about 10 gigs of hard drive space for normal OS operations - things like virtual memory, temporary files and so on.

     

    Without this space your Mac will slow down as the OS hunts for space on the disk, files will be fragmented, also slowing things down, apps will crash and the risk of data corruption - that is damage to your files, photos, music - increases exponentially.

  • by Geoff K,

    Geoff K Geoff K Oct 24, 2015 7:06 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 24, 2015 7:06 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thanks Terrence. I assume by "...have no need for it." you mean will not be using iPhoto. I can't use it. If I try open I'm told I need an update and when I go to the app store it tells me the update is not available. That's OK as long as Photos will let me work with the pictures similarly.

     

    All I need is a place to store and retrieve my pictures. I don't do neat stuff with pictures, just save them and occasionally crop one. Rarely I'll fiddle with colors and exposure. Nevertheless, they are important as family pictures and we do print out quite a few.

     

    If I understand correctly, these files labeled 16 gigs are really not 16 gig files but a smaller management file that includes yet a 3d file in it's volume count?

     

    Interestingly, my picture files were 4 gig before I installed El Capitan. (Mavericks prior) They went to 16 gig after I clicked the photos check in iCloud prefs. I also used all my 10 gig data cap (satellite connection) by trying. Could it be each device (iMac, MBA, 2 iPhones) uploaded the same pics and I have 4 of everything?

     

    Geoff

  • by Terence Devlin,Helpful

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Oct 24, 2015 4:11 PM in response to Geoff K
    Level 10 (139,532 points)
    iLife
    Oct 24, 2015 4:11 PM in response to Geoff K
    If I try open I'm told I need an update and when I go to the app store it tells me the update is not available.

     

    Assuming you were using iphoto 11 prior to this:

     

    Go to the App Store and check out the Purchases List. If iPhoto is there then it will be v9.6.1

     

    If it is there, then drag your existing iPhoto app (not the library, just the app) to the trash

     

    Install the App from the App Store.

     

    ****

     

    Sometimes iPhoto is not visible on the Purchases List. it may be hidden. See this article for details on how to unhide it.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4928

     

    One question often asked: Will I lose my Photos if I reinstall?

     

    iPhoto the application and the iPhoto Library are two different parts of the iPhoto programme. So, reinstalling the app should not affect the Library. BUT you should always have a back up before doing this kind of work. Always.


    If I understand correctly, these files labeled 16 gigs are really not 16 gig files but a smaller management file that includes yet a 3d file in it's volume count?

     

    What files? What do you mean by "3d file'?

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Oct 24, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Geoff K
    Level 10 (106,767 points)
    iLife
    Oct 24, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Geoff K
    Interestingly, my picture files were 4 gig before I installed El Capitan. (Mavericks prior) They went to 16 gig after I clicked the photos check in iCloud prefs. I also used all my 10 gig data cap (satellite connection) by trying.

    When you migrated the iPhoto Library to Photos the Photos.app created hard links to the photos in your iPhoto Library. This way you are having different image files in Photos that are sharing the storage with the photos in the iPhoto Library.  The Finder will show the image files in both libraries as different files of the same size, but they are using the same blocks on the disk.

    The storage will only be released if you delete the photos both in your iPhoto Library and the Photos library, see:

     

    Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

    Six Colors: The (hard) link between Photos and iPhoto

     

     

    Could it be each device (iMac, MBA, 2 iPhones) uploaded the same pics and I have 4 of everything?

    Do you have iCloud Photo Library enabled on all your devices?

  • by Geoff K,

    Geoff K Geoff K Oct 24, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 24, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Again, thanks. I can't get to the App Store now, probably because I'm on POT connection speeds. The ball of bars just spins and nothing advances. I used my data quota and won't be back to normal speeds for another 3 weeks. I can go on between midnight and 0500 and get normal speeds so can do it then.

     

    However, Do I need to? Is there any reason I need iPhoto? It looks like Photo will do the same thing, or at least the basic things I had been doing.

     

    The "files" I referenced were the iPhoto and Photo libraries. Sorry for the rudimentary knowledge. I thought those were files containing my photos. I assumed if I trashed them all my pictures would be gone. Apparently the pics are stored somewhere else? That's what I mean by the 3d file. But the libraries are listed with 18 GB so they must contain something?

     

    Geoff

  • by Geoff K,

    Geoff K Geoff K Oct 24, 2015 4:32 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (17 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 24, 2015 4:32 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks, Leonie.

     

    I did have iCloud photo enabled on all my devices but now have turned them all off until I figure out what's eating my data usage. My hope is to store all photos in iCloud and be able to download individual photos when I want to use them. The iMac is no problem; it has 500 GB capacity and I've only used 150 GB. But the phones and MBA are close to full. More important now that I'm on satellite connection with a data cap (10 gig/mo) I don't want every pic we take going up and down the data trail to each device. I thought Photo could send small picture files (thumbnails?) to each device and the full picture downloaded only when specifically asked for.

     

    Geoff