Q: Can't open Photos after updating from Snow Leopard to El Capitan
I have an iMac 3.06 GHz, which was updated to El Capitan on January 15. Most things went well with the transition, but I seem to be "stuck" now between iPhoto and Photos - I don't know how else to put it, but I cannot open Photos. When I click on it in the Dock I get the attached screen shot. It's been like this for several since I did the update to El Capitan. At first, it looked as if iPhoto was successfully migrated to Photos during the update. But then, after clicking on my iPhoto external backup it appeared as if the migration process was starting all over again. I now have the image shown in the attached screen shot. It's been stuck on "50% complete" for several days. When I try to quit Photos I get: "Cannot quit Photos while it is creating or opening a library."
After doing some checking for similar issues in previous posts I was clued in to taking a look at my Applications folder. Lo and behold, it lists the following multiple iPhoto libraries:
iPhoto Library ............Jan 15, 2016 (Date Last Opened)
iPhoto Library - old .... Jan 15, 2016 "
iPhoto Library - old .... Jan 29, 2016 "
iPhoto Library - old .... Nov 26, 2015 "
iPhoto Library ............ Nov 25, 2016 "
Obviously - even to me! - something is all screwed up here
Posted on Jan 20, 2016 9:37 AM
Thanks, leonie, that worked! I assume I should now trash the old iPhoto Library in the Pictures folder?
If you have enough storage, keep the iPhoto library until you have tested the Photos Library thoroughly and are sure, all is well, no missing photos. At least, be sure you are having a working backup of the iPhoto Library.
Most of the photos in the Photos Library will be hard like to your iPhoto Library, so you will not reclaim much storage by deleting the iPhoto Library (see: Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support).
Posted on Jan 21, 2016 9:50 AM




