bdemerso
Level 1 (8 points)
iLife

Q: iPhoto Back-up Help

Back in April, I put my iPhoto library onto an external hard drive. I now need some photos off of that hard drive, but when I attempt to open that library, I get an error that says, "You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto." I know the transfer of the library was successful because it worked in May. Help!

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 7:48 AM

Close
bdemerso

Q: iPhoto Back-up Help

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 8, 2016 7:51 AM in response to bdemerso
    Level 10 (84,251 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 8, 2016 7:51 AM in response to bdemerso

    Can't help without details

     

    What format is the EHD and how is it connected?

     

    What version of iPhoto do you have? What version was the library on the EHD last used with? What about yrou system has changed since Mac when it worked?

     

    LN

  • by bdemerso,

    bdemerso bdemerso Sep 8, 2016 8:04 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Sep 8, 2016 8:04 AM in response to LarryHN

    You'll have to forgive me, I'm not very tech savvy. It's a Toshiba 1TB EHD. This is what it says under format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled). It's connected through a USB plug.

     

    iPhoto is '09 version 8.1.2 (424). I haven't updated anything on my computer since moving the photos to the EHD. In case you can't tell, I don't update my software simply because I'm terrified I will lose important things on my computer. Which I'm now scared that I have.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 8:16 AM in response to bdemerso
    Level 10 (105,923 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 8:16 AM in response to bdemerso

    How are you trying to open the iPhoto library? The word d "current library" are peculiar.

    Try to launch iPhoto while holding down tha options key  until you are seeing the library chooser panel.

    Then select the library on the external drive.  Does it let you select that library or is it greyed out?

  • by bdemerso,

    bdemerso bdemerso Sep 8, 2016 8:23 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Sep 8, 2016 8:23 AM in response to léonie

    I tried that as well, but it still gives me the same error. It's not greyed out, I am able to select it, it just says it cannot open. I can still open my current iPhoto with that option just fine, but the library on my EHD is the one that gives me the error.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 8:48 AM in response to bdemerso
    Level 10 (105,923 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 8:48 AM in response to bdemerso

    The problem may be, that the library has been opened by a newer version of iPhoto then you are currently having installed. Did you open the external drive with the library on a different Mac?

  • by bdemerso,

    bdemerso bdemerso Sep 8, 2016 9:10 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Sep 8, 2016 9:10 AM in response to léonie

    I've backed up my library a few times on the same hard drive, and all the other ones open just fine. I have libraries from 2009-2015 that open, but the one from '15-'16 is the one giving me trouble. I backed it up from the same library/computer onto the same hard drive as the others and as far as I know, my iPhoto hasn't changed since then.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 8, 2016 9:36 AM in response to bdemerso
    Level 10 (105,923 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 8, 2016 9:36 AM in response to bdemerso

    Then try to rebuild the problematic library: How to do this is described here:   https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201769