"iPhoto Library" to/from external drive transfer error...

Question

Level 2

190 points

"iPhoto Library" to/from external drive transfer error...

Hi there,

Ever since my iPhoto Library sored over 50GB, I've had to store it on an external HD since that would stuff the 100GB HD on my CTO 12" PowerBook G4 a little too tightly.

I recently got a new MacBook Pro with a 160GB internal drive and I'm now looking to transfer that "iPhoto Library" folder from my external (FW 400) drive to my internal MacBook Pro drive.

So, as you might imagine, I tried simply dragging the folder from the external to the internal drive, but I kept getting errors which would force the transfer to fail. The errors read as such:

"The Finder cannot complete the operation because some dat in "IMG_2128.JPG" could not be read or written. (Error code -36)."

So, the first time I got this I just figured it was a single corrupt image. I went into iPhoto, exported that image and then re-imported it (after deleting that original). This worked fine on the next transfer until a few minutes later when the error came up again. All in all, after "fixing" 5 or 6 photos I decided that I couldn't do this to hundreds of photos.

I've tried using Disk Utility to make a clone of the external drive that the photos are on to another external drive, but that fails with some random error likely caused by the same problem.
I've tried setting the permissions for the drive to be ignored and not to be ignored, and I keep getting the same errors. I cannot get "Disk Utility" to give me the option to "repair permissions" (even when I uncheck "ignore permissions on this drive").

I cannot mount the external drive to my old PowerBook then use the "Migration Assistant" because I'd have to use the only FW port on the old PowerBook to connect the external drive to (and then I wouldn't have a port to connect the new machine to it with).

Any thoughts?!?

Much appreciated!

Allen

PowerBook G4 12(.1) 1.5/768/100/SD Mac OS X (10.4.10) iPod Photo, SD600, iPod Camera Connector, MacAlly BTJR, iceKEY, PSII USB Headset

Posted on Jul 2, 2007 7:36 PM

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Answer 1

Smtr

Level 5

5,450 points

Jul 2, 2007 8:38 PM in response to Allen Evans

Allen,

This is courtesy of Old Toad:

"...download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administrative name, long or short, in the owner and group sections. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field."

If you apply it to the iPhoto library folder it should set the permissions for all of the photos and hopefully allow you to copy it over to your mew MacBook Pro.

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Answer 2

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 2, 2007 8:51 PM in response to Smtr

Smtr,

Thanks so much for the heads up -I've run that app to override those permissions and I'm trying the transfer again now. Should the app have alerted me somehow that it successfully change those permissions? I just set it up as instructed (thanks again!) and clicked "apply."

I'll let you know if it works.

Thanks again,

Allen

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Answer 3

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 2, 2007 9:06 PM in response to Allen Evans

Smtr,

Unfortunately I've just run up against the same error after using the app to override the permissions settings and running the transfer again:
"The Finder cannot complete the operation because some data in "IMG_2128.JPG" could not be read or written. (Error code -36)."

It strikes me as odd that it says that it cannot even read the file but I can open it in iPhoto and view and edit it.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks,

Allen

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Answer 4

Smtr

Level 5

5,450 points

Jul 2, 2007 9:28 PM in response to Allen Evans

Allen,

I'm sorry that didn't do the trick. I remember a thread in which the problem was solved by renaming the .jpg extensions to .JPG. Or maybe it was the other way around. Of course, this can't happen while the files are inside the iPhoto Library folder without damaging the database. At any rate, the Hosts have temporarily disabled the Search function of Apple Discussions and I can't find that thread without it. My only remaining advice is to wait for Terence Devlin to come online when the sun rises on his side of the pond.

Hang in there....

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Answer 5

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,098 points

Jul 2, 2007 10:04 PM in response to Allen Evans

Allen

Try use the File -> Export command and export that pic from your library to the desktop. Does that work okay? If it does, delete it from iPhoto and make the move, then re-import it.

Also, check your HD for errors with Disk Utility.

Regards

TD

p.s Shelley: This month my side of the pond is your side too - I'm in Seattle and Vancouver and paces between over the next few weeks. Enjoying the weather - very different from and Irish summer!!

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Answer 6

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 2, 2007 10:13 PM in response to Yer_Man

Terence,

I have checked the disk with "Disk Utility." No errors were found, although I did repair it anyway without any results.

Yes, exporting the photos is an option, but it is my last resort for three reasons:
1) I'm dealing with between 8,000 and 10,000 photos, so even this method would be slow.
2) Exporting the photos saves only the edited version. One of the great things about iPhoto is that it keeps your original version which you can always revert back to.
3) All album data, which is extensive in this library, would also be lost.

A great tip if it comes to it though!

Thanks,

Allen

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Answer 7

Smtr

Level 5

5,450 points

Jul 2, 2007 10:13 PM in response to Yer_Man

TD,

Oohhh, I'm jealous now. I've heard the NW coast is absolutely gorgeous, but I've never been north of San Francisco. Enjoy your visit, and welcome to North America.

S.

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Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,098 points

Jul 2, 2007 10:35 PM in response to Allen Evans

Allen

Sorry, I wasn't clear and I thought it was just one errant pic. However, try exporting one to the desktop and see does that work okay. Specifically use the File - Export command.

Regards

TD

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Answer 9

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 6, 2007 6:00 PM in response to Yer_Man

TD,

Thanks for your continued support -I've been very busy and have just gotten back to this issue today.

The images which pop up in the finder as unreadable and unwritable do give me trouble within iPhoto. I never noticed this before since my library is so large, but the affected photos cannot be exported and the external HD hangs when trying to expand their thumbnails into the editor window.

The only solution I can imagine right now is to go through and delete each affected photo. This is a pain because I loose that photo and (even more) because the only way to identify the affected files (that I can think of) is to let the Finder initiate the entire iPhoto Library folder copy in the Finder and then wait until the first error comes up -this is a huge pain because it takes 25min before the Finder comes to the first one to delete (so I have to delete it from iPhoto then wait another 25 or so min after I restart the transfer before I get the next one)!

I also tried installing the Aperture trial and migrating my iPhoto library over. I got a few errors which I was able to "ignore" but the transfer eventually hung up on one of the affected photos and I had to force quit Aperture.

Anyone have more thoughts?!?

Thanks so much,

Allen

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Answer 10

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 7, 2007 8:46 AM in response to Allen Evans

Hey All,

I've resolved this issue!

I did so by manually deleting EACH photo that the Finder encountered an error while copying by manually deleting them from iPhoto.

Thanks all for your help!

Allen

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Answer 11

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 7, 2007 8:46 AM in response to Allen Evans

Thanks everyone for your support!

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Answer 12

Smtr

Level 5

5,450 points

Jul 7, 2007 1:13 PM in response to Allen Evans

Allan,

Thank you for reporting your solution. That must have been time-consuming. Were you able to save those errant photos, or did you have to sacrifice them completely?

Regards.

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Answer 13

Allen Evans Author

Level 2

190 points

Jul 7, 2007 1:59 PM in response to Smtr

Smtr,

Most of the affected photos were not recovered, but none of them were very good shots anyway!

Thanks again!

Allen

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