Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: leahengland
leahengland Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Unable to create volume - error message when exporting

Hello - relatively new Mac and iphoto user here.

I'm trying to export photos from iphoto to a 2 GB thumb drive. I keep getting the error message "unable to create volume" when I try to move anything but very small batches of photos over. What's going on? I tried to create a folder on my desktop for the photos but then when I try to move from there I get an error message telling me the photo "is in use" and can't be moved to the thumb drive.

I would move them to my external hard drive but I'm having trouble with it too. It won't even show up. When I run a disk utility on it it says it can't be verified. Sigh. So that's a whole other issue that will probably take something like Disk Warrior to clean up.

In the meantime, I'm trying to move images to the thumb drive then I'm putting the thumb drive in my other computer and moving the images from the thumb drive to it's external hard drive A long process when you can only move about 20 images at a time from iphoto.

I'm just trying to move a good bit of old photos out of iphoto on the Mace because I'm scared that the program or even my entire computer is going to crash and I'm going to have data loss.

What can I do about the "unable to create volume" message? And what's with the "file in use" error message when I try to move the images off a file folder on the desktop.

Is there a better way to move 1GB of photos all at once to the thumb drive?

Posted on Jan 3, 2009 10:23 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
162,260 points

Posted on Jan 3, 2009 11:17 AM

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

Seems to be two issues complicating things here:

I'm trying to export photos from iphoto to a 2 GB thumb drive. I keep getting the error message "unable to create volume" when I try to move anything but very small batches of photos over.


What format is that wee drive? Mostly there are FAT16 or FAT 32 and there is a limit to the number of objects they can have on the root of the drive. The workaround is to export to a Folder on the desktop and copy that over.

Which brings us to:

I tried to create a folder on my desktop for the photos but then when I try to move from there I get an error message telling me the photo "is in use" and can't be moved to the thumb drive.


You will sometimes get this message when you try to export two files +with the same name+ to a Folder. As you know your camera is well capable of producing many files called something like DSC_1234.jpeg. In iPhoto these will be in separate folders, so no problem. However, when you go to export them to the Folder on the desktop if iPhoto continues the export one will overwrite the error.

Solution: Give the Pics a title (Photos -> Batch Change) and a sequential number. Then when you export, in the export dialogue you have the option to use the Title as filename.

Regards

TD
View in context
10 replies
Question marked as Best reply
User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
162,260 points

Jan 3, 2009 11:17 AM in response to leahengland

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

Seems to be two issues complicating things here:

I'm trying to export photos from iphoto to a 2 GB thumb drive. I keep getting the error message "unable to create volume" when I try to move anything but very small batches of photos over.


What format is that wee drive? Mostly there are FAT16 or FAT 32 and there is a limit to the number of objects they can have on the root of the drive. The workaround is to export to a Folder on the desktop and copy that over.

Which brings us to:

I tried to create a folder on my desktop for the photos but then when I try to move from there I get an error message telling me the photo "is in use" and can't be moved to the thumb drive.


You will sometimes get this message when you try to export two files +with the same name+ to a Folder. As you know your camera is well capable of producing many files called something like DSC_1234.jpeg. In iPhoto these will be in separate folders, so no problem. However, when you go to export them to the Folder on the desktop if iPhoto continues the export one will overwrite the error.

Solution: Give the Pics a title (Photos -> Batch Change) and a sequential number. Then when you export, in the export dialogue you have the option to use the Title as filename.

Regards

TD
Reply
User profile for user: leahengland
leahengland Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jan 3, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks! So I am going to Photos then Batch Change. I have two drop down menus. Am I to select Title and Text for the two drop down menus? Then type in the text I want the title to be and then check mark to add append a number to each photo?

I have done this but each title is still the original file name my camera gave the file.

Sorry I'm slow here.... 🙂
Reply
User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
162,260 points

Jan 3, 2009 2:45 PM in response to leahengland

Yes, and that’s under the ‘File’ heading, correct? Click on the wee ‘i’ button lower left and you can see the Title.

But a Title is not a Filename, and that’s why, as I said above you need to

Give the Pics a title (Photos -> Batch Change) and a sequential number. *Then when you export, in the export dialogue you have the option to use the Title as filename*


Regards

TD
Reply

Unable to create volume - error message when exporting

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.
Learn more Sign up