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I've tried to copy my iMovie library from my external drive on to my new iMac into the /Movie/ folder, but iMovie rejects it and gives errors. I copied the library file to my local drive first, then moved it over to the /Movie/ folder, but iMovie won't recognize it. What am I doing wrong?
See this image:
iMac 21.5" 4K, macOS 10.15
SOLVED
The Apple rep helped me solve this. Basically, I needed to reset my permissions on both my external drive and my local drive. This way, both drives can "talk" to each other. I also needed to make sure all privileges on both drives were set to "Read & Write"
The process to "Apply to enclosed items..." make take several hours because it has to go through every file on your drive. But don't worry, it's working.
Then after it's done, you run this script in terminal found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203538
###########
diskutil resetUserPermissions / `id -u`
###########
Then reboot, then copy over the iMovie library file from backup to my local machine, then open iMovie. All my clips appeared as they should in iMovie. Problem solved.
SOLVED
The Apple rep helped me solve this. Basically, I needed to reset my permissions on both my external drive and my local drive. This way, both drives can "talk" to each other. I also needed to make sure all privileges on both drives were set to "Read & Write"
The process to "Apply to enclosed items..." make take several hours because it has to go through every file on your drive. But don't worry, it's working.
Then after it's done, you run this script in terminal found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203538
###########
diskutil resetUserPermissions / `id -u`
###########
Then reboot, then copy over the iMovie library file from backup to my local machine, then open iMovie. All my clips appeared as they should in iMovie. Problem solved.
The screen shot below is what appears on my external drive Get Info box. The "Ignore ownership on this volume" appears right at the bottom. I unlocked the drive with the little lock symbol in the lower right hand corner.
Since you are getting a permissions error, I thought that it was worth a try to check the ownership box. Are you doing your "Get Info" on the external drive while it is located on the external drive. It looks like you are clicking on the drive on your Mac HD. Also, what is the format of the external drive that contains the library?
I would be curious to see what happens if you create a new library on the external drive that would be subsequent to your upgrade to Catalina, and then copy, not move, your old external library projects to it.
-- Rich
-- Rich
And what do you mean by this? I don't understand:
I would be curious to see what happens if you create a new library on the external drive that would be subsequent to your upgrade to Catalina, and then copy, not move, your old external library projects to it.
Thanks,
Josh
If you have time, post back with your results from Apple Support. It might help others with a similar problem.
— Rich
Hi,
Try Control-clicking on the old iMovie library icon, then doing a Get Info, and putting a check mark in the box in the Get Info dialogue box that says "Ignore Ownership of this volume". The box should be at the bottom of the Get Info dialogue box. Now see if you can access your old library from iMovie.
-- Rich
I mean create a new library and copy your projects into it. Import the new library to your Mac.
It’s difficult to sort this out on an electronic forum such as this. There’s something here that we are missing.
I suggest that you contact Apple support and see if they can guide you to the answer. Those folks are pretty savvy. Click on the Contact Support item in the upper right hand corner of this forum’s screen and navigate to a telephone number.
I’m confidant that you will be able to get to the bottom of this. At this point I have no more suggestions that I can make.
— Rich
Unfortunately, that didn't work. I don't see the checkbox you're talking about:
I mean create a new library and copy your projects into it. Import the new library to your Mac.
Ok, thanks for trying anyway. I'll contact support.
Terrific! Thanks for posting back with your solution. It may help others with the same issue.
-- Rich
Can't import iMovie projects/library on to new iMac from external backup drive
