How to open OLD iMovie projects?

Question

Level 1

22 points

How to open OLD iMovie projects?

I am going through my old hard drive and there are a few videos from 2005 I would LOVE to upload to youtube, but I have a major problem. I NEVER exported these videos out of the old iMove, so they are very small sized .mov files that I guess link back to the project.

The iMovie 09 on my new iMac will NOT open the videos. How can I go about doing this?
I am not sure what version of iMovie was used to create the projects, but the dates on the files are from 2005.

Is there a way to download an old version of iMovie so I can open these projects and export them? Or is there any other way around this?

Any help would be great.
Thank you!
Thanks!!

 27" i7 iMac , Mac OS X (10.6.4),  17" MacBook Pro 

Posted on Jan 16, 2011 5:55 PM

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Answer 1

AndyO58

Level 1

8 points

Apr 27, 2017 3:17 AM in response to ATEspo

This worked for me:

Rename the old imovie project file as filename.dv

Somehow this magically changes the file from a single file to a folder with a Proxies, Movies and Quicklook folder

Open the Movies folder - voila - there are the .m4v files now useable by iMovie

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Answer 2

Jun 22, 2011 9:35 AM in response to MartinJohn

I'm having a similar issue. Old imovie file created in version 4.0.1. When I try to open it in iMovie 8.0.6 the imovieproj file is grayed out and I cannot select it to import. Any ideas how to get it into the new version?

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Answer 3

ifd

Level 1

4 points

Mar 20, 2017 8:39 AM in response to ATEspo

One way to determine what kind of files you have is to start a terminal window (under applications/utilities) and use "file".

Once you start the Terminal app, you will get a prompt string ending in "$". The $ is shown in most documentation to remind you that you're at the command prompt, but you do not type it, it's provided.

In the terminal window, use the "cd" (change directory) command to navigate to the old movies. For example you might use something like

$ cd /Volumes/MacOS8/robin/Movies/iMovie\ Projects/My\ Movie

Then use the confusingly-named "file" command to identify the file types

$ file Media/*

Media/Clip 01: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Clip 02: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Clip 03: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Clip 04: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Clip 05: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Clip 06: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Flying Words 01: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

Media/Flying Words 02: DIF (DV) movie file (NTSC)

$

Now you see that they are DV movies; that is the file format you get when iMovie imported form a video camera.

These files can be viewed in the free VLC app, and can be opened in Final Cut Express (I don't have FC Pro so I can't speak for that). But as long they show up as DIF/DV movies in "file", they are probably intact and you will eventually find software that can process them.

I just re-created a movie from 2002 in FC Express using this technique. Just do File->Import Media and open all the DV files, drag them into correct order. You might lose transitions and the like, but all your important video and audio should come through.

In fact, you can also convince iMovie (10.1.4) to import these files. Rename the files from e.g., "Clip 01" to "Clip 01.dv". Then in iMovie use File->Import Media and select the files; they will now open. Again, I don't think you can get all your transitions etc., but at least you can get your audio and video. And titles, if they were rendered.

Hope it helps someone.

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Answer 4

Jan 16, 2011 7:01 PM in response to ATEspo

If it is an mov file, it is probably not an iMovie project. An iMovie project from 2005 or 2006 would have the extension .iMovieProject. You would import this using the FILE/IMPORT MOVIES/iMovieHD project.

An .mov file is likely to be a finished movie.

See if you can open it using QuickTime Player.
If you can, select WINDOW/INSPECTOR and let us know everything you see in the QuickTime Inspector.

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Answer 5

ATEspo Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 17, 2011 7:05 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Well it is a .mov file but they are all under 1mb (56kb, 72kb) and they are 8-12mins long each. I think it is linking back to the project somehow. And because the .mov file is so small, it contains no data and it will not let me upload it to youtube or even import it into iMovie (or FCE).

When I am in iMovie 09, I try to import a movie and/or project and it will not even let me select the files.

There has to be a way to open these things and get them exported as quicktime or something.

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Answer 6

Jan 17, 2011 7:18 AM in response to ATEspo

See if you can open it using QuickTime Player.
If you can, select WINDOW/INSPECTOR and let us know everything you see in the QuickTime Inspector.

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Answer 7

ATEspo Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 22, 2011 12:23 AM in response to AppleMan1958

This is what I see.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/205/screenshot20110122at318.png

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Answer 8

Jan 22, 2011 5:32 AM in response to ATEspo

In iMovie try File/Import.../Movies. Then navigate to this mov file.

If that does not work, try File/Import.../iMovie HD Project and navigate to the imovieproj file.

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Answer 9

ATEspo Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 22, 2011 3:15 PM in response to AppleMan1958

It will NOT let me import. I tried iMovie HD Project, Camera Archive and movies.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8095/screenshot20110122at611.png

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Answer 10

ATEspo Author

Level 1

22 points

Jan 24, 2011 12:02 PM in response to ATEspo

Is there a way to download and run an old copy of iMovie so I can edit these videos and/or export them to a format that I can upload to YouTube?

Its just hard to believe that the current iMovie will NOT open these old iMovie project files. Seems odd to me that they wouldn't be compatible.

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Answer 11

ATEspo Author

Level 1

22 points

Feb 12, 2011 3:06 PM in response to ATEspo

Still looking for info on how to get these old iMovie videos into the new iMovie so I can export them and upload them to Vimeo/YouTube.

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Answer 12

gplmark

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2011 6:41 PM in response to ATEspo

I've been having the same problem and none of the solutions have worked, but I just bought ilife 05 off amazon for about $18 + shipping. I had to buy it from a seller, not directly from amazon. I just hope it will still work for my macbook pro which I just got.

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Answer 13

Ziatron

Level 5

4,214 points

Apr 28, 2011 10:09 PM in response to ATEspo

Is there a way to download and run an old copy of iMovie so I can edit these videos and/or export them to a format that I can upload to YouTube?

Many people purchase iLife 06 for this purpose (and use iMovie 06). You will find that iLife 06 costs more than iLife 11. You will find iLife 06 on Amazon and eBay.

I use iMovie 06 with iDVD 11 for better quality.

To address another post above, because of its popularity, iMovie 06 is tested with the current Mac OS. I find it works perfectly with my new Mac Pro and OS 10.6.7 and iLife 11 and iDVD 11.

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Answer 14

May 12, 2011 7:26 PM in response to ATEspo

You need iMovie 2 running OS9 to open up old projects. Save them to "full quality" .mov files.

iMovie HD (iMovie 6) should open projects made in iMovie 3, 4, 5 and 6.

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