mauigumdoc

Q: move iphoto library to external hard drive

Is it possible to move the iPhoto library to an external hard drive?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Apr 22, 2011 9:51 AM

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Q: move iphoto library to external hard drive

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  • by jedlh,

    jedlh jedlh Mar 19, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Terence Devlin wrote:

     

    You're making this all very complicated for yourself. Just install Mavericks and then install the latest iPhoto.

     

    Eh? You not seen my prior posts, Mavericks is already installed, could you plz address this point:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25216518#25216518

    IYO it's of zero concern?

     

    Also this...

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25218288#25218288

    You don't think it's advantageous, at all?

     

    Thank-you.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 10:11 AM in response to jedlh
    Level 10 (85,624 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 10:11 AM in response to jedlh

    Actually when you threadjack an old, very long thread that is about a totally different subject it is extremely confusing for you and us

     

    Please start a new thread and include relvant information and questions - you will get much better and more complete answers

     

    LN

  • by jedlh,

    jedlh jedlh Mar 19, 2014 10:30 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 10:30 AM in response to LarryHN

    LarryHN wrote:

     

    Actually when you threadjack an old, very long thread that is about a totally different subject it is extremely confusing for you and us

     

    C'mon now, lets not get all officious, I have spun most of it off already...

    If you don't want to be helpful that's your prerogative, just leave it in peace though plz.

    No need to be "the enforcer", it's worked quite well so far without any officiousness.

    We're very very close to being "done" here....

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 11:08 AM in response to jedlh
    Level 10 (85,624 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 11:08 AM in response to jedlh

    No one is "enforcing" anything - just a hint to an inexperianced user on how to get better results

     

    YOu do what you want - I could care less - But I can not helpo because I can not follow yoru post or your questions and jumping around form message to message adds to the confusion

     

    Trying to help you - but yoru attitude makes tha timpossible

     

    Have a great day - and hope you get some more help

     

    LN

  • by jedlh,

    jedlh jedlh Mar 19, 2014 7:30 PM in response to jedlh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 7:30 PM in response to jedlh

    jedlh wrote:

     

    Terence Devlin wrote:

     

    You're making this all very complicated for yourself. Just install Mavericks and then install the latest iPhoto.

     

    Eh? You not seen my prior posts, Mavericks is already installed, could you plz address this point:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25216518#25216518

    IYO it's of zero concern?

     

    Also this...

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25218288#25218288

    You don't think it's advantageous, at all?

     

    Thank-you.

     

    *BUMP* @Terrence or anyone else

     

    Thank-you

  • by jedlh,

    jedlh jedlh Mar 20, 2014 2:22 AM in response to jedlh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 20, 2014 2:22 AM in response to jedlh

    jedlh wrote:

     

    Eh? You not seen my prior posts, Mavericks is already installed, could you plz address this point:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25216518#25216518

    IYO it's of zero concern?

     

    Also this...

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/25218288#25218288

    You don't think it's advantageous, at all?

     

    Thank-you.

     

    (1)

    Well, as I suspected (but was merely seeking validation) this wasn't necessary, I upgraded & it seems to have gone well.

     

    (2)

    I found out what caused the missing volumes on the desktop, like iPhoto, it was nothing to do with general OS instability.

    So I'm now quite sure there's no dire need to do a fresh install of Mavericks instead of keeping my current env; which was a fresh SL -> Mavericks.

     

    As for the remaining unanswered points, as agreed earlier I'll raise them in a seperate thread.

     

    Thaks again to those who tried to help.

     

    All the best.

  • by Brentosan,

    Brentosan Brentosan Dec 17, 2014 1:24 PM in response to mauigumdoc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2014 1:24 PM in response to mauigumdoc

    I had some trouble copying over the iPhoto Library, so instead I copied the "Masters" folder from iPhoto and that went smoothly.

     

    To navigate there, simply search for "Users" folder using spotlight. Then click on your user and select the "Pictures" folder. Once there find the iPhoto Library folder, right click and select "Unpackage Contents." Inside that new folder that opens you will find a folder entitled "Masters" and that folder has all of your photos in it that are in photo, organized by year. Just copy that folder over to wherever you want the photos to go and you're all set. Keep in mind that Masters are the original files, and not modified files, so you may lose changes you've made in iPhoto to photos. But you'll at least have all of your photos.

     

    Cheers!

    B

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 17, 2014 1:57 PM in response to Brentosan
    Level 10 (85,624 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 17, 2014 1:57 PM in response to Brentosan

    OK - unfortunately it has nothing to do with the subject of this thread - Moving the iphoto library to an external drive

     

    What you are doing is not moving your library but making a copy of the original photos on the external drive - and is not supported - and is not recommended since it very easy to make a small mistake and corrupt your library causing data and possibly photo loss - If you want the original photos export them as Kind is original - the supported method - Exporting From iPhoto

     

    and to move the iphoto library to an external drive - the subject of this thread -

    Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)

     

     

    And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto

     

     

    And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive

     

     

    LN

  • by John McGonagle,

    John McGonagle John McGonagle Dec 29, 2015 12:49 PM in response to mauigumdoc
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Dec 29, 2015 12:49 PM in response to mauigumdoc

    I tried this but following my iPhoto library loading into my external hard drive, the drive started copying mb of data and told me it would take 6 days to load. What's up w/ that? My folder size is 146gb. That loaded fine, then the new activity happened.

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Dec 29, 2015 3:13 PM in response to John McGonagle
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Dec 29, 2015 3:13 PM in response to John McGonagle

    I tried this but following my iPhoto library loading into my external hard drive, the drive started copying mb of data and told me it would take 6 days to load. What's up w/ that? My folder size is 146gb. That loaded fine, then the new activity happened.

     

    Tried what? This thread is years old and has morphed through various issues. You need to clarify - including what version of iPhoto and the OS you have. Best of all, make a new thread...

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