How to backup iPhoto 09

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Level 1

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How to backup iPhoto 09

I've been googling and searching these forums for a way to backup my iPhoto 09 pictures, but no sucess. Most threads say to backup your iPhoto library "Pictures" folder. I have 2 "Pictures" folders, neither of which contain nearly all the pictures that I have in iPhoto, so that's not correct. Then I tried to "Export" as jpgs all the pics in iPhoto to a folder I named "iPhoto" on the external drive I got for this purpose. But it gets to just over 800 pictures, then tells me it can't create the folder! The folder I created before I started exporting! Maybe there's some limit to the capacity of a folder? Around 807 pics?

I'm very frustrated. This shouldn't be nearly this difficult. Can someone help me please? And please, don't tell me to just copy the iPhoto library to the hard drive - I don't have that on this iMac for some reason. I know there are 1057 pics in iPhoto, so any folder with less that than number is not it. But where is it? Please give detailed instructions because I'm an idiot.

Also, why I am here, can you include equally detailed instructions on how to restore the library to iPhoto after I re-install the system?

Thanks.

Al iMac 20", Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Nov 12, 2011 2:29 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Nov 12, 2011 3:23 PM in response to salgud

Are you running a "manage" or "referenced" library?

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If you're running a manage library then if you copy your iPhoto Library package from your Pictures folder to an external hard drive you will be backing up ALL of your photos and your organizational effort that you put into the library.

OT

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Answer 2

salgud Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 12, 2011 3:36 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for your reply. Managed.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,706 points

Nov 12, 2011 3:45 PM in response to salgud

Then all of your photos should be in your iPhoto Library package. That's because iPhoto copies the photos into the library during import. So if you have the original photos elsewhere on the hard drive (those that you imported into iPhoto) you can delete them All you need is the iPhoto Libary package/file. The library is located by default in your Home/Pictures folder. I don't know about any other pictures folder.

If you copy that library to an external HD you will be backing up all of your photos and all the organization effort that you put into the library, i.e. keywords, albums, titles, slideshows, etc.

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