My iphoto library has disappeared. How do I find it?

This worked for me, after an idea presented here:

http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/Help/disappearing%20iphoto%20libraries%20on%2 0external%20drives.html

if you do a

Finder> Go> Go to Folder

enter /Volumes in the search box

Click Go

You should get a list of Volumes the machine knows about.

I deleted the Macintosh HD alias file listed, and magically iPhoto Library reappeared and iPhoto worked normally.

YMMV

Hi Terence,

I am experiencing a problem similar to the OP wherein my entire iPhoto library has disappeared. I don't know if this happened as a result of me moving files between my external hd and my macbook hd (although my library was not on my external) or something else. I didn't open iPhoto while making the transfer so I don't think it was human error, but at this point that is the only thing that seems plausible. The photos weren't backed up. Not a single photo is left. You mentioned about paying for a recovery. Is that even possible when the library wasn't backed up?

An app like

File Salvage will scan your drive for recoverable file - but you'll need to pay for actual recovery. Set it to search for Jpegs and, as many files may have the same name, always restore the largest file it finds. That's most likely to be the master or original.

Hi All,

I had the same problem several months back: iPhoto library gone from my daily hard drive, AND more pernicious, its backup MIA on TimeMachine. Practically speaking, recovered my iPhoto library from my daily hard drive using DataRescue3. A bit arduous, but all photos recovered.

MORE to the point what can be done as prevention? A recent problem on TimeMachine took me to a site, Apple OSX and Time Machine Tips, which talked about iPhoto:

TimeMachine does funny things to iPhoto Library when it runs with the Library open! Maybe disappearing iPhoto Library is a severe case? Maybe not. But again practically speaking, for the future, suspend TimeMachine backups during sessions of work with an open iPhoto Library?

What system and iPhoto versions are you running. A while back iPhoto had a problem with Time Machine in that TM would not backup the library if it was open. That was with an earlier system and iPhoto version. Don't remember which at this time. With Mt. Lion and Lion (also Snow Leopard) with the current iPhoto at that time the library backups are working OK.

I came looking for some help because my iphoto has been emptied of photos. It happened when I was searching for a photo in Time Machine Backups. I accidentally started restoring an old version of the library. I stopped the restoration and that's when things went nuts.

The photos are still on my hard drive because the space is taken up. I can't restore yesterday's back up because there is no room. I am not a tech person, and should not be doing any of this. But there is no one else here, so how do I find iphoto on my hard drive and restore the empty shell with (0) photos and events to function?

I am still running leopard. I just bought snow leopard, but haven't installed yet? Might that installation help or do I need to solve this problem first?

Thank you for your help.

I kept looking and found the solution here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1995

It was easy. Thank you.

DC

I too have had my iPhoto Library disappear. I didn't do anything other than the usual. I found all my events and albums gone and my photos in a recovered file. Anything I did made it worse. It wouldn't point to the library I thought I was using to rebuild it and I accidentally turned my pictures folder into an iPhoto library. When I looked at what I thought was my library using Finder and show contents, the library was only updated to when I loaded OS 10.8, whichever cat that is. The library that was being updated is gone and I can't find it. I found a backup with photos I had taken recently on my backup drive and I 'rebulit' that library using iPhoto Library Manager. I still don't have all the albums and events that I made in the ensuing three months.

I really do think there is a bug out there. I have made a giant mess of my data trying to sort this out. Any ideas for next steps?

Sherry

I'm inclined to agree with Sherry's comment about there being a bug out there. I downloaded and ran FileSavage and not a single file from my iPhoto library was recovered. Instead it pulled up hundreds of pictures that I've viewed on the internet. I'm pretty computer proficient although definitely not tech savvy. Either I ran the search wrong or my files haven't been "deleted" per se but just some how vanished into a black hole of computer coded language.

Also, when I connected my iPhone last night to upload some pictures, iPhoto told me there were no pictures to import. There are over 200 photos on my iPhone. Something weird is going on and I don't think I'm the only one this is happening to.

Did you try Doctor Random's suggestion above?

OT

@Old Toad, I'm sorry for offtopic (semi-offtopic🙂) message, but could you please take a look at this thread:

http://goo.gl/8K500

it's all about the issue when iPhoto replaces all original photos with thumbnails without permission.

To me it's like my whole library has dissapeared!

Really appreciate your expertise on Apple software.

Thanks in advance!

I've been to that thread before and have nothing to add over what Terence has. Do you have any backups in Time Machine that you can restore to see if you can find the newest library with full sized masters?

No TImeMachine backups, unfortunately.

Can't beleive Apple could be knowing about such a HUGE hole in their product, and did nothing to help the customers. Seems that I'm not alone with this issue.

I just want to know for sure is there any chance to get original photos from this existing lib? Manually? With some additional plugins etc.?

No TImeMachine backups, unfortunately.

Can't beleive Apple could be knowing about such a HUGE hole in their product, and did nothing to help the customers. Seems that I'm not alone with this issue.

I just want to know for sure is there any chance to get original photos from this existing lib? Manually? With some additional plugins etc.?

Please-please-please, give me some insights about possible solution for this issue. Why should we miss our memories because of some software fault?

Thanks in advance for any further ideas!

If the original image files are still in the library but just not accessable by the current library you can do the following:

Starting over from scratch with new library

Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:

1. Open the library package like this.

2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.

3. Drag the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window.

Click to view full size

This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.

Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.