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

All this talk about 'backup' and 'time machine' completely misses the point.

If there is no known answer to the rare problem of iPhoto libraries disappearing, discussion about backing up the iPhoto library (and that TM may not be doing it) is relevant, though tangential.

Unless someone has input on why or how the iphoto library can disappear; suggestions on preventing this problem; or information regarding Apple investigating this problem; than this thread is nothing more than a sounding board for frustrated Apple owners that had their iPhoto library deleted by faulty Mac software

Fact is, no one knows. You are suggesting no one repond to threads of this nature, that everyone ignore them completely until an anwer is found. I suggest, instead, that you quit reading this thread if the responses don't suit you.

Save the comments regarding time machine and backup for another thread.

I bow down to the self-appointed "Thread Moderator". Not.

It should be in your Pictures Folder.

That material there looks like the remnants of a Library.

Regards

TD

On the basis of what you report, you don't have an iPhoto Library

Regards

TD

I have this eaxt same problem. I opened iPhoto tonight and I received a message asking me to find the library. I searched for files I know were in the Library and nothing was found. Rediculous. My entire photo collection has disappeared. I purchased my ibook less than 6 months ago and this is the first problem. And this is a MAJOR problem. My entire photo album is gone. I don't know what to do...

Load your most recent backup

LN

I've seen several threads here about iPhoto libraries disappearing, sometimes due to accidental deletion. You could search the forum (or the web) to find some possible solutions. The correct answer depends on your situation.

You might try opening a Finder window and, in the search bar, enter kind:jpg and hit enter. The list will be long. Are any of your iPhoto jpgs in the list?

Hi All,

Agree this is a major problem. Lost my entire photo collection too. Nothing in "Pictures", no image_xxx.jpg files anywhere, and for good measure, TimeMachine recorded no backups since Nov 2011.

I'm very fastidious about file management and backups. My iPhone and iPad have many of the photos stored there, most long after the "last TimeMachine backup". Attempt to view items saved on iPad allows only photos NOT PREVIOUSLY saved to iPhoto to be viewed; no photos or Albums specifically selected for sync between iPad-iPhoto can be viewed or managed within iPhoto.

Conclusion: iPhoto had somehow trashed "iPhoto Library." How now do I salvage pix from iPad and iPhone, and protect them from iPhoto and TimeMachine in the future?

You may also want to look into why Time Machine has no backups newer than Nov 2011. When set to automatically backup your system, it does hourly updates (or is supposed to do so). Is it set to automatically backup?

To clarify: TimeMachine operating and backing up all data, EXCEPT files in folder "Pictures", default location and files for iPhoto. Last valid backup of iPhoto Novermber 2011, instead of less than an hour ago.

Are you are purposely not backing up that directory, it is set as an excluded directory in Time Machine preferences?

Let's not go on tangent. I REALLY, truly have it together on TimeMachine, its prefs, volume exclusions etc. NO folders from my working drive are excluded from my backups. Only backup volume, TimeMachine is excluded from backing up itself.

Actually the tangent is that you are posting a Time machine question in the iPhoto forum. IPhoto has no connection with TM. IPhoto created a database and what tM does or does not do with that package is not controlled by iPhoto

It has been noted here that TM does not backup t iPhoto library is iPhoto is running so that could be your case I guess.

LN

It was me that went on the tagent, not Polo_Man. The question was really about a missing iPhoto library.

Thanks to Badunit. No intent here to be rude or off topic, just to be comrehensive. Key is iPhoto misbehaving.

In this case, without any recent config changes, moves of files in or out of Pictures folder (default directory by iPhoto for its "iPhoto Library"), changes to iTunes backups prefs for iOS devices, everything in Pictures has vanished.

The obvious, EZ solution is to shrug, then restore from TimeMachine, and not to bother posting at all to any forum. I first tired that. I agree TM SHOULD be completely unrelated, so I'm completely mystified that the ONLY backup file confirmed missing from my TM backups since Nov 2011 should be the very files that iPhoto manages.

The concern is some hidden or background file that manages iPhoto content to TM and sync to iOS has gone haywire. On that I'm asking the forum for like experience or workarounds. I have also pending support case on this with Apple, who likewise are a stumped. So ANY help is appreciated.