How can I retrieve deleted photos still in iPhoto library?

Question

How can I retrieve deleted photos still in iPhoto library?

Recently my external hard drive (that housed all my music and photos) crashed. Unfortunately, I didn't adhere to the golden rule and didn't have a backup for that drive. I'm not really concerned about the music but I want to get the family photos back.

When I open iPhoto, I can see the photos I want displayed as iPhoto events. The images are there, but since the original jpeg file is now gone, I cannot access the images to save. I have tried to export the event, burn my iPhoto library to disc, and have tried third-party recovery software, to no avail.

I'm hoping someone can help me recover these images. The data is somewhere as iPhoto is still displaying the images in events. Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!

iPhoto '08, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 9, 2012 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 9, 2012 9:52 AM in response to 6Kzn0wvv1e9MuZk6Nh5T

Have you tried dragging the image out of iPhoto onto your Desktop (or other folder).

I'm not certain about iPhoto but I know in Aperture when the original file is missing and you can;t do a normal export you can drag the preview image out.

regards

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Answer 2

Dec 9, 2012 1:19 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I have tried to drag photos to the desktop. Each time I begin to drag a photo, I get an alert stating "The photo "X" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."

It only gives the option to cancel or find photo. Since I know the original photos have beel lost when my external HDD crashed, I don't bother trying to find photo and just cancel.

Thanks again for the response.

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Answer 3

seventy one

Level 7

27,424 points

Dec 9, 2012 2:10 PM in response to 6Kzn0wvv1e9MuZk6Nh5T

Have you tried to rebuild your library or looked into the facilities available vie the iPhoto library manager App?

iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

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Answer 4

Dec 10, 2012 3:38 AM in response to seventy one

@ seventy one... Thanks for the response.

I've tried to rebuild the library but get a message telling me the volume for the photo cannot be found (Insert the disk or connect to the server volume and wait for it to appear on the desktop, then try again.)

As far as the iPhoyo library manager app, I'm not quite sure what you mean. Is there a downloadable app for this? I looked at the app store but couldn't find anything worth while.

thanks again for teh response

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Answer 5

seventy one

Level 7

27,424 points

Dec 10, 2012 4:01 AM in response to 6Kzn0wvv1e9MuZk6Nh5T

Yes. Below are three write ups / download opportunities. As far as I can recall, it's free.

How to Use iPhoto Library Manager | Mac|Life

Download iPhoto Library Manager for Mac - Manage multiple iPhoto libraries. MacUpdate.com

Fat Cat Software – iPhoto Library Manager

Hope this will solve your problem

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Answer 6

Dec 10, 2012 4:43 AM in response to 6Kzn0wvv1e9MuZk6Nh5T

I've asked the hosts to move this to the iPhoto list. Hopefully someone there will be able to help.

Regards

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Dec 10, 2012 7:52 AM in response to 6Kzn0wvv1e9MuZk6Nh5T

Rignt click on the iPhoto library and show package contents - look in the originals file - are your photos there? The thumbnails (veery small thumbnails) are in the data folder - are they there?

LN

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Answer 8

Dec 10, 2012 1:22 PM in response to LarryHN

Hi LarryHN.

I checked the "Originals" file. The file names are there but if I try to open a jpg image, i get a message saying the original cannot be founf.

In the "data" file, I can see the thumbnails. They are there!! YAY. I know the thumbnails will not be very good quality but it is better than not having them back at all!!

Thanks for your help!!

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