Restoring iPhoto Library from "Masters" Folder

In the future is it much better to ask your own question rather than threadjack a 4 year old totally different question about totally different software and a totally different problem - Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question

First if you are using an EHD verify that it is correct for Photos - formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) and directly connected with a wired connection - Where is it safe to store a Photos Library? Requirements for the external drive

These articles may help overall with the process - Links to User tips re migrating from iPhoto to Photos

Then drag the iPhoto library to the Photos icon in the Dock and it will be migrated keeping the name and yes you can delete the old Photos library if you are positive you have no use for it

LN

TD,

I've found your useful tips on several support pages re: iPhoto Library Manager.

*Long story short, I had a friend's large iphoto Library from Snow Lep 10.6.8 migrated to a new Mac w/ Sierra.

New Photos app did not import/ upgrade properly. I used iLM from FatCat, rebuild was a success. Both on an external HD.

What is the best practice to get this sucker onto the new Mac? *I assume I rename the rebuilt to: iPhoto Library, copy to new Mac, removing the old, corrupt one & option-click Photos to convert it again?

Thanks much!

You can't recover an iPhoto Library from the Masters folder. All you can do is start over from scratch. The Masters folder contains the images as downloaded from your camera. That's what you are importing - no edits or rotations.

Regards

TD

You need to restore the iPhoto Library, as an item.

That is NOT how to retore form Time Machine - launch Time Machine and in the TM window go to the time you wnat to restore from - seect the iPhoto library (you can not restore parts of it - you must restore it as a single entity) and click on the restore button in TM

see for more details on using TM - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

LN

This screenshot shows how to restore a library from Time Machine:

OT

Are you trying to open the library in the Time Machine backup with iPhoto? That can't be done. It must be restored to your Pictures folder.

jbodford wrote:

I've tried this four times, and each time it says that I can't use a Time Machine backup as an iPhoto library and must make a new one.

Could I "trick" iPhoto by making a copy of this older library?

Let me try again

that also is not how you do it - the instructions as give are here

That is NOT how to retore from Time Machine -

1 - launch Time Machine

2 - in the TM window go to the time you wnat to restore from

3 - select the iPhoto library (you can not restore parts of it - you must restore it as a single entity)

4 - click on the restore button in TM

see for more details on using TM - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

You do not resore pieces of it - you do not access the contents of the TM bakcup using the finder or using iPhoto

You follow the steps I outlined (and seperated and numbered) to make it easier to folow

LN

Once the restore is completed see if you can apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.

Fix #2

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.