Repetitive 'Photos found that have not been imported' message

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Repetitive 'Photos found that have not been imported' message

When opening iPhoto I kept on getting a message saying “2 Photos have been found that have not been imported.” I was then given the option either to import them or not. However, no matter which response I gave, all iPhoto did was create an empty folder named “iPhoto Library Recovered Photos”. It created this file every time I opened iPhoto. Okay, so all I had to do was go through them every now and the to delete them all.

I searched this forum for an answer and found LarryHN’s solution -

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1775444?searchText=not%20imported#8391465

I followed this advice and, when I examined the said 'Import Folder' that is now on my desktop I found a single photo. I'm pleased to say that, upon reopening iPhoto the above message has stopped appearing. So far, so good.

So, with iPhoto still open, I dragged it onto the iPhoto icon in the dock. iPhoto duly imported the photo under the 'Last Import' tab.

However when reopen iPhoto and try to open the said photo I now get a new message saying “A necessary data reference could not be resolved.” then the picture just turns black. Cancelling the message, the Thumbnail reappears so I can at least still see the photo in 'Last Import'.

Any suggestions what may be the cause of this and whether it may be fixed? I suspect not, but I feel it worth asking.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), iMac 24 Mid 2007"

Posted on Jul 13, 2013 8:58 AM

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Answer 1

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Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Jul 13, 2013 9:04 AM in response to El Deanio

Select the thumbnail and use the File ➙ Reveal in Finder ➙ Original menu option. You'll be taken to the folder inside the iPhoto library that contains the file so you can copy it to the Desktop and open with Preview.

If Preview can open and view it use the File ➙ Export menu to save it as a new jpeg file. Import the new file into iPhoto and see if it can be viewed correctly. If so then delete the problem version.

OT

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Answer 2

El Deanio Author

Level 3

805 points

Jul 13, 2013 10:59 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks OT.

Doing this I discovered the file was an old movie file from August 2009 (.MOV). So I will import it into iMovie or something instead, or move it somewhere else until I can decide what to do with it. I had forgotten that my camera can take movies too. I found it in iPhoto Library/Import/100OLYMP. 100OLYMP is also a folder I find on the XD cards used with my camera. The file kind is Apple Quicktime container. Can't imagine why the file hasn't raised a problem before now. It works fine accessed direct in Finder.

Dragging the file onto the Desktop works okay but its icon displays a Lock symbol (unlike the original in the Import folder. So I'm loathe to trash the Import folder on the desktop until I know why the Lock icon is there and whether I can turn it off, if needs,be. Interestingly the file version now on the desktop also shows a frame from the movie. In its 'Get Info' just a generic icon is displayed.

😕

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Jul 13, 2013 11:04 AM in response to El Deanio

Movies need top be exported out of iPhoto via the File ➙ Export ➙ File Export with Kind = Original. Otherwise you can get just a jpg of the first frame. So try the export method and see if you can get a working file that way.

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Answer 4

El Deanio Author

Level 3

805 points

Jul 13, 2013 4:32 PM in response to Old Toad

Hi OT.

I'd gone off and done something else. So I had to re-open iPhoto. That 'Not imported...' message was back again (just the one this time rather than two of them).

Nevertheless I tried the Export ploy. Found the file in iPhoto; Selected 'Original' as you suggested. Chose to save the file to my Desktop - with a modified file name for ease of identification.

Got the message " Exporting.... Unable to create /Users/Username/Desktop/ ".

Only way forward was to cancel.

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Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Jul 14, 2013 8:07 AM in response to El Deanio

Check the your home folder for permissions to make sure you have Read & Write:

Create a new folder on the Desktop and try to export to it.

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Answer 6

El Deanio Author

Level 3

805 points

Jul 15, 2013 10:30 AM in response to Old Toad

There's appears to be something odd going on with my Home folder. The Admin section constantly says it is 'Fetching' and the last mod date was at the end of May 2013.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/11373233/MacDiscussions/Fetching%20Screen%20 Shot%202013-07-15%20at%2017.51.20.png

I created another folder on my Desktop and tried to export the .MOV file to it but got the same result as last time.

I tried repairing permissions, but it didn't find anything relevant to my Home folder - just a Java item. And only that item too. Apple must have tidied up the Permissions reports.

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Answer 7

El Deanio Author

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805 points

Jul 15, 2013 10:37 AM in response to El Deanio

Just unlocked it, changed it to read Read & Write. No change though. Still say fetching. Tried the Export again. No joy.

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Answer 8

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Jul 15, 2013 1:14 PM in response to El Deanio

Ask in the Mt. Lion community on how to reset your home folder's permissions, etc.. They'll be able to give you the way to do it. Hopefully that will get over this hurdle.

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Answer 9

El Deanio Author

Level 3

805 points

Jul 15, 2013 2:58 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks OT. Will do.

I'll post back with a link if/when I get to the bottom of this for your information.

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Answer 10

El Deanio Author

Level 3

805 points

Jul 26, 2013 10:56 AM in response to El Deanio

Just got to the bottom of it.

I had to hold down the 'Cmd' and 'Option (Alt)' keys when opening iPhoto to get a Utility menu. Of the options presented, I chose to 'Repair Permissions'. The utility found a problem and I asked it to fix it for me. After this was done the file was finally able to be imported into iPhoto.

Just restarted iPhoto (seemed a bit quicker this time or maybe I was imaging it) and the unimported picture message is now gone.

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Answer 11

xAdrianx

Level 1

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Nov 26, 2013 3:59 AM in response to El Deanio

This worked for me. Thank you!

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