Problems With iPhoto on NTFS Partition...HELP!

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Level 1

8 points

Problems With iPhoto on NTFS Partition...HELP!

So, I backed up all my PhotoStream before iCloud removed my complimentary storage. I backed it up to my iPhoto library I placed on my NTFS partition of my external hard drive. Everything looked great. I could access all my photos. Next day, the file names are there but no thumbnails. I have tried all the options for recovery within iPhoto and have tried some of the third party software. Could it be an issue with iPhoto not playing well with an NTFS formatted partition?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have some important photos I'd really like to access.

Thanks!

MacBook Pro 15"

Posted on Oct 16, 2013 3:51 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

216,662 points

Oct 17, 2013 9:48 AM in response to jwt643

The iPhoto library MUST be on a partition that is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) in order to work properly. When placed on a server like you did the integrity of the library's structure, permissions, etc. is compromised and you get exactly what you're experiencing.

You'll need to move the library to a partition/external HD formatted as I described and then run it from there. You may have to repair the library after that as follows:

apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

2 - run Option #4 to rebuild the database.

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 and select the library you want to add in the selection window..

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

BOTTOM LINE: the library must be moved off of the NTFS partition to an OS X Extended (journaled) partition with ownership set to be ignored:

OT

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Oct 17, 2013 10:35 AM in response to jwt643

exactly - the iPhoto library must always be on a volume formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) - it can not be on an NTFS volume or any other different format

Drag it to a correctly formatted volume and see if it will work

LN

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Answer 3

jwt643 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 8:45 AM in response to Old Toad

Okay, so your explanation and instructions are EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you.

I began following your instructions, and this is where I am stuck:

1. I copied the iPhoto library over from the NTFS to the Mac External. When, I attempted to open the library with the "rebuild" options, I could not select the library (grayed out). I discovered it was only 16 bytes. Upon further investigation, I found the original file was 16 bytes. Then I remembered I had attempted to rebuild the library through iPhoto Library Manager before I posted on this forum - thinking that would fix the problem.

2. I found that Library Mangager still saw all the photos in the original library (NTFS) - don't know how that could happen since the library file was so small, but oh well! I rebuilt the NTFS library on the Mac External, and about 80% of the files worked...

3. Problem is that the crucial photos I am trying to access didn't get rebuilt. I can see them in Library Manager - they are just blank document thumbnails. I can see the file information - shows the location, the file name, size, etc...but I cannot figure out a way to rebuild them or access them.

4. I assume this is what you referred to as library's structure, permissions, etc...being compromised. The files are there, but I have no way of getting them to the Mac External to attempt to rebuild. I can't find the individual files in the path Library Manager is showing because of the way iPhoto seems to structure its file. (I am a converted Windows guy, so this is where my expertise begins to faulter...)

I know this is a lot of info, but any assistance you can provide will be SO appreciated!

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

216,662 points

Oct 19, 2013 9:26 AM in response to jwt643

Try rebuilding the library on the NTFS again with iPhoto LIbrary Manager but this time have iPLM create the new library on your Mac's hard drive. See if that will let iPLM recontruct your library successfully.

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Answer 5

jwt643 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 4:22 PM in response to Old Toad

Update:

I tried your suggestion. I rebuilt the NTFS library on my Mac Hard Drive. The results were the same.

What I have noticed is that the original library was a backup from my time machine which was last stamped June 2013. I added to it many photos from photo stream and my iPhone (prior to updating to iOS 7). I verified all the photos were there before I deleted them from my iPhone and Photo Stream. Everything looked great. However, now I can't access any of the photos I added to the library on the NTFS system. They are all there - in that I can see the file names...they show the right size of the files...and the original library on the NTFS was 80 GB. Presently, only 70 GB will rebuild.

Is there any way to dig in to the iPhoto library file and somehow isolate those files that are showing the file info but not registering as photos to be rebuilt in the rebuilding process? Terminal?

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Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

216,662 points

Oct 19, 2013 4:43 PM in response to jwt643

You could try starting over as described here:

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 subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.

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.

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Answer 7

jwt643 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 5:41 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for working through this with me...

I see the "Master" folder, but when I open it, I notice there are no folders for the events which I need. There are only folders for the photos that keep getting rebuilt. Yet, my original NTFS library shows the attached info for the photos... It is showing all the right info... Ugggh! Am I toast?

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Answer 8

Old Toad

Level 10

216,662 points

Oct 20, 2013 8:43 AM in response to jwt643

That info is in the database but the master/original image files are missing. Unless you have a copy of the library that's located somewhere other than the NTFS drive I'm afraid those photos are gone. 😟

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Answer 9

Apr 16, 2017 3:25 PM in response to jwt643

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