When I try to open iphoto with the option key held down I get tne error message "the library is a Time Machine copy and cannot use". The only option I have is to Quit which gives me a viscous circle. How can I change to another library without opening using the option key.
MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), iphoto 11
By not trying to open a Time Machine back up...
You can not "Open" a Time Machine backup - you must use the TimeMachine application to restore it to your main disk and then you can switch to it
See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US for instructions on useing TimeMachine
LN
Thanks for the reply.
I am not trying to use a library from a Time Machine backup. I have made a library from Time Machine by restoring it and that is the one I want to use.
It had worked just two weeks ago, but now I am getting the error message with only the "QUIT" option and the revolving circle indicating the program is trying but not suceeding.
I believe iPhoto is pointing to the pictures in my user's files - MacSSD/Users/JBL/pictures. I deleted a small iPhoto Library (7.4mb) that had been given a 3/14/14 designation and now there isn't an iphoto library in pictures. I'm not sure how that file got created, but iPhoto started last using the restored library that resides on an external hard drive.
How can I determine where iPhoto is pointing to find the library without opening iPhoto which I can't do because of the circular QUIT option?
Any further help will be most appreciated.
You launch iPhoto while holding the option key depressed - then use the resulting select library window to open an iPhoto library
LN
Many thanks. Turns out that I was not holding the Option key down long enough.
Now it seems that there is a problem with the restored library as it is greyed out and cannot be accessed. I will need to restore it again.
iPhoto won't let me open it using the option key
