Finder not seeing photos in iPhoto after migration

Question

Finder not seeing photos in iPhoto after migration

Hi,
I have recently migrated from a MacBook Pro (2008) to a MacBook Pro (2013) using the inbuilt migration tool in OSX. While the migration did bring over the vast ammount of my setting and files it had trouble with one or two things. My old Mac was partitioned with two drives with my iPhoto library, iTunes etc. all on the second partition. The Migration tool didn't really like this as the new Mac was not partitioned and I don't really want to partition it.

After the migration completed I manually coppied all my media from the old machine to the new machine over the network and in iPhoto added all the files to my library . Success, I can see all my photos and events as before.

This is where it gets a bit weird. When I tried to change the Desktop Background I tried to add the iPhoto media to the list of folders to choose images from. At this point it doesn't locate any of the photos and keeps on displaying an error message saying:

'There was a problem connecting to the server "[OldMachineName]". The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network and try again.'

The old machine has been removed from the network but iPhoto should be looking at the local machine for its iPhoto database.

The following errors were logged in the console. Any help with this would be appreciated. I am unfamiliar with network and system administration on a mac so I'm not sure where the real problem is.

24-May-2014 15:22:18.025 NetAuthSysAgent[744]: DNSAddressResolver:Resolve CFNetServiceResolveWithTimeout failed

24-May-2014 15:22:18.025 NetAuthSysAgent[744]: ERROR: AFP_GetServerInfo - connect failed 64

24-May-2014 15:22:59.707 NetAuthSysAgent[744]: DNSAddressResolver:Resolve CFNetServiceResolveWithTimeout failed

24-May-2014 15:22:59.707 NetAuthSysAgent[744]: ERROR: AFP_GetServerInfo - connect failed 64

24-May-2014 15:28:39.651 com.apple.lakitu[755]: objc[755]: Class CloudServicesError is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CloudServices.framework/Versions/A/CloudServi ces and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CloudServices.framework/XPCServices/com.apple .lakitu.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.lakitu. One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on May 24, 2014 10:48 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,918 points

May 24, 2014 11:32 AM in response to ButteraTubist

Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?

A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package

A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.

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Answer 2

May 24, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks Terence,

I believe that at the time I imported the libary into the new machine. I have since unchecked that check box.

At the time I imported the library all the files were in the Pictures folder on the new machine so I am confused why it would be still looking for files on the old machine.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

May 24, 2014 11:58 AM in response to ButteraTubist

A couple of things

1 - it is very strongly recommended that you do not uncheck the preference to copy the imported items to the iPhoto library - read the user tipon iPhoto and file management for a discussion of the reasons

2 - in moving to a new system no importing is involved - you state that you imported the library to the new machine - if you did you have a mess and need to go back and start over -

Migration assistance does not handle the iPhoto library well sometimes - the best way is to drag the bad iphoto library from the pictures folder on the new system to the desktop, connect the two systems together (network, firewire target mode, etc) and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old system to the pictures folder of the new system and launch iPhoto on the new system - it will open and convert the iPhoto library as necessary and you will be fine - once you test the iPhoto library you can delete the one on the desktop

LN

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Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,918 points

May 24, 2014 11:59 AM in response to ButteraTubist

Why would you uncheck that box?

For more on iPhoto and file management see this User Tip:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6361

What did you have on the old machine?

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Answer 5

May 24, 2014 12:07 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks Terence, LarryHN,

I fell into the trap of thinking a referenced library was better. I was worried that it would duplicate all my photos but as the article says this is not the case.

I will delete my current library and the create a new managed library by adding in the photos as opposed to importing a library which, lets face it is corrupt.

I can use anything from the old machine as I have already cleared it out. Hopefully the above will sort it.

It is a pity I wasn't born a Mac user.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer this for me.

Best regards,

Mark.

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Answer 6

May 24, 2014 1:30 PM in response to ButteraTubist

Thanks Guys,

iPhoto is now working perfectly. Thank you very much.

I've learned something today.

Best regards,

Mark.

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

May 24, 2014 3:08 PM in response to ButteraTubist

You are welcome

and note that I was not born a Mac user either - in fact when I was born there were no Macs - no PCs - no computers as such

Learning is constant and fun 😉

LN

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