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Level 1

25 points

How do I move iPhoto time machine backup to new computer

I've got an old iMac that's about to crash and is extremely slow. I have a time machine backup and all I want to bring over is the iPhoto Library. How do I do this? I can't restore the iPhoto library on the new mac, right? And I tried to use migration assistant but it wouldn't pick out just my Library, I could transfer items like my applications, documents and data, and settings but I couldn't actually drill down to just the iPhoto Library. Can I simply copy the iPhoto library from the Time Machine Backup in the external hard drive into the new computer?

Thank you

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Aug 27, 2014 8:46 PM

34 replies

Canozzie11 Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 4, 2014 10:30 PM in response to léonie

Hi Again. I spoke too soon and was clearly anticipating disaster...but most of my library is back with the exception of a few photos from the last few months!!! Leonie, I could kiss you! Thank you Thank you so very much.

léonie

Level 10

195,053 points

Sep 4, 2014 11:27 PM in response to Canozzie11

That is good news indeed! You're welcome. 🙂 Be sure to make a backup of what you have now.

As to the files that would not transfer:

I've found a few other files that wouldn't transfer over:

iPod Photo Cache > Photo database: The iPod Photo Cache will be recreated, when you sync with iTunes. That is no problem. If your next sync with iTunes should not sync the albums correctly, remove the iPod Photo Cache completely, see: iTunes: Understanding the iPod Photo Cache folder
IMG_1907.MOV: That movie will probably show a black icon now and not play. Try to restore the earliest version of your movie you can find, if this movie is important to you.
Thumb64Segment.data: If thumbnails look funny, rebuild the thumbnails.

-- Léonie

Canozzie11 Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 4, 2014 11:30 PM in response to léonie

Backing up now...

What is a funny looking thumbnail exactly? I've got a few months of photos whose events are empty (has the grey palm tree image in the event).

Thanks

léonie

Level 10

195,053 points

Sep 4, 2014 11:46 PM in response to Canozzie11

What is a funny looking thumbnail exactly?

If you open an event and the thumbnail image is not a correct miniature of the image it is linked to. Sometimes the thumbnails can have coloured artefacts, spots, stiles, etc. Or they could be linking to a different image altogether. If you see such problems, use the First Aid to rebuild the thumbnails:

Launch iPhoto with the key combination⌥⌘ (alt/option-command) held down.
Keep holding down both the keys, until the "Library First Aid" panel opens.
Select "Rebuild thumbnails" from the panel. and let iPhoto recreate the thumbnails.

I've got a few months of photos whose events are empty (has the grey palm tree image in the event).

Look, if you now have a "recovered" event somewhere. Perhaps the missing photos have been collected in a separate event.

You could also leach directly for photos from these months with a smart album. For example: If your event July 2014 should be missing, create a smart album with the rule

Date is in the range July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014

Or combine two rules Date is after July 1, 2014 and Date is before July 31, 2014.

This way you can check, if you have any photos at all from that particular months in your copied library.

How do I move iPhoto time machine backup to new computer