Some time ago a fully backed up MacAir died. It had some major infections so we didn't use TM to load the new machine. we just dragged over the items we needed. Now I want to bring over the iPhoto library but I don't want to lose or replace what is on the new Macair. How do I keep what is on the existing new iPhoto library and bring the old pictures into it?
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Rename the iPhoto Library you are now having on the MacBook Air, so it will not be overwritten by the old library.
Then restore the previous library from your Time Machine. You cannot restore selected events, you need to restore the complete library, see this link: iPhoto '11: Restoring from Time Machine with iPhoto '11 (9.2 or later) and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (or later) - Apple Support
Once you have the previous library restored, either use both libraries in turn, or export the events from the smaller library to folders in the Finder. Then import them to the larger library.
If you want to merge the two libraries you need either Aperture (Aperture 3.3: How to use Aperture to merge iPhoto libraries) or iPhoto Library Manager - the full. paid version: (Fat Cat Software – iPhoto Library Manager)
Restore the old iPhoto library a different location (desktop for example) and use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - to move the photos you want to the new library
You could use TM to restore selected photos from the masters folder of the old library and import those to iPhoto - but this loses a lot - all edits, metadata changes, etc
LN
The restore button is not active when I do this. i also see that you apparently could browse the photos in past versions of TM but no more. Now that was not an improvement. I just want to pick what I want and drag them to the new desktop. After this I will store photos outside of IPhoto. So no go yet.
So if I use Library manager I will be able to see the libraries in TM?
No
As I said
Restore the old iPhoto library a different location (desktop for example) and use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - to move the photos you want to the new library
You could use TM to restore selected photos from the masters folder of the old library and import those to iPhoto - but this loses a lot - all edits, metadata changes, etc
You do not directly access TM backups - you use the TimeMachine application to restore them and hen you can access them
LN
pull selected photos from iPhoto in TimeMachine
