Unable to transfer iPhoto Library (9.6) despite Rebuilding Library

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Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Unable to transfer iPhoto Library (9.6) despite Rebuilding Library

SYSTEM

Mac Mini (Mid 2011)

OSX Yosemite 10.10.2

iPhoto 9.6

Disk Description : SAMSUNG HN-M101MBB Media
Total Capacity : 1 TB (1,000,204,886,016 Bytes)

Connection Bus : SATA
Write Status : Read/Write

Connection Type : Internal
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Failing

Connection ID : "Upper"
Partition Map Scheme : GUID Partition Table

________________________________________________________________________________ ______________

After noticing one of my 1TB Samsung drive was failing (S.M.A.R.T.Status), I decided to copy my entire iPhoto Library that is on that internal HDD to a brand new LaCIE 4TB external HDD before the drive completely fails and I lose everything.

After managing to copy 800MB of a 242GB Library (drag and drop, Control-C), I get the following error message:

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “iPhoto Library” can’t be read or written.(Error code -36)

After COMMAND + OPTION and selecting the iPhoto icon, I decided to rebuild the entire library as detailed in Apple's Support Document: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201769

The iPhoto Library successfully rebuilt but I still receive the error code message (-36) when trying to copy the iPhoto Library to my external HDD.

How would I go about saving/copying/moving my entire iPhoto Library before the Samsung HDD fails completely?

I assume the error message I am receiving is based on the fact that Samsung HDD is failing.

Is there a possibility of doing a localise backup (Time Machine backup of just that iPhoto Library) as I do not have sufficient space to backup my entire computer.

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Feb 9, 2015 4:03 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,026 points

Feb 9, 2015 5:55 AM in response to Reubania

Use a back up application that stores the back up in the Finder (.ie. unlike Time Machine). This should take care of the problematic files that are causing the issue.

The free trial of Chronosync is one such that will do the job.

http://www.econtechnologies.com/chronosync/overview.html

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Feb 9, 2015 8:10 AM in response to Reubania

What format is the external drive? It must be Mac OS extended (journaled) for the iPhoto library

LN

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Answer 3

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 10, 2015 2:22 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thank you Terrence. I will look into this now

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Answer 4

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 10, 2015 2:23 AM in response to LarryHN

LarryHN - Yes, I specifically formatted the new external HDD to be Mac OS extended (Journaled)

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Feb 10, 2015 8:10 AM in response to Reubania

Set ownership to ignored on the external drive and try to drag and drop again - if that does not work then clone your library - Carbon Copy Cloner or SupeDuper are good clone programs

LN

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Answer 6

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 12, 2015 10:41 PM in response to LarryHN

How does one set the ownership to ignore on the external drive?

I've been looking at Google and found a "dot_clean" command in Terminal. Well, that did a lot of nothing. Any transfer of the folder results in another error code (50).

I think I have to bite the bullet and use Carbon Copy Cloner

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Feb 12, 2015 10:52 PM in response to Reubania

In the info window check the ignore ownership box

LN

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Answer 8

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 12, 2015 10:58 PM in response to LarryHN

Ok. I downloaded the trial version of Carbon Copy Cloner (4.0). And as I select "Clone" the drive, I received the following warning message:

OS X is reporting read or write errors on "Media"

These errors indicate that there is a problem with this disk, such as media failure, a mechanical failure, an error in the disk's firmware, or a problem communicating with the disk. The severity of the problem is unknown, you can get more detail on the errors by clicking on the affected volume in CCC's sidebar. Read/write error statistics will be reset when you restart your computer.

So I opened up Disk Centre to see what the problem is:

So clearly there's a major problem with the internal 1TB Samsung HDD with 1189 read errors. I am now attempting to clone this but the destination location (external HDD) cannot be written to. Should I try to "repair" the internal disk from Disk Utility?

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Answer 9

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,026 points

Feb 12, 2015 10:59 PM in response to Reubania

Only after backing up first.

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Answer 10

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Feb 12, 2015 11:35 PM in response to Reubania

Is there a possibility of doing a localise backup (Time Machine backup of just that iPhoto Library) as I do not have sufficient space to backup my entire computer.

What about all your other documents, applications, and data? With a failing internal drive you need to have a backup copy of your complete Mac, so you can restore it from a Time Machine backup or a clone.

Do you have a Time Machine volume? I would not overwrite your last backup from the time as your internal drive was working correctly, but make another copy on another drive.

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Answer 11

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 12, 2015 11:50 PM in response to LarryHN

Unfortunately, after copying the same 780MB of data, I received the same Error 36 code

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Answer 12

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 12, 2015 11:55 PM in response to léonie

I have sufficiently saved all my other documents, applications and data. This data and where Mac OSX is installed is on the other internal 1TB Samsung HDD which has the "Verified" S.M.A.R.T. status.

The second internal 1TB Samsung HDD where only my iPhoto Library is located is failing.

I have an automatic backup of both internal HDD on my WD 2 x 1TB RAID format external HDD. So I essentially do have a backup of my iPhoto Library, but I thought it'll be easier to just "Drag & Drop" the current iPhoto Library on the failing internal 1TB Samsung HDD to my brand new LaCIE 4TB external HDD. This is where I have encountered all my problems.

I am now attempting to clone this failing internal HDD again to the new external HDD

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Answer 13

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Feb 13, 2015 12:08 AM in response to Reubania

Unfortunately, after copying the same 780MB of data, I received the same Error 36 code

That is no wonder - cloning will just copy everything, including any corrupted files.

What probably happened - because the drive is no longer functioning correctly, at least one of the internal files in your iPhoto library has a corruption and cannot be read correctly. If rebuilding the library cannot recreate this file correctly, you may need to isolate the broken file by copying the parts of the library separately - like this:

The iPhoto library is a package, essentially a folder with subfolders, and you can copy the subfolders separately. Try this:

To track the problematic file down you could do the following:

Ctrl-click your iPhoto library and use the command "Show Package Contents" to reveal the files and folder inside.

Create a folder on your external drive, where you want to copy your iPhoto library to.

Now copy (in easy installments) the parts of the iPhoto library to the new folder.

When you get again the error, look, which the last file/folder was that copied correctly. The next file will probably be the corrupted one. Inspect it, if you see anything suspicious about it.

Post back, what kind of file this is.

Then try to copy the rest. After all has been copied, rename the folder with the copied items "iPhoto Library Copied.photolibrary" and try to open it in iPhoto.

I'd try this, after you got yourself a replacement for the internal drive, that no longer works, when you copy the library back.

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Answer 14

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Feb 13, 2015 12:10 AM in response to Reubania

I have sufficiently saved all my other documents, applications and data.

Good to know, that you are covered by a good backup scheme 🙂

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Answer 15

Reubania Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 13, 2015 2:59 AM in response to Reubania

OK! I have success! Carbon Copy Cloner managed to clone my iPhoto Library, but in the process, it identified the following files and folders that it could not be recovered (due to bad section of the hard drive disk)

Any ring a bell to you guys as the culprit (or just the HDD itself)?

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