HT204484: If Photos can’t copy or create a library

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stewart g.
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: iPhoto to Photos - Major difficulties

I updated my 2009 MBP to the new Yosemite at the beginning of the week. Opened Photos and selected iPhoto Library. After several hours, the most progress the migration achieved was 13%, whereupon it told me that Photos could not finish the task. I clicked "Learn More" and was directed to an Apple Support page telling me to repair my disk or fix my permissions.

 

So I repaired my disk and updated permissions. Attempted the migration several more times, without success.

 

I'm far from an expert, but these seemed simple. I also tried to copy my iPhoto file to an external drive in order to at least have a backup, but was informed this couldn't happen because the file was damaged.

 

So a little more research and I downloaded the iPhoto Library Manager,which might have repaired my Library, except that it needs to open iPhoto in order to do so, except that iPhoto is no longer available in this version of Yosemite!

 

I have never toyed with my iPhoto Library in any way since 2009. I can recall it prompting me to rebuild it once or twice but everything was fine after that.

 

How can I repair or rebuild it without iPhoto?

 

So I am stuck now and really don't know what to do!

MacBook Pro (17-inch Mid 2009)

Posted on Apr 25, 2015 5:06 AM

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stewart g.

Q: iPhoto to Photos - Major difficulties

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Apr 25, 2015 7:03 AM in response to stewart g.
    Level 10 (139,537 points)
    iLife
    Apr 25, 2015 7:03 AM in response to stewart g.
    except that it needs to open iPhoto in order to do so, except that iPhoto is no longer available in this version of Yosemite!

     

    Go to the App Store and check out the Purchases List. If iPhoto is there then it will be v9.6.1

     

    If it is there, then drag your existing iPhoto app (not the library, just the app) to the trash

     

    Install the App from the App Store.

     

    Sometimes iPhoto is not visible on the Purchases List. it may be hidden. See this article for details on how to unhide it.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4928

     

    One question often asked: Will I lose my Photos if I reinstall?

     

    iPhoto the application and the iPhoto Library are two different parts of the iPhoto programme. So, reinstalling the app should not affect the Library. BUT you should always have a back up before doing this kind of work. Always.

  • by stewart g.,

    stewart g. stewart g. Apr 26, 2015 3:27 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 3:27 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thank you very much Terence!

     

    That totally did the trick yesterday morning. I got iPhoto back. Trying to rebuilf my library with iPhoto Library Manager but it looks like it was trying to create a whole new library (209GB!), which of course I haven't room for on my MBP...

     

     

    So I'm trying to repair the library within iPhoto, but that function isn't coming up when I press option -command and open iPhoto.

     

    Ideas?