Problems importing iphoto library

Question

Level 1

8 points

Problems importing iphoto library

Hi

I used to have a MacBook Pro where I had an iPhoto library of 90GB. I had saved all of this on an external hard drive. When I manage to break my MacBook Pro, I bought a MacBook Air. The problem is that the iPhoto library from my Pro refuses to be imported to my Air. I should have enough space (more than 92GB), and I still get the message "cannot import library because there is not enough space". My plan was to import the photos, and then delete some of them, so that I would have most of my photos and some leftover space, but now I can't import any of the photos. What can I do??

MacBook Air

Posted on Jun 3, 2015 2:41 PM

Reply

Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jun 3, 2015 3:29 PM in response to VadPower

a few things

1 - you do not import old libraries - you NEVER import an iPhoto or photos library - you open them

2 - what format is the EHD? TO have the iPhoto or Photos library on it it must be Mac OS extended (journaled)

3 - you must be connected to the EHD using a fast wired connection like USB, FireWire or ThunderBolt - how are you connected?

4 - what size is your library? How much free space do you have on your MBA?

LN

Reply

Answer 2

VadPower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2015 11:17 PM in response to LarryHN

- The format of the EDS is Mac OS extended (Case-sensitive, journaled)

- I am connected through USB

- The library that I want to open is 90GB. I have 92 GB free space on my MacBook Air.

Reply

Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

Jun 4, 2015 12:33 AM in response to VadPower

The library that I want to open is 90GB. I have 92 GB free space on my MacBook Air.

Forget the simple arithmetic that's no where near enough space.

OS X needs about 10 gigs of hard drive space for normal OS operations - things like virtual memory, temporary files and so on. The Finder does not report this as space used. So while it may report 92 gigs free the actual amount of unused space might only be 88 or even 82 gigs.

Even if you could open the 90 gig library on 92 gigs of space you would be making your Mac a very risky environment for your data. That space for normal OS operations is vital. Without it your Mac will slow down as the OS hunts for space on the disk, files will be fragmented, also slowing things down, apps will crash and the risk of data corruption - that is damage to your files, photos, music - increases exponentially.

So, you need to open the library on the external first, then delete the material, and then move it on to the Mac.

Remember never let the free space on the Mac go below 10 gigs.

Reply

Answer 4

VadPower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2015 1:12 AM in response to Yer_Man

Sorry the mistake, all of my photos on my EHD is 90 GB, but the iPhoto library itself is 78GB. I only need the iPhoto library, and not the other photos. I still don't see why I cannot open it on my MacBook Air..
It is not possible for me to open the iPhoto library on my EHD, and this is why is is such a problem.

Reply

Answer 5

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

Jun 4, 2015 2:39 AM in response to VadPower

It is not possible for me to open the iPhoto library on my EHD, and this is why is is such a problem.

Why not? What happens when you try?

Reply

Answer 6

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jun 4, 2015 8:04 AM in response to Yer_Man

Maybe because of the drive format -

The format of the EDS is Mac OS extended (Case-sensitive, journaled)

The iPhoto library should not be on a drive other than Mac OS extended (journaled) - the Case Sensitive does cause problems sometimes

Of course it always helps if the OP give details - certainly stating "it doesn't work" or "I can't do it" gives us nothing to work with so we can only make wild guesses

LN

Reply

Answer 7

VadPower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2015 9:47 AM in response to LarryHN

When I try to open the library on the EHD, Photos is opened and I get the message "Nothing to import - none of these files can be imported to Photos library".

Reply

Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

Jun 4, 2015 11:50 AM in response to VadPower

Can you explain exactly what you are doing? There no importing when migrating to Photos.

Reply

Answer 9

VadPower Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 4, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Yer_Man

I am opening the EHD that is on my desktop. Then I click trough Macbook Pro -> latest -> Macintosh HD, and find the "Pictures"-folder in my user folder. Here I have my iPhoto library. I double tap on it for it to open, and then Photos opens and gives me the message I described.

Reply