mpen1

Q: Can't get photos to load to new computer from old iPhoto

I just purchased a new iMac (10.10.4) and now some of my old photos won't load. Says my iPhoto (7.1.5) will not run on the new one and can't find download to update the external hard drive iPhoto. Please help.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Aug 11, 2015 7:26 PM

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Q: Can't get photos to load to new computer from old iPhoto

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 11, 2015 8:48 PM in response to mpen1
    Level 10 (84,217 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 11, 2015 8:48 PM in response to mpen1

    iPhoto '08 (7.1.5) is very out of date

     

    Have you downloaded and run the iphoto library upgrader?  iPhoto '11 or later: About the Library Upgrader - Apple Support

     

    After you run it you should be able to migrate your library to the new  Photos application

     

    LN

  • by mpen1,

    mpen1 mpen1 Aug 11, 2015 9:00 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 9:00 PM in response to LarryHN

    I tried that but I think I have a very specific problem. My computer was zapped due to lightning and Microcenter said they retrieved it all and put it on an external hard drive. I see the old iPhoto there, but it has a circle with a line through it (meaning non-accessible).  When I click on it, it says I need to download a current version from the App Store. I try that and it says it's not available in the US. Seriously? So I did download the library upgrader and follow the directions but when I go to click on the library that I want to upgrade on the external hard drive, it is light gray and I can't click on it. Any thoughts?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 11, 2015 9:16 PM in response to mpen1
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 11, 2015 9:16 PM in response to mpen1
    When I click on it, it says I need to download a current version from the App Store. I try that and it says it's not available in the US. Seriously?

    Unfortunately yes. Apple does no longer sell iPhoto from the App Store. You cannot purchase an upgrade for older iPhoto versions any longer.

     

    The only version of iPhoto compatible with MacOS X 10.10.4 is iPhoto 9.6.1.

     

    You can only update iPhoto if you already own an App Store version of iPhoto 9.x.x. Then reinstalling will update to the compatible version as Larry described.  But your iPhoto version 7.1.5 requires a purchased upgrade and not an update, and that is no longer available.

  • by mpen1,

    mpen1 mpen1 Aug 11, 2015 9:20 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 9:20 PM in response to léonie

    Does that mean I lost all of my pics because they don't provide an update or upgrade for purchase for that iPhoto? As a side note, many of my pics did transfer when we plugged all the new stuff in but not the ones taken within the last 2 years. Maybe there is hope since the other ones transferred?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 11, 2015 10:52 PM in response to mpen1
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 11, 2015 10:52 PM in response to mpen1
    Does that mean I lost all of my pics because they don't provide an update or upgrade for purchase for that iPhoto?

    No, your photos are in the iPhoto Libraries, and are safe. 

    But it means, that you no longer can use iPhoto, because you bought an iMac with an operating system that  comes without iPhoto and does not support your iPhoto version. Apple stopped the developement of iPhoto and now provides the new Photos.app to organize photo libraries.

    As a side note, many of my pics did transfer when we plugged all the new stuff in but not the ones taken within the last 2 years.

    Please explain more:

    Where are the pics that transferred? Do you have also a newer version of iPhoto installed, not only the older 7.1.5 version?  Where did you transfer the photos to? iPhoto or Photos? Or are they in your Pictures folder?

     

    and Microcenter said they retrieved it all and put it on an external hard drive

    Is the external hard drive formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled)? If the file system is not MacOS Extended (Journaled), you may not be able to open an iPhoto Library on it.

     

    So I did download the library upgrader and follow the directions but when I go to click on the library that I want to upgrade on the external hard drive, it is light gray and I can't click on it. Any thoughts?

     

    Try to move the library to your Pictures folder and try to upgrade it there (if you have enough free storage on your internal drive).  when you copy the library over rename it, so you do not accidentally overwrite any other iPhoto Library that you need to save.