Can't copy images to desktop ("Item busy")

Question

Level 1

9 points

Can't copy images to desktop ("Item busy")

I'm trying to copy photos from an album in iPhoto 5 to the desktop, but I can't because I get the following error message:

The selected items cannot all be put in the same location because at least one of them named "DSC00003.JPG" is busy

I'm able to copy entire albums on to the desktop, so it looks like some sort of album corruption.
I've double-clicked the mentioned locked image (DSC00003.JPG) which looks fine.
But still thinking that this image might be the culprit I mark off everything except that image in the album, then drag the contents to the desktop's folder. Same error message, but with "DSC00002.JPG" being busy this time.
Any solutions?
And more importantly, what has caused this problem in the first place?

It's worth mentioning that I've tried all the troubleshooting tricks that I know of:

-logged out, then in again
-restarted the computer
-turned the computer off, then powered it up again
-checked and repaired file-permissions (using "Disk utility" as well as "Applejack")

None of this has fixed my problem.

Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz, Superdrive) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 28, 2006 2:57 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 28, 2006 5:45 AM in response to osmanthus

Hi osmanthus,
Instead of dragging the photos to the desktop...
Select the all the photos in the album you want
Go to Share>export
Choose File export
In the export window choose the "album" as the naming scheme
export to a new folder on the desktop

I am not sure, but I am thinking some of the photos in the album have the same file name so you get that error message. I could be wrong, but it's worth a try to export them instead of dragging them.

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Answer 2

osmanthus Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 28, 2006 5:50 AM in response to lori_diloreto

OK, I'll give it a go although I'm always sceptical to "Export" functions as that usually involves modifying/changing the file somehow.
I want the exact, unmodified images.

Also, since this only happens with a certain album I can't help worry that it's a symptom of something (serious?) being wrong. I'll check to see if some images in the album have the same name.

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Answer 3

osmanthus Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 28, 2006 12:47 PM in response to lori_diloreto

I am not sure, but I am thinking some of the photos
in the album have the same file name so you get that
error message.

I did some further investigation, and I believe you're right because I found a few files with the same names, but it appears that there are two naming schemes in iPhoto:

1) If you click on the "i" (information) icon at the bottom left of the iPhoto window there's information about the photo, among them is "Title". This seems to be changeable

2) Even though I changed the name of the duplicates (using the method above) I could find, I looked closely and found out that I had given a few photos unique, descriptive names (as opposed to something like "img_00023.jpg"), but I still get that complaint.

So, is there a way I can change the actual filename? I know I'm not supposed to dig into iPhoto's files from the Finder, so I'm not going to mess around with that, but hope I can fix it from within iPhoto itself.

Powerbook G4 (1.67GHz, Superdrive) Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 4

Nov 28, 2006 12:50 PM in response to osmanthus

You cannot change the actual filename in iPhoto. It has to be done in the finder before the photos are imported into iPhoto.
Titles you give photos within iPhoto, stay within iPhoto.
You can however choose the title as the naming scheme when you export the photos.

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Answer 5

Jan 4, 2007 9:14 PM in response to lori_diloreto

Hi osmanthus,
Instead of dragging the photos to the desktop...
Select the all the photos in the album you want
Go to Share>export
Choose File export
In the export window choose the "album" as the naming
scheme
export to a new folder on the desktop

I am not sure, but I am thinking some of the photos
in the album have the same file name so you get that
error message. I could be wrong, but it's worth a try
to export them instead of dragging them.

Hey there... was having an awful time at work and your post saved me a late night of banging my head against the wall!
Thanks!

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Answer 6

Jan 4, 2007 9:35 PM in response to Capt.Brian62

You're welcome!

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Answer 7

jack w

Level 1

10 points

Jan 7, 2007 6:42 AM in response to osmanthus

I'm having the same problem, just getting ready to post and happened to see your posting.. I did the work around using export and that is fine(was going to mention the work around) but I still am confused as to what's the meaning of "busy item"? Will try to see if I have some items with same names!

imac g5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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Answer 8

dogma505

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2007 10:50 AM in response to osmanthus

I was just having the same exact problem so I exported my folder to a cd I needed to burn and it came out fine without having to change anything.

Question??? When I open up the folder some image just have the jpeg icon and others show the thumbnail of the image. Why does it do that - it seems to be random. How do you get all of the thumbnails to show?

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Answer 9

Kathykate

Level 2

248 points

Jan 10, 2007 6:58 AM in response to dogma505

I've been having this problem for ages and have just decided to investigate. Seems that the problem in my case is arising from pictures I've imported to iphoto, then I've pulled a copy over to my desktop, opened them in photoshop and doctored them, then reimported, as I like to keep a copy of the original and the doctored one. Seems that the naming system will call the original pic, for example, IMG_3677.jpg, and the doctored pic will be called IMG_3677. then, when you try to copy these pictures together it gets confused and gives the error message. I removed the offending doctored pix, renamed them, reimported, then it let me copy all together. My plan from now on is to always rename any pictures I doctor, hoping to elimate problem.

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