jmarotta

Q: Use as system photos library won't work on library migrated to external drive

I migrated my photos library to an external drive to free up space.  I launch photos while holding the option key.  Photos does not "see" the library on the external drive so "Choose Library" is grayed out.  I select "Other Library" and point it to the photos library that has been copied to the external drive.  It opens and I can see all my photos.  I then go to preferences and select "Use as System Library".  That becomes grayed out.   I then exit photos.  When I renter photos it still does not recognize that I chose the external library as my system library and I have to repeat the whole process again to no avail.    My external drives are Seagate 4 TB that came preformatted as OS X Journal (Extended).  The photos album was upgraded from iPhoto and now I am also copying the iPhoto album to the same external drive in case that has some data that allows photos to designate my external drive photos album as my system photo album.  I would prefer to delete it however because that takes up 500 GB of harddrive space too.   I have searched the internet and other forums to no avail -- seems to just work for everyone else.  Please help!

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 7:07 AM

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Q: Use as system photos library won't work on library migrated to external drive

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 16, 2016 7:11 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (85,054 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 16, 2016 7:11 AM in response to jmarotta

    Is this the format you see when you get info on the drive?

     

    preformatted as OS X Journal (Extended).

    I've not seen that - the correct format is Mac OS extended (journaled)

     

    Please verify what your actually is

     

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 16, 2016 7:15 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 16, 2016 7:15 AM in response to jmarotta

    Is your external drive directly connected or is it a network volume?

     

    Are you the only user of this disk?

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 16, 2016 8:04 AM in response to LarryHN
    ( points)
    Apr 16, 2016 8:04 AM in response to LarryHN

    Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 16, 2016 8:05 AM in response to léonie
    ( points)
    Apr 16, 2016 8:05 AM in response to léonie

    The external drive is directly connected via USB.  I have allowed all users to read/write on the disk.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 16, 2016 8:25 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 16, 2016 8:25 AM in response to jmarotta

    Create a new Photos Library on that drive, just for testing. Can you make a new library your System Library on that drive?  Does Photos recognize it the next time you open Photos?

     

    This way we will know, if the problem is caused by our library or by the drive.

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 16, 2016 8:47 AM in response to léonie
    ( points)
    Apr 16, 2016 8:47 AM in response to léonie

    Ok created a new photo library entitled Test Photo Library on Ext. drive.  Made it system photo library.  Closed photos and when I reopen said "Cannot find the system photo library named 'Test Photos Library.photoslibrary'".  So apparently it is unable to find any library on the external drive for some reason.

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta

    Now test, if Photos can remember a system photo Library, if it is on your system drive on the Desktop. This way you can see, if it is really the external drive, or if Photos cannot write the preferences files where it is storing the location of the system library.

     

    If Photos cannot remember the location of the system photo library at all, you may need to delete the Photos preferences files and restart the Mac.

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 16, 2016 2:17 PM in response to léonie
    ( points)
    Apr 16, 2016 2:17 PM in response to léonie

    Photos was able to locate a new library "Test Photos 2" that I created and saved on the desktop.

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 16, 2016 2:39 PM in response to léonie
    ( points)
    Apr 16, 2016 2:39 PM in response to léonie

    I also created another test library on the second seagate drive I have (which I called Backup Drive) and low and behold photos was able to remember it's location no problem.   So my plan is move the photo library to that drive. Confirm it can open and reopen again.  Then reformat the drive that was not allowing photos to remember its library location (Which I called Primary Drive) and instead use that as a backup drive for time machine.  Sound good?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta

    Then reformat the drive that was not allowing photos to remember its library location (Which I called Primary Drive) and instead use that as a backup drive for time machine.  Sound good?

    That should work.

    But it would be safer to find the reason why the first drive is not working as expected.  Do you have any Seagate software installed on that drive, that might be interfering?

    Check the drive thoroughly with Disk Utility before you use it as your backup drive. A backup drive, that is not working reliably would give you a false security.

  • by jmarotta,

    jmarotta jmarotta Apr 17, 2016 5:23 AM in response to léonie
    ( points)
    Apr 17, 2016 5:23 AM in response to léonie

    Thank you so much for all your help figuring this out.  After reformatting I was able to create a library and photos was able to find the library and use as system library on both drives.  I used to Disk Utility to reformat the drive that was giving me the issue and then verified the disk as well.  It all seems to be in order. Thanks again!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Apr 17, 2016 5:41 AM in response to jmarotta
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Apr 17, 2016 5:41 AM in response to jmarotta

    That's great!   You're welcome

  • by Platina Member,

    Platina Member Platina Member Sep 27, 2016 11:21 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 27, 2016 11:21 PM in response to léonie

    My photo library already on external drive. And I already checked it as a System Photo Library in Photo settings. But every time when I restart Photo I have to do it again. I mean I have to open Photo's settings and click on "use as system library" again.

    I would like to try deleting Photo's preferences files but I don't know how. Please advice.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 27, 2016 11:33 PM in response to Platina Member
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 27, 2016 11:33 PM in response to Platina Member

    Is the external drive you are using always connected to the Mac using a wired connection or is it wirelessly connected? Is the drive always connected before you start up your Mac? Photos needs your System  Photo Library, even if you are not working with Photos. The system photo library should be available as soon as you sign into your Mac or Photos will look for a different library.

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