Q: Using iPhoto library on external hard drive with new "photos" app
Dear all,
I recently upgraded/ purchased a new MacBook Pro and have been encountering a series of issues. It feelse like every time I try to do something on the new computer (new iPhone and new iPad Pro), I encounter obstacles that take days to research, this is not very Apple-like, which is usually plug in and go.
So, one issue is that on my old MacBook Pro I had iPhoto. My library got huge, so I copied it to an external hard drive. On my old MacBook pro to view, download, and otherwise work with my photos, I would simply connect the external hard drive and open Iphoto using the library on the external hard drive.
I was assured in the Apple Store that I would simply do the same with the new "photos" app. "Simply" this is not true (several wrong queues from Apple Store staff make me question their knowledge).
It appears that "photos" app might be trying to import the library (which is huge about 131 GB and counting), instead of just using it. I get a message that "there is not enough disc space to migrate my library, it needs at least 459 GB of additional free space." Does it mean on the laptop or the external hard drive?
I DO NOT USE ICLOUD, I DO NOT WANT TO USE I CLOUD. I work in Africa where I have spotty power and internet.
How do I get either "photos" app working with my external hard drive iPhoto library, or get iPhoto back on this new computer so I can continue to work. I need to be able to import to this external library when I connect to SD cards, iPhone and iPad. I don't need to store anything on the laptop.
I need a simple step by step as other posts I've found online do not seem to help (or I don't understand them).
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
iPhone 6s, iOS 9.3.1, iPhone 4, iOS 7.1.2
Posted on May 21, 2016 10:46 AM