David Strait

Q: Move Photos v1 Library to a computer with Photos v2

I have a small Photos Library (2 GB) on a desktop computer that cannot be upgraded to Sierra (using Photos v1). I want to move the library to a laptop that has been upgraded to Sierra (Photos v2). I simply copied the library from the desktop to the  “Pictures” folder on the laptop. I launched Photos on the laptop while holding the option key down so I could select the v1 library. I got the expected “Updating Library” message and progress bar. In no time at all Photos opened and there were no photos in the “updated” library. I looked at the library in the Finder and it went from 2 GB to 15 mb.

 

How do you update a v1 library to v2?

 

David

Aperture 3

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 3:32 PM

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Q: Move Photos v1 Library to a computer with Photos v2

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Sep 22, 2016 3:57 PM in response to David Strait
    Level 10 (141,132 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 3:57 PM in response to David Strait

    Does the original v1 library on the desktop Mac still have it's picture in it?  If so run the First Aid process on it and then copy it again to the other Mac and open. 

    OTsig.png

  • by David Strait,

    David Strait David Strait Sep 22, 2016 4:20 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 2 (217 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 4:20 PM in response to Old Toad

    Yep… The v1 library on the desktop has all the photos. I opened v1 Photos on the desktop using “option-command” to evoke the repair library (I assume that is what you meant by first aid?). It completed the repair and I copied it back to the laptop. Opened it with v2 Photos on the laptop with same result. The 2 GB library with 6000 photos went to 15 mb and no photos. Nothing in the trash. They just vaporize. Takes about 10 seconds.

     

    Thanks for the suggestion, but no dice.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 22, 2016 4:28 PM in response to David Strait
    Level 10 (84,745 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 22, 2016 4:28 PM in response to David Strait

    That should work - try again only this time drag the Photos 1.0 library to the Picture folder  on the newer machine and then drag it to  Photos icon in the Dock to open and migrate it - see if there results are any different?

     

    LN

  • by David Strait,

    David Strait David Strait Sep 22, 2016 4:33 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 2 (217 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 4:33 PM in response to LarryHN

    Nope... Same result. It opened, but again, no photos.

  • by David Strait,

    David Strait David Strait Sep 22, 2016 5:10 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 2 (217 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 5:10 PM in response to LarryHN

    Tried it on a second laptop (mid 2012 MacBook Air), then on a Late 2013 iMac (running Sierra). Same result. The 1st laptop was a mid 2010 17" MacBook Pro.

     

    I’m beginning to think that Apple didn’t create a method to update the library except by updating the computer to Sierra (which won’t happen on my 2009 Mac Pro).

     

    Has anybody actually updated a v1 to v2 Photos library?

  • by David Strait,

    David Strait David Strait Sep 23, 2016 12:36 PM in response to David Strait
    Level 2 (217 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 12:36 PM in response to David Strait

    Called Apple support. They confirmed the v1 library should migrate to v2 in the manner which I attempted. We created a new library and it transferred to the v2 computer with no problem. They ran diagnostics while trying to convert the problematic library. They will review the results and get back to me.

     

    It appears that I have something wrong with this specific library and it is not a general issue with Photos.