Migration to Photos fails

Question

Level 1

8 points

Migration to Photos fails

I would like to migrate my library from iPhoto '08 to Photos from an older iMac. After i copied the library to the new computer and opened it with Photos it starts to migrate but at the end I can see only one photo out of approx. 19,000. I have two files now: 1) Migrated Photo Library and 2) Photos Library. Both about 97GB and 90GB. I remember trying to upgrade to Photos a longer time ago but something went wrong so I had to stop the process. Since then I can still work with iPhoto on the old Mac but I have these library problems. We would like to switch to a new Mac now but do not want to lose our photos and many extra comments we added to the photo descriptions. What can we do?

iMac, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 1:01 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,705 points

Sep 25, 2016 1:54 PM in response to Tom Berlin

Try to repair your iPhoto Library on the old computer and then transfer it again to the new computer.

See this support document on how to repair and rebuild an iPhoto Library: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library - Apple Support

Try the options 1,2,5 and 6 from the list of repair options.

Then copy the library again to your new Mac and try to migrate it to Photos.

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Sep 25, 2016 2:19 PM in response to léonie

And I believe that iPhoto '08 libraries need to have the library upgrader run on them too -- Using the iPhoto Library Upgrader tool - Apple Support

The iPhoto Library Upgrader prepares libraries from iPhoto '08 (v7.x) or earlier so that you can use them with the current version of iPhoto or Photos for OS X. If your library was created by iPhoto '09 (v8.x) or later, you don't need to use this tool.

LN

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Answer 3

Tom Berlin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 26, 2016 1:42 PM in response to léonie

Thank you for your response. The problem still exists after I rebuild and migrate the library: It only shows one photo out of the library. When I look into the new Photos library file (right mouse click) I can see all the years, modified, originals and so on but they do not open in Photos. Any other idea?

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

200,705 points

Sep 26, 2016 1:48 PM in response to Tom Berlin

Dis you use the iPhoto Library upgrader as Larry recommended? it is necessary for iPhoto Libraries created by iPhoto 7.1.2 or older: iPhoto '11: About the Library Upgrader

Download and run the upgrader on your repaired iPhoto library before you try to migrate the library to Photos.

from iPhoto '08

Is your library really an iPhoto '08 library? I am puzzled, because Photos for Mac should have prompted you to use the iPhoto Library Upgrader, if the library has been created by an iPhoto version that needs the upgrader.

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Answer 5

Tom Berlin Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 27, 2016 12:37 PM in response to léonie

Thanks for your ongoing help. I tried again: Rebuild the library and tried to upgrade but it says that the library can open with the current version. Then switched the external drive with library on to the new computer and opened with Photos which started to migrate. But still no photos. The migrated Photos library is nearly as big as the Migrated iPhoto library. I read in an older German post from you that the years and dates must be seen in the Master file. In my case there is only one specific date with one photo. All other photos are listed under originals and modified directly.

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