unable to open pre-sierra photos library

Question

Level 1

12 points

unable to open pre-sierra photos library

updated MacBook pro from el capitan to sierra. now unable to open photos library - have blank photos window and revolving cursor - no messages just continues endlessly.

also have iMac which is still on el capitan and can access the library no problem.

photos library sitting on NAS accessible to both macs. from both devices I can see the photos library in finder on the NAS device.

if this an 'indexing process' for the new version of photos under Sierra and if so what's the eta to completion (my library is around 40gb of photos and some movies). and if so how rubbish is this!

any help/advice very welcome.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Oct 11, 2016 4:07 AM

Reply

Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Oct 11, 2016 5:31 AM in response to marinko70

photos library sitting on NAS accessible to both macs. from both devices I can see the photos library in finder on the NAS device.

Are you using the library alternately from two different Macs? What you are trying to do is not supported. Photos is a single user application, and the library should be on a drive formatted MacOS Extended (Journaled) and locally mounted, not on a NAS. You have been lucky, if it worked previously. We have seen quite a few posts that Photos Libraries on a NAS can no longer be opened.

Copy your library to a locally mounted volume with the correct formatting.

also have iMac which is still on el capitan and can access the library no problem.

Once you open the library in Sierra, you can no longer open it with Photos on El Capitan. Sierra will upgrade the library and the other Mac will not anger be able to read it.

Reply

Answer 2

marinko70 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 11, 2016 9:47 AM in response to léonie

thank you for the prompt response and understood.

while I had both devices on Yosemite and then also El Capitan I was to share the photo library on the NAS between them (not open at same time) without any corruption of the photo library. that I was able to do this contrary to the apparent tech limitations of the app is worrying.

such a shame about 1. the lack of openness in an era of openness and cloud. 2. apple refusal to provide forward compatibility for a media library that holds important content for a large section of the mac user community.

i've been looking at other photo management software as I find photos clunky, only to find that most photo management software I've looked at ( e.g. darktable, photodirector8, lightroom ) are also clunky and just look 'old hat'. i'd appreciate any tips on alterantive solutions for photo management that can be shared from a NAS. many thanks.

Reply

Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Oct 11, 2016 10:04 AM in response to marinko70

The Photos Library can be upgraded from El Capitan to Sierra, everything else would be ridiculous, but not while it is on a NAS. try to repair it, after removing it from the NAS.

I have never used a NAS, so I cannot be sure, which other applications will work with it. You could simply organize your photo in folders on the NAS and then sue photo editors Gimp to to edit your photos.

I use iCloud Photo Library to share my Photos Library between my Macs and it is working well.

Reply