Photos has suddenly decided to not show anything. That is, all my photos (35Gb Library) are not to be seen. Most of the menus are greyed out, no Preferences, View/Library/Photos shows nothing. I do not know what version of Photos I have (About Photos greyed out), OS X High Sierra 10.13.2.
Baffling. Any help appreciated.
MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)
com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-11-04) [Lookup]
Did you ever let CleanMyMac3 touch your Photos Library? Then I would restore the previous version you had from a backup. CleanMyMac will have removed the precious original image files for any edited image from your library and replaced them by the previews of the edited versions. This is badly downgrading the quality of your photos and may occasionally create incorrect links. The damage to the library cannot be repaired by Photos built-in Repair tool. If you can, restore at the last version of the library from your TimeMachine backup from before you used CleanMyMac.
com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-11-04) [Lookup]
Did you ever let CleanMyMac3 touch your Photos Library? Then I would restore the previous version you had from a backup. CleanMyMac will have removed the precious original image files for any edited image from your library and replaced them by the previews of the edited versions. This is badly downgrading the quality of your photos and may occasionally create incorrect links. The damage to the library cannot be repaired by Photos built-in Repair tool. If you can, restore at the last version of the library from your TimeMachine backup from before you used CleanMyMac.
That's a good point.
p>Download etrecheck. Click on the download link at the bottom of the screen.
Run etrecheck. Post complete output.
click on the export icon. click on "Copy Report". Paste into your ASC Reply
Using EtreCheck by etresoft, the author
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-11591
Stamp of approval
Try a safe boot.
Shutdown your machine. Hold down the shift key. Poweron. The boot up will take longer than normal because the filesystem on the startup drive is being checked and repaired as needed. All about safe mode including what features and apps safe boot leaves out.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1455
Get an external drive. Install macos on it. Run from external drive so as not to corrupt current startup drive.
I'd give OWC a call. 1-815-338-8685.
FireWire 800 + USB 3, + eSATA
&
save a little money interface:
FireWire 400 + USB 2.0
This web page lists both external harddrive types. You may need to scroll to the right to see both.
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
FindAnyFile
"This is a free program for Mac OS 10.4 and later that lets you search for files on your disks, primarily on HFS formatted ones." FindAnyFile allows you to search for all files on your harddrive. Do the search from an administrator account. Hold down the option key then click on return. Search for common photo extensions.
http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/
Wondershare Data Recovery for Mac
"Recover lost photos, video, documents, email and archive files from any Mac-based hard drive or external hard drive, iPod, USB drive, SD card, digital camera, mobile phone, and MP3/MP4 player, due to accidental deleting, formatting, virus infection, improper operation, unexpected power failure, and other unknown reasons. Also, iPhone recovery allows you to recover lost photos, videos, SMS, contacts, note, calendar and call history from iTunes backup file. With the free trial, you can preview all your recovered images, videos, music, documents and archive files prior purchasing this Mac Data Recovery."
http://software.bigbigsoft.com/data-recovery-mac
"If there is any chance of recovery at all your best bet is Prosoft Data Recovery." by macjack
https://www.prosofteng.com/datarescue-mac-data-recovery/
Seek professional help.
R
rccharles, thanks, I ran Etrecheck, but found nothing untoward. Thanks for the pointer to Etrecheck. I did not know about it before. Here it is:
EtreCheck version: 3.4.6 (460)
Report generated 2017-12-26 12:52:56
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 2:23
Performance: Excellent
Click the [Lookup] links for more information from Apple Support Communities.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Other problem
Description:
photos not working correctly. Albums missing.
Hardware Information: ⓘ
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro13,3
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-6820HQ) CPU: 4-core
16 GB RAM Not upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz ok
Handoff/Airdrop2: supported
Wireless:
en0: Unknown
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 11
iCloud Quota: 20.30 GB available
Video Information: ⓘ
AMD Radeon Pro 455 - VRAM: 2 GB
Color LCD 3360 x 2100
Intel HD Graphics 530 - VRAM: 1536 MB
Disk Information: ⓘ
APPLE SSD SM0512L disk0: (500.28 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
(disk0s1) <not mounted>
[EFI]: 315 MB
(disk0s2) <not mounted>
[APFS Container]: 499.96 GB
USB Information: ⓘ
USB30Bus
Apple Inc. iBridge
USB31Bus
Seagate BUP Slim BL
BUP Slim BL disk2: (2 TB)
(disk2s1) <not mounted>
[partition_map]: 32 KB
Callisto (disk2s3 - Journaled HFS+) /Volumes/Callisto : 2.00 TB (1.78 TB free)
USB31Bus
Belkin Belkin USB-C LAN
Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus_1
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus_0
Virtual disks: ⓘ
Macintosh HD (disk1s1 - APFS) /
[Startup]: 499.96 GB (50.74 GB free)
Physical disk: disk0s2 499.96 GB (50.74 GB free)
(disk1s2) <not mounted>
[Preboot]: 499.96 GB
Physical disk: disk0s2 499.96 GB
(disk1s3) <not mounted>
[Recovery]: 499.96 GB
Physical disk: disk0s2 499.96 GB
(disk1s4) /private/var/vm
[VM]: 499.96 GB
Physical disk: disk0s2 499.96 GB
System Software: ⓘ
macOS High Sierra
10.13.2 (17C88) - Time since boot: less than an hour
Gatekeeper: ⓘ
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ⓘ
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/signed
[loaded] com.avast.FileShield (4.0.0 - SDK 10.12) [Lookup]
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/signed
[loaded] com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.1 - SDK 10.12) [Lookup]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.rogueamoeba.InstantOn (6.0.3 - SDK 10.8) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.6 (26**3) - SDK 10.4) [Lookup]
[not loaded] com.xerox.officeprinting.PrinterSpecificMerge (1.4.0) [Lookup]
/System/Library/Extensions/InstantOn.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.rogueamoeba.InstantOnCore (6.0.3 - SDK 10.8) [Lookup]
/System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.6 (26**3) - SDK 10.4) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.6 (26**3) - SDK 10.5) [Lookup]
[not loaded] com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.6 (26**3) - SDK 10.4) [Lookup]
System Launch Agents: ⓘ
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 173 Apple tasks
[running] 110 Apple tasks
System Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[not loaded] 35 Apple tasks
[loaded] 178 Apple tasks
[running] 117 Apple tasks
Launch Agents: ⓘ
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-07-26) [Lookup]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-11) [Lookup]
[running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist (? 40cdc1ff 21868ea0 - installed 2011-03-15) [Lookup]
[running] com.avast.osx.secureline.update-agent.plist (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.osx.secureline.userinit.plist (Shell Script 2fc1004f - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[running] com.avast.update-agent.plist (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.userinit.plist (Shell Script bb25154c - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.divx.dms.agent.plist (? bf9bdaf7 77e11f5f - installed 2017-09-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.divx.uninstall.converter.plist (Shell Script 9e90dee7 - installed 2017-10-25)
[loaded] com.divx.uninstall.player.plist (Shell Script 664f994d - installed 2017-10-25)
[loaded] com.divx.uninstall.preferences.plist (Shell Script 1cd1d81c - installed 2017-10-25)
[loaded] com.divx.update.agent.plist (DivX, LLC - installed 2017-09-11) [Lookup]
[running] com.flipvideo.FlipShare.AutoRun.plist (? d8faaaae f8b2701a - installed 2012-03-08) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-11-15) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (? 11d191c4 7c858001 - installed 2011-03-23) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.microsoft.update.agent.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2017-12-18) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 878cc2d6 72ac4dde - installed 2017-11-25) [Lookup]
[running] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist (? 502453cc 362bd442 - installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (Apple Inc. - XQuartz - installed 2015-10-16) [Lookup]
Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-01-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.adobe.acc.installer.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]
[running] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-09-28) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (? 2afb3af7 eb967f59 - installed 2016-04-05) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.init.plist (Shell Script fc55b6fa - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.osx.secureline.init.plist (Shell Script 1bda83b1 - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.osx.secureline.uninstall.plist (Shell Script ba7a0061 - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.osx.secureline.update.plist (Shell Script f50a649c - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.uninstall.plist (Shell Script 22f94791 - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.update.plist (Shell Script 5c6ac355 - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[running] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist (Backblaze - installed 2017-11-10) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.barebones.authd.plist (? 7d7988a6 a8630d60 - installed 2013-03-26) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist (? 41245744 5b530d22 - installed 2013-02-25) [Lookup]
[not loaded] com.bombich.ccc.scheduledtask.B3130965-21B7-4F73-8219-7C78EBD9C06B.plist (? bf54a301 51950d - installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2017-10-13) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.id-design.whatsizehelper.plist (ID-DESIGN INC. - installed 2015-10-16) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-11-04) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2017-12-17) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (? 6d8cb30e 8b29c3ef - installed 2012-04-02) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (Microsoft Corporation - installed 2015-09-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (Shell Script e3fefdd2 - installed 2017-09-06) [Lookup]
[running] com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist (Trusteer LTD - installed 2016-10-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (Apple Inc. - XQuartz - installed 2015-10-16) [Lookup]
User Launch Agents: ⓘ
[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (Adobe Systems, Inc. - installed 2017-06-12) [Lookup]
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (? 56ebbe7d b8887e79 - installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.home.userinit.plist (Shell Script f80952ac - installed 2017-12-20) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.avast.osx.secureline.home.userinit.plist (Shell Script aded4149 - installed 2017-10-25) [Lookup]
[running] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist (Backblaze - installed 2017-12-26) [Lookup]
[running] com.bombich.ccc-user-agent.plist (? c84de20e c988a145 - installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
[running] com.c-command.SpamSieve.LaunchAgent.plist (C-Command Software, LLC - installed 2017-08-24) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (Citrix Online LLC - installed 2016-10-25) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-11) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Scheduler.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-10-22) [Lookup]
[loaded] com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist (Skype Communications S.a.r.l - installed 2017-12-22) [Lookup]
[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (Spotify - installed 2015-12-21) [Lookup]
User Login Items: ⓘ
Dropbox Application
(/Applications/Dropbox.app)
CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-12-25)
(/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)
TypeIt4Me Application - Hidden
(/Applications/TypeIt4Me.app)
Things Helper Application
(~/Library/Application Support/Cultured Code/Things Helper.app)
EvernoteHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (Evernote - installed 2017-12-03)
(/Applications/Evernote.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/EvernoteHelper.app)
EvernoteHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (? 0 - installed 2016-10-03)
(~/Library/Application Support/com.evernote.Evernote/old/Evernote 401989/Evernote.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/EvernoteHelper.app)
EvernoteHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (Evernote - installed 2017-05-01)
(~/Library/Application Support/com.evernote.Evernote/old/Evernote 402491/Evernote.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/EvernoteHelper.app)
1Password Helper URL SMLoginItem - Hidden (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-11-15)
(/Applications/1Password.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/2BUA8C4S2C.com.agilebit s.onepassword-osx-helper.app)
6H4HRTU5E3.com.avast.osx.secureline.avastsecurelinehelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2017-11-04)
(/Applications/AvastSecureLine.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/6H4HRTU5E3.com.av ast.osx.secureline.avastsecurelinehelper.app)
EvernoteHelper SMLoginItem - Hidden (Evernote - installed 2017-05-01)
(~/Library/Application Support/com.evernote.Evernote/old/Evernote 450946/Evernote.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/EvernoteHelper.app)
WallpapersLauncher SMLoginItem - Hidden (Apple, Inc. - installed 2017-11-25)
(/Applications/Unsplash Wallpapers.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/WallpapersLauncher.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 17.012.20098 (installed 2017-12-03) [Lookup]
Flash Player: 21.0.0.213 (installed 2017-05-01) Outdated! Update
Gears: 1.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
DivX Web Player: 3.8.4.432 (installed 2017-06-09) [Lookup]
AdobePDFViewer: 18.009.20050 (installed 2017-12-03) [Lookup]
Unity Web Player: UnityPlayer version 3.1.0f4 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
GoogleOneClickPluginDeluxe: 1.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (installed 2017-05-01)
GoogleOneClickPlugin: 1.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
npDDRia: 0.0.14.3 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2017-12-18)
FlashPlayer-10.6: 21.0.0.213 (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 (installed 2017-09-26) [Lookup]
Silverlight: 4.1.10329.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
OVSHelper: 1.1 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16
(installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.7.7 (installed 2017-11-09) [Lookup]
o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 151 build 12 (installed 2017-11-25) Check version
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.6 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
fbplugin_1_0_3: Unknown (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
WebEx: 1.0 (installed 2010-05-25) [Lookup]
CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin: 1.0.105 (installed 2013-04-26) [Lookup]
fbplugin_1_0_1: Unknown (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
WebEx64: 1.0 (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
Safari Extensions: ⓘ
[enabled] AdBlock - Michael Gundlach - http://safariadblock.com (installed 2015-08-12)
[disabled] Readability - Arc90 - http://www.readability.com (installed 2013-12-17)
[disabled] Wallet - Acrylic Software - http://www.acrylicapps.com/ (installed 2013-05-23)
[disabled] avast! Online Security - AVAST Software - http://www.avast.com (installed 2014-07-18)
[enabled] 1Password - AgileBits - https://agilebits.com/onepassword (installed 2017-10-15)
3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
Backblaze Backup (installed 2017-11-15) [Lookup]
RCDefaultApp (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
Flash Player (installed 2016-04-05) [Lookup]
Flip4Mac WMV (installed 2017-05-01) [Lookup]
Java (installed 2017-11-25) [Lookup]
Seagate Dashboard for Mac OSX (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
Trusteer Endpoint Protection (installed 2017-03-15) [Lookup]
TypeIt4Me (installed 2016-10-03) [Lookup]
Time Machine: ⓘ
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.96 GB Disk used: 449.23 GB
Destinations:
Data [Network]
Total size: 3.00 TB
Total number of backups: 55
Oldest backup: 08/04/2017, 17:19
Last backup: 05/08/2017, 18:12
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 499.96 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ
7%
WindowServer
3%
kernel_task
3%
McSolitaire
2%
hidd
1%
bzfilelist
Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ
1.58 GB
kernel_task
408 MB Google Chrome Helper
334 MB Google Chrome Helper
330 MB Google Chrome
311 MB Photos
Top Processes by Network Use: ⓘ
Input Output Process name
57 KB 273 KB Dropbox
254 KB 27 KB mDNSResponder
12 KB 101 KB biometrickitd
10 KB 14 KB apsd
7 KB 2 KB cloudd
Top Processes by Energy Use: ⓘ
5.90 WindowServer
5.04 McSolitaire
1.62 hidd
0.84 Adobe CEF Helper
Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
7.36 GB
Available RAM
70 MB Free RAM
8.64 GB
Used RAM
7.29 GB
Cached files
0 B Swap Used
Software installs (last 30 days): ⓘ
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (18.009.20050):
(installed 2017-12-03)
iA Writer: 4.1.3 (installed 2017-12-04)
Microsoft AutoUpdate:
(installed 2017-12-13)
Microsoft Excel for Mac:
(installed 2017-12-13)
Microsoft Word for Mac:
(installed 2017-12-13)
Microsoft Outlook for Mac:
(installed 2017-12-13)
Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac:
(installed 2017-12-13)
Things: 3.3 (installed 2017-12-15)
Microsoft OneNote: 15.41 (installed 2017-12-15)
Microsoft AutoUpdate:
(installed 2017-12-17)
Install information may not be complete.
Diagnostics Events (last 3 days for minor events): ⓘ
2017-12-26 12:34:13 Last shutdown cause: 3 - Hard shutdown
2017-12-26 12:31:11 xartstorageremoted Crash [Open]
Cause: daemon should not be running on this platform
com.avast.FileShield (4.0.0 - SDK 10.12)
CleanMyMac 3 Menu Application (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-12-25)
(/Applications/CleanMyMac 3.app/Contents/MacOS/CleanMyMac 3 Menu.app)
Check for the proper way to uninstall avast & cleanmymac.
The folks around here only recommend etrecheck and Malwarebytes for system utilities and malware detection. Malwarebytes is more strict about spamming apps than apple. Apple has lots of built in malware alleviation.
You may want to do an Internet search on some of the other stuff you have install to see what the group mood is on the software.
------------------------------------
Here is my take on permanently saving photos after reading LC recommendation.
You need to get your important data out of any complex corporate ecosystem. I don't trust them and I don't trust myself not to make a mistake.
Library of Congress's observations:
informative video:
http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/multimedia/videos/personalarchiving-photos.h tml
printed version
http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/personalarchiving/photos.html
One approach:
You need to have multiple copies of your important photos. You should have one copy off site. You should save the photos in a common format. You should have the photos in a common file system not in some photo app.
There are more expensive archival dvds. I found flash drives unreliable. You need to rotate your photo to a new device regularly. five years? Magnetic media still seems the safest to me.
You could use an online storage account for you offsite copy. Be careful. Most of the free accounts are syncing services. You can "use" them as storage if you are careful. The safest thing is never install their app on any of your devices. Upload your photos to the service via a web browser. This can be a pain. Check if they up load folders. Second best is to zip the files into one file and upload the one file. Be sure to have a paper copy of all the information you entered into the account when you created the account. [ A fun activity for companies is to require you to enter some info from when you created the account at a random time for "security" reasons. ]
There aren't any perfect solutions. Paper is nice except in case of fire.
R
What ahs changed since it worked? Have you run any clean up software or done any any manual clean up?
LN
léonie, thank you. Safe mode brought the photos back but my albums have gone.
Are you using iCloud Photo Library? And are syncing also an iPhone or iPad with iCloud?
My albums keep vanishing from my Macs, whenever I enable iCloud Photo Library on my iPad or iPhone. The first sync of the iPhone or iPad with iCloud will remove most of my albums and folders from iCloud Photo Library.
rccharles, (autocorrect plays havoc with your name) thanks for the recommendations. The photos I have in Photos are not my important ones. The "serious" photos are taken with my DSLR, and uploaded and processed using Lightroom. I use Backblaze for offsite backup. I am happy with all that.
Your comments on CleanMyMac are worrying. I shall check that further.
Thanks for your help. It is much appreciated.
James
léonie, yes, I use CleanMyMac3. I did not exclude the Photos library, so it might have fallen victim to CMM3. i gave up on Time Machine some time ago, so have no backup from there.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it.
James
léonie, yes, I am using iCloud photo library, and syncing with both an iPhone and an iPad. That sounds like the culprit. I shall try setting up some new albums and see what happens.
Thanks for your response.
james
I think it was the install of High Sierra. No manual cleanups. See my other response about the photos are back but not the albums.
léonie, thank you. Safe mode brought the photos back but my albums have gone. It now works in normal mode (minus the albums) -- James
Has the app running in the background.
[loaded] com.macpaw.CleanMyMac3.Agent.plist (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2017-11-04) [Lookup]
R
If even "About Photos" is grayed out, Photos is not running properly, and it is probably not a problem with the Photos Library. Try to narrow down the problem a bit by testing in Safe Mode and by testing from the Guest user account.
See these support documents on isolating issues:
Thank you. The safe reboot brought the window and the library back. All the photos are there, but the dozens of albums have disappeared. So thank you, the initial problem is solved. Now I have another. James
photos shows nothing
