Photo library file won't load

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jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Photo library file won't load

Hi

I have a huge photo library (300gb) file sitting on an external drive - recovered from a time capsule.

I try creating a new library in Photo but it simply states that the file can't be loaded.

The file is from oct 2016, so 2 years old. It's on an external drive that should be formatted correctly.

Tried googling for help but there doesn't seem to be a way to solve the problems I have.

Is the file too big, too old? Can I open it, convert it and then import??

My new library is on iCloud and would like the old one to be merged into the iCloud library as well.

I am amazed that apple doesn't have fix for this!

Please help:-)

Jakob

MacBook Pro, iOS 12.1

Posted on Nov 19, 2018 3:59 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 19, 2018 4:18 AM in response to jakob172

I try creating a new library in Photo but it simply states that the file can't be loaded.

Are you trying to import the old library into Photos? You can only open libraries, but not merge libraries by importing one library into another.

Do you get the error message, when you double-click the old library to open it in Photos? Has the drive, where the library currently is, been used by Time Machine? Then you cannot open the library on this drive. In that case move the library to a different drive. Otherwise you may need to repair the library, if it cannot be opened. See:

https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.2/index.html#/pht6be18f93 https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.2/index.html#/pht6be18f93

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 19, 2018 6:22 AM in response to jakob172

It's on an external drive that should be formatted correctly.

If the Lacie drive is compatible (the format should be MacOS Extended (Journaled) or APFS, not case-sensitive, not used as a Time Machine volume, and it should have a wired connection (not a NAS). Then to should be save to try repair. But as Apple recommends to have a backup of the the library, before you repair it, duplicate the library before you try the repair.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 19, 2018 7:33 AM in response to jakob172

It is unlikely that the library will work inside these nested TomeMachine folders.

But if the whole copied structure is still a Time Machine structure and you did not modify anything, you can try to run Time Machine from this drive.

To be able to select a drive to restore from hold down the options key while launching Time Machine from the menulette in the main menu bar. This should show you the command "Browse other backups". If your restored disk is still a Time Machine backup, you may be able to restore from it this way.

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 19, 2018 7:03 AM in response to jakob172

so all the structure is all time machine. Should I copy the file to the root of the LaCie instead of being buried deep down in the file structure?

How did you restore from the Time Capsule? Did you just copy the files over are did you enter Time Machine to restore the files? Unless you runTime Machine and use its restore function to recover the library, the Photos Library may not work at all.

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Answer 5

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 19, 2018 8:28 AM in response to jakob172

When you select the old Photos Library in the Time Machine Time Tunnel, ctrl-click or right-click it, then select "Restore to ..." and not the "Restore" button. This way you can save it in a different folder and do not overwrite your current Photos Library.

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 20, 2018 11:41 AM in response to jakob172

It does recognize the Lacie as a TM backup - like you said. Great!

Perfect 🙂

And I am now in the process of copying it to the Lacie root.

You may need to use a different drive. The file ownership and permissions are handled very restrictively on Mojave. If you still cannot open the library at the top level of the Lacie drive, you may need to use a different drive or create a separate portion on the drive and move the library there.

And yes, if you make this library your iCloud Photo Library, it will upload to iCloud and be merged into your existing library.

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Answer 7

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2018 4:26 AM in response to léonie

ok, I'll go for the repair option - but do I still need to move it to a different drive first? I came from time capsule and was then moved to a LaCie external drive from where I am now trying to open it.

is there any risk in trying the repair option?

thanks Leonie!

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Answer 8

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2018 6:54 AM in response to léonie

ok, it's wired, I'll check the compatibility. hasn't been used as a time machine but the files sits in a time machine file structure. I have had a full dump of my back-up iMac that crashed so all the structure is all time machine. Should I copy the file to the root of the LaCie instead of being buried deep down in the file structure?

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Answer 9

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2018 7:08 AM in response to léonie

I took my time machine to the shop and he has to open up the thing, extract the harddrive in the TM, then copy the 1,4TB time machine file on to the LaCie. I am not sure what sort of tool they used. But I am fearing that the he didn't Run TM but rather just copied the entire TM over to the Lacie.

It's a certified Apple store so I assumed they knew what they were doing....

So, if he only copied it, it the library file is useless?

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Answer 10

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 19, 2018 7:39 AM in response to léonie

ok, good idea. So long that it doesn't overwrite my current MacBook Pro with old iMac image!

So I can hand pick the photo library file and restore than even though I already have a new library in my Photo?

If I can't restore it via TM, does that mean that I should be able to repair it instead, re: your earlier post?

thanks a bunch for helping here!

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Answer 11

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 20, 2018 11:31 AM in response to léonie

Ok, so far so good....

It does recognize the Lacie as a TM backup - like you said. Great! And I am now in the process of copying it to the Lacie root.

After that I suppose my next move will be attempting to load it as a new library in Photo and enable iCloud back up (I have 2TB of space). I have read elsewhere - possibly in one of your other posts - that it will then merge into one iCloud library?

Is that the plan?

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Answer 12

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2018 12:52 PM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie

well, I feel I am getting closer to solving the problem! Copied the library onto the Lacie and managed to create a second library with the old library from my deceased iMac. Even loaded with the original structure of the old albums etc. But, here's the pickle: Obviously, I want to upload the entire thing to iCloud and as you suggested, it should merge with my new iCloud library. But, that is not what the warning I am getting says. Basically, it says that iCloud can only handle one library at the time and that switching will eliminate that photos from the newer library. I will I trust you - because everything you have said so far has worked - I am hesitating to do this without a backup plan.

Can you suggest a course of action? I have thought about checking the box (in settings/options) that says "keep originals on my Mac" hoping that the originals will return from iCloud to the Mac. Plan would then be to export the photos themselves to a folders and from there import them to Photos.

Any better way to do this?

thx!

Jakob

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Answer 13

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Nov 24, 2018 1:22 AM in response to jakob172

The warning about deleting photos from your library when you switch to a different will appear, if you are using the "optimize storage" option with iCloud Photos. I never enable this option, because it makes using photos difficult, if we do have a fast internet connection.

what happens is this: with iCloud Photos you have the two options "optimize Mac Storage" and "download originals". The default us "optimize storag". Then Photos will upload all originals to iCloud, but replace originals on you Mac by smaller versions to save storage. You need an Internet connection and access to iCloud to be able to work with your photos. When you disable iCloud Photos, the optimized versions will be removed from the local library, but the original full versions will remain in iCloud.

Keep backup copies of all libraries, before you enable iCloud for them, then you do not need to worry, if iCloud will delete local originals. You have to make the backups, before photos started the "optimize storage". If the option has become enabled before you made a backup, disable it and wait for all originals to download again to your Mac, before you make the backup, and only then switch iCloud to a different library.

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Answer 14

jakob172 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 5, 2018 1:29 AM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie

ok, I am almost through upload of the old 300gb library. I have a back up of the newer library (70gb) and I did check the download originals box. Questions is: after I have uploaded the old library, how will the newer library magically appear along with the old library? Do I need to do anything or does it just happen?

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Answer 15

léonie

Level 10

200,795 points

Dec 5, 2018 1:38 AM in response to jakob172

how will the newer library magically appear along with the old library? Do I need to do anything or does it just happen?

In your original post you stated that the newer library has been already syncing with iCloud Photo Library. So the photos from your newer library should already be in iCloud and are supposed to download from upload the library that is currently syncing with iCloud, once the upload to iCloud has finished.

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Photo library file won't load

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