Exporting iphoto data to a new app - tricky issue

[llama24]

I could do with a bit of help for a tricky issue - its a bit of chunky post so apologies!

I have a 2006 17" intel imac (white one), that has the usual vertical lines on the display that is getting worse and worse so I need to migrate my iphoto library as I currently can't see a lot on the screen and really its time for it to be retired.

What will be the best way to export my 65,000 strong iphoto library to a new location, ensuing that none of the photos are lost and the currently quality is retained. Currently the files stored on an external hard drive (formatted to mac OSX journalled) (I have a cloned backup copy too)?

From looking online I could enable file sharing in the mac and then browse the location on another pc to import the photos or should I export the pictures using the iphoto export function.

I am looking to probably start using lightroom on windows 8.1 (I also have a ubuntu 14.04 pc) but may use picasa in the interim if it makes the import easier? I am planning to get a fresh HDD to store the data. As an aside I am also thinking of investing in a NAS so I may later want to transfer the data there too.

Any advice greatly received,

 

[ChrisA]

....hat will be the best way to export my 65,000 strong iPhoto library to a new location, ensuing that none of the photos are lost and the currently quality is retained. Currently the files stored on an external hard drive (formatted to mac OS X journalled) (I have a cloned backup copy too)?...

Plug the external disk into the new computer. That's it. There is no need to copy the files from one computer to the next if the files are all on an external drive.

Just one backup? That is not quite "best practice".

 

[llama24]

Hi ChrisA,

thanks for your reply - as i'm moving from osx to win 8.1 (or ubuntu) I had assumed the Win 8.1 PC won't be able to read mac OSX journalled iPhoto library HDD files?

Yes agree with regards backup - I am hoping to have two local copies (one on a NAS which is also backed up) and an off site copy. Would this be considered to be reasonable?

 

[llama24]

Anyone offer any other thoughts?

 

[Fishrrman]

I would suggest you get a second drive and make a backup copy RIGHT AWAY. What if the current drive fails?

 

[Buggyflayer]

You asked for thoughts and there are probably various ways of doing what you need. Note that I have no experience of Lightroom!
From memory FAT can't support metadata like HFS & NTFS so

1. Format a spare or new HDD on your Win8 PC (NTFS)
2. Download 15 day copy of
http://www.tuxera.com/products/tuxera-ntfs-for-mac/
2. Download trial of Lightroom on Mac & PC
3. Plug NTFS HDD into Mac & check you can make (write) a new folder
4. Use trial of Lightroom on Mac - To migrate from iPhoto:
In Lightroom, go to File > Plug-in Extras > Import from iPhoto Library.
Select the location of your iPhoto library and choose the NTFS HDD for your images.
Click the Options button if you want to change any settings prior to migration.
Click the Import button to start the migration.

4. Move NTFS HDD to Win8 PC, open LR trial on PC. Look here for catalogue info
http://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/catalog-faq-lightroom.html

 

[llama24]

I would suggest you get a second drive and make a backup copy RIGHT AWAY. What if the current drive fails?

Thanks Fishrrman, I already have two local copies on external HDDs. I am looking to get a NAS and then store one the the HDDs offsite.