iPhoto

MrBob · 12-07-2012, 11:05 AM

Recently I transferred photos from a deceased iBook to my MacBook. In the process dozens of photos that I deleted years ago appeared. They must have been hiding in a sub-folder even though I used iPhotos empty trash.
How can I completely delete the photos from the hard drive like using Secure Empty Trash does?

Dagofast · 12-07-2012, 03:09 PM

Why do you hate having naked pics of ex-girlfriends re-appear on your new computer?

Serious answer, iPhoto is merely a "place holder" for your photos, the same as iTunes is for your song files. I believe the actual picture files are held in a folder somewhere inside the system folder.

Perhaps you somehow still had pictures on your old computer in your downloads or somewhere else on the drive? In that case, iPhoto simply found everything with a .jpg .jpeg or whatever picture extension available on the drive and "imported" them in.

bwringer · 12-07-2012, 04:05 PM

IIRC, you can right-click on a photo and choose "show in finder" to see where it's really, truly stashed. Trash these, empty trash, and they're really gone for realz. This may or may not be accurate, but I think it still does the trick.

I still have horrible memories of the grotty homemade porn I found in a used Macbook I bought from an acquaintance a while back...

I nuked the hard drive and reinstalled OSX. It was the only way to be sure.

MrBob · 12-07-2012, 04:42 PM

Right clicking with my mouse didn't produce anything but after clicking on the photo in iPhoto I went to the iPhoto toolbar, and then over to File, and then down to Reveal in Finder, and then over to Original File. That opened another window with the photo to be deleted and any other photos in the album. I could drag that image down to the trashcan so I can use Secure Empty Trash. Then, return to the iPhoto window and the original image, highlight it, and choose the trash can.
I'd be willing to bet a power user could point out a method using about two key strokes that would accomplish the above. Kind of a PITA using my method.

troidus · 12-07-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwringer

I nuked the hard drive and reinstalled OSX. It was the only way to be sure.

When I *really* want to be sure something is gone, I buy a new hard drive and reinstall everything to that.

MrBob · 12-07-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troidus

When I *really* want to be sure something is gone, I buy a new hard drive and reinstall everything to that.

Easier said than done on machines like my iBook. That compact engineering comes at a price.

12-07-2012, 11:05 AM	#1
MrBob ^OP Careening forward Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Santa Fe, N.M. Oddometer: 5,664	iPhoto Recently I transferred photos from a deceased iBook to my MacBook. In the process dozens of photos that I deleted years ago appeared. They must have been hiding in a sub-folder even though I used iPhotos empty trash. How can I completely delete the photos from the hard drive like using Secure Empty Trash does? __________________ KLX 400 dual sport Tune in, turn on, drop out.

12-07-2012, 04:05 PM	#3
bwringer Gimpy, Yet Alacritous Joined: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis Oddometer: 1,722	IIRC, you can right-click on a photo and choose "show in finder" to see where it's really, truly stashed. Trash these, empty trash, and they're really gone for realz. This may or may not be accurate, but I think it still does the trick. I still have horrible memories of the grotty homemade porn I found in a used Macbook I bought from an acquaintance a while back... I nuked the hard drive and reinstalled OSX. It was the only way to be sure. __________________ 1983 Suzuki GS850G, Cosmic Blue 2002 Suzuki Vstrom DL1000, Midnight Blue 2005 Kawasaki KLR650 - Turd II, The ReTurdening "Do not crinkle your food wrappers loudly. Be considerate to others, or I will bite your torso and give you a disease."

12-07-2012, 04:42 PM	#4
MrBob ^OP Careening forward Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Santa Fe, N.M. Oddometer: 5,664	Right clicking with my mouse didn't produce anything but after clicking on the photo in iPhoto I went to the iPhoto toolbar, and then over to File, and then down to Reveal in Finder, and then over to Original File. That opened another window with the photo to be deleted and any other photos in the album. I could drag that image down to the trashcan so I can use Secure Empty Trash. Then, return to the iPhoto window and the original image, highlight it, and choose the trash can. I'd be willing to bet a power user could point out a method using about two key strokes that would accomplish the above. Kind of a PITA using my method. __________________ KLX 400 dual sport Tune in, turn on, drop out.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

12-07-2012, 03:09 PM	#2
Dagofast Full giggety ahead. Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Arizona Oddometer: 1,333	Why do you hate having naked pics of ex-girlfriends re-appear on your new computer? Serious answer, iPhoto is merely a "place holder" for your photos, the same as iTunes is for your song files. I believe the actual picture files are held in a folder somewhere inside the system folder. Perhaps you somehow still had pictures on your old computer in your downloads or somewhere else on the drive? In that case, iPhoto simply found everything with a .jpg .jpeg or whatever picture extension available on the drive and "imported" them in.