IPhoto 08 - Library Corrupt? Pictures start vanishing...

I have my iPhoto 08 library on a backup external drive that is connectd via FW800 to my G5 Tiger...my other machines are using Leopard now.
Recently something happened with my Macmini (Leopard OS) where iPhoto just froze stating it needed to rebuild thumbnail cache...After leaving it running for over 8 hours and seeing the progress bar was not moving I rebooted the Macmini and tried again...This didn't help and it did it again. I forced quit iPhoto and checked on my G5. iPhoto loaded fine so I rebooted all my machines and shut down my eternal drive.
When I rebooted and tested iPhoto on all machines it appeared to be working but with a new bonus feature...Photos are now vanishing when I scroll around or select different events. The photos are displayed for a quick second and then they are replaced by a grey/blank outline that has an "!" if you select them.
Have I lost all these photos now? I am afriad to launch iPhoto again for fear of more photos of my son vanishing.
I checked the iPhoto properties and the file size is still what it should be (around 32gb) I also see the originals and modified folders within the package contents do in fact have a lot of photos in them.
Any suggestions?

What happened when you rebooted the mini from the freeze was the database file for the library got damaged. Look inside the iPhoto LIbrary package and confirm that the Originals folder contains your image files. Unless you have a recent backup copy of the library or the library's database file, Library6.iPhoto, you'll have to start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from the old library as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Open the library package like this.
Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
In the future I suggest you try the tip at the end of my signature. You'll have to modify the Automator application to look for the library on the external HD. It's designed to look in the Pictures folder.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Similar Messages

IPhoto crash--library corrupt?

I am using an iMac 1.8 GHz Power PC G5 with Mac OS X 10.3.9
The Hard drive was replaced 2 years ago, and I recently upgraded my memory to 2 GB DDR SDRAM.
At the time of the crash I had the following applications open: Firefox, ShoeBox, MS Word, iPhoto, and Photoshop Elements v. 4. The computer froze up so I had to shut it down using the power bottom, the force quit was not working either. When I re-opened my iPhoto application after the crash approximately 6000 photos had disappeared from the application. Fortunately they are all backed up on an external hard drive, and 95% of them on CD or DVD. I tried to reload the photos and about 500 did reload into the application from the iPhoto library file in the finder window. However none of the reloaded files had their album tags. Then the next batch had corrupt files.
I do not know if I want to continue using iPhoto, but really loved the ease of the albums tags and ability to search via dates as well. In some of my research I have read to not touch the files in the library, but to access them through iPhoto. A friend sent me about 50 pages of material regarding iPhoto problems and solutions, but after wading through about 1/2 of it I tried the rebuild option and it keep only the photos that were still in the iPhoto application, but not the all the ones from the library.
Is there any way to rebuild iPhoto back to the about 8000 photos I had in it? It is wise to have that many photos in iPhoto? Will I be able to recover any of the album tags, or will I have to re-tag if I choose to go that route? Should I re-tag using Shoebox? Thanks in Advance!

Your database was damaged in the Crash.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

IPhoto book displaying corrupt pictures

I successfully ordered a number of calendars iLife 08. Image quality was great ... no complaints. HOWEVER, when I received my first hardcover book, I was surprised to see 8 photos displaying what appeared to be corrupt files.
Subsequently, with the help of Apple Photo Services, I have tried to determine what the problem may be with the photos or if the problem lies with IPhoto! I examined every photo, tried inserting them in various programs, ran some through PhotoShop and all appears well. I followed the following instructions from Apple:
Our engineers suggest the following troubleshooting steps. I hope
this will help resolve this issue and allow you to resubmit your
order:
1. Close iPhoto and use Software Update to install the latest
version of iPhoto and Mac OS. For more information on using
Software Update, see the article entitled
“Updating your software” at
docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh292.html
2. Once the installation is complete, launch iPhoto.
3. Select your book from the Source list on the left.
4. Select Print from the File menu.
5. Click the Preview button on the bottom left. This will create a
PDF of your book and display it using the Preview application.
If the PDF no longer shows corrupt images, you may resubmit your
book order by clicking the Buy Book button.
If the PDF still shows missing images, follow these steps:
1. Return to iPhoto and go to Page 25.
2. Press and hold the Control key while clicking on the appropriate
image. This should display a contextual menu.
3. From the contextual menu, select Edit Photo.
If you can see the photo after selecting Edit Photo, but the PDF
preview still does not display this image, please let us know by
replying to this email and we will investigate further.
If you cannot see the photo after selecting Edit Photo, or you get
a gray square with an “!” in the middle, then the original photo is
damaged or cannot be found. If you have a backup copy of the image
file, you can copy it back onto your computer and import it again
into your iPhoto book. If you do not have a backup copy of your
missing image, you may wish to replace the missing images with
other images prior to resubmitting your book.
Be sure to preview the PDF of your book (step 5 in the
“troubleshooting” section above) before resubmitting your order.
We hope this information helps. Thank you for being an Apple Print
Products customer. We appreciate your business.
To date,I have created saved 8 PDF's of the book file and each one shows different corrupt files while at the same time while in iPhoto, all the photos appear okay.
About to give up and either go back to an earlier iPhoto or just go to an alternate vendor.
Any help, suggestions or insight is appreciated. Is iPhoto 7. 1.1 really that buggy?
Bob

Robert:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. You may have a corrupt database file. Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select the first three options. This will rebuild the thumbnails as well as the database file. While you're at it you might as well select the option to repair permissions. See if that makes any difference.
Report back and we'll go from there.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Photo in iPhoto Library Corrupted after forced Restart

Hi,
I'm a switcher. I've decided to switch to mac after contemplating for almost 6 months. I'm glad I've switched, the Mac is an excellent machine and Superb OS!!
Recently, I have encountered a problem while using iPhoto, Photoshop Element 2 and Preview together. (Please note that I did not tempered any files in iPhoto library. I have stored all my photo in My Documents which I do my editing using PSE 2 and Preview a pictures stored on the desktop). While dragging a file from My Document folder to the Trash, the Dock hanged! I quit all the apps and the dock is not responding and I decided to relaunch Finder by going to Force Quit and still no respond. I try restart the system but it hanged and I have to switch off the mac by pressing the button. When I re-sart the system and launch iPhoto, it prompted that "The photo library was created with an unreleased version of iPhoto" and I can't start iPhoto at all. It seems that some of my photo in the library are corrupted. Has anybody has the same experience? Would appreciate if anybody can help.
I've been playing my iMac for about 1.5 months already, and the only apps that I'm not comfortable is iPhoto. I've been using Picasa 2 on my Dell notebook to organize my photo and it's much more simpler and user friendly as compare to iPhoto.

Jonathan:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions and the Mac community. First, what I do whenever I have to have a forced restart of my Mac or have a kernel panic (dark gray curtain descends over the screen with a multiple language warning) is to immediately boot into single user mode and run the file system check (fsck). Here's how:
FSCK - File System Check
To start up in single-user mode
1. Restart the computer.
2. Immediately after the startup sound, press and hold both the Command (Apple) and "s" keys on your keyboard. The computer will display a series of text messages, at which time you may release these keys.
When the computer has started up, it will display a command line prompt (#). The computer is now in single-user mode.
How to Run the File System Check from the Command Line
Once you have reached a command line, follow these steps to use fsck:
1. At the prompt, type: fsck -fy (NOTE, there is a space between the k and the -)
The fsck utility will go through five "phases" and then return information about the disk's utilization and fragmentation. Once the check is finished, if no issue is found, you should see "** The volume <name of volume> appears to be OK."
If fsck alters, repairs, or fixes anything, it will display the message:
**** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***
IMPORTANT: If this message appears, repeat the "fsck -fy" command until this message no longer appears. It is not unusual for your computer to require several "passes" of fsck, because first-pass repairs may uncover additional errors. Run it until you get two consecutive times with an "OK" result.
3. When fsck reports that no problems were found, type: reboot
4. Press Return.
Now to your problem. It's more than likely that, as you expected, you have a damaged dB file in your iPhoto library folder and I doubt you'll be able to recover but we'll give it our best shot.
First run Disk Utility and repair disk permissions (also recommended after any software installation or update). Make a backup copy of the iPhoto Library folder (select and type Command-D). Now launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. I would only select the option to rebuild the database.
If that brings it back you're on you way and can delete the backup library folder. If not and the rebuilt library is more messed up than the original, delete it.
Your best shot now is to launch iPhoto and when it asks to find a library or create a new one select Create. In the File menu select the Add to Library option. Direct iPhoto to your old iPhoto Library folder and select it for importing. That should get your photos back partially organized but don't know how much. You will lose album, keyword and comment information.
For future reference read

IPhoto library corrupted by Time Machine? Help!

Hi,
I need some advice. It appears that I have lost thousands of photos. I know that's not true cos I have a Time Machine backup, but I want to run my situation past you before trying to recover my library. You see, I had a Time Machine backup error. Actually, scratch that, I had a problem with iPhoto not showing some particular photos. They showed up as just a dotted outline, yet when I chose 'show original file' or clicked to edit the photo, it appeared. So, the photos were there, but the thumbnails had a problem.
After some time spent searching for a fix, I started iPhoto with the command and option keys pressed and chose all options to rebuild iPhoto. This looked like it was gonna take some time (I have over 4500 photos) so I left it alone and went to bed. In the morning, iPhoto appeared to be fixed but Time Machine had reported an error while backing up. I clicked ok, did a new backup by clicking 'backup now' which worked fine and carried on as usual.
I've used iPhoto some more today and then, this evening, another TM backup failed. I tried again, and it failed again. I searched the internet to figure out why and discovered how to view the log file. This reported this: Jun 19 21:22:59 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Library6.iPhoto to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Lee Webb’s intel iMac/2010-06-19-210546.inProgress/5A645817-7095-47FC-A658-A447B5A5814C/mac hd/Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copied 1656 files (294.5 MB) from volume mac hd.
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copy stage failed with error:11
Jun 19 21:24:17 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Backup failed with error: 11
So, something seems to be wrong with the iPhoto library. I reckon that the rebuild process was somehow interrupted/corrupted by a TM backup. Following some instructions I found in C3 here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2057525 I ran a verify on my TM backup drive. This returned with OK. I then excluded my iPhoto library from my backup and ran the backup again. It worked fine, which would confirm that the iPhoto library is indeed the problem. Good. Ok. So, that's where I am now. Except it isn't. When I now start up iPhoto, my library has shrunk down to 748 photos! Eeek! What's happened, and what can I do about it? In iPhoto, those 748 photos add up to 1.4gb yet the iPhoto library file is still 12.87gb.
Please can you help me.
I just want to make sure I do the right thing instead of panicking. I've switched off my TM backup for now.
Many thanks,
Lee

Does your library work as it should? Try a minimal backup: launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed to rebuild the library. Select the last three options.
Click to view full size
Another option would be to rebuild the library with iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File->Rebuild Library menu option
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be untouched for further attempts at fixing or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
Then keep the old library excluded from the Time Machine backup and run TM to see if the new library will backup normally.
OT
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier versions) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. There are versions that are compatible with iPhoto 5, 6, 7 and 8 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
NOTE: The new rebuild option in iPhoto 09 (v. 8.0.2), Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup" makes this tip obsolete.

HT1229 Tried moving my library to an external hard drive and now when I open iPhoto, there are no pictures there!!!!

I am using iPhoto '08 and moved my library to my external hard drive exactly as all the instructions online explained how to do. I renamed the original "iPhoto Library.old" and ,y external hard drive shows a iPhoto library using the same amount of memory as what it shows on my internal hard drive. Here is where is becomes a problem. When I hold the option key and open iPhoto, the only box that comes up does not give me a list of libraries to choose from. It give me the option to "Create new library" or "choose existing library". When I click "choose existing library" I can find the copied library on my external hard drive but when I open it, iPhoto shows No Photos. When I have tried opening the original iPhoto Library (the exact same way using the option key and choosing library) that I have not done anything to, except rename it, it does the exact same thing: No Photos. Both my internal and external hard drives show about 137 GB of space being taken up by photos but I can't access them. My other big problem is that ,y internal hard drive is completely full, which is why I am trying to transfer them to an external, to free up space so I am very limited on what I can do because I have no free space. Also, when I open iPhoto and try to go to the Preferences to change to path under advanced settings, it freezes and I have to force close it.
Ay advice would be greatly appreciated as I am getting stressed out that I can't open my thousands of photos!

My guess is that the library has been corrupted from being run on an overfull HD.
So, try rebuild the Library on the External
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Have new iMac with iPhoto sharing turned on. When the shared library is clicked the library disappears or starts to load then disappears? What is wrong?

Have new iMac with iPhoto sharing turned on. When the shared library is clicked the library disappears or starts to load then disappears? What is wrong?

Try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. If it doesn't then your current library is damaged and needs repair.
Therefore make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
If you experience the same problem with the test library then try this basic fix a try: make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and try the following:
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
User/Home()/Library/ Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your
User/Home()/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
Click to view full size
3 - launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
NOTE 2: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
If that fails a reinstall of iPhoto is indicated. To do so you'll have to delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name with either a .PKG or .BOM extension that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder and from the /var/db/receipts/ folder,
Click to view full size
Then install iPhoto from the source it came on originally.
OT

Newly imported pictures not appearing in iPhoto '08 Library

So, while I was importing a whole slew of photos today, iPhoto became unresponsive (I think because of two RAW images I inadvertantly left on the camera). I had to force quit iPhoto and when I relaunched it, none of the photos imported show up in my library. They are available if I browse "All Images," but if I try to drag and drop any of them into the iPhoto Library it says they're already there.
Advice?

Never access photos that are managed by iPhoto in your All Images search. It's a good way to damage your Library.
Surefire fix: restore from back up.
Other than that:
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/">iPhoto Library Manager</a> and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

Pictures in iPhoto 6 library flash and then disappear but leave a box

OSX 10.5.8 iPhoto 6
pictures in library flash and then disappear but leave an empty box

Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

I have iphoto 6 and my pictures are no longer showing. I have tried importing them but it just give me an error msg. (file format not recognized) I have tried rebuilding the iphoto library but that doesn't work either. Any suggestions?

How did you rebuild?
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download <a href="http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/">iPhoto Library Manager</a> and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

I am trying to burn DVDs from iPhoto slideshows. My pictures number in the hundreds and we know that iPhoto captures 99 and then "starts over". This plays fine from the Mac Book but glitches arise on the DVD when playing it on a DVD player. Any suggsts

I am trying to burn DVDs from iPhoto slideshows. My pictures number in the hundreds and we know that iPhoto captures 99 and then "starts over". This plays fine from the Mac Book but glitches arise on the DVD when playing it on a DVD player. Any suggestions on how to overcome the 99 "Chapter limitation" that IPhoto has? Has anyone heard or tried an app called Vilisoft? I read good things but I am not sure if it will do what I want.
Jim

Then use multipel 99 picture slideshows.
You can have up to 8 or 9 slideshows per menu. If you add a sub menu reduce that by 1 and add 8 more to the sub menu. The top menu can have links to up to 8 or so submenus (depends on the theme) and each submenu can have up to 8 or so slideshows.
However, converting a very large slideshow to a QT movie as Terence suggested does not envoke the 99 slide limit in iDVD. It just becomes a single video/movie file. So you should not have a problem with exporting at the large size, 720 x 540,
and dragging the resulting file into the iDVD menu being sure to avoid any drop zones.
OT

I backed up 6000 photos from Snow Leopard iMac v.10.6 to new Western Digital External Engine "My Book." In attempting to COPY the pictures to My Book in order to free space on HD, I made a mistake. When I first dragged the iPhoto 11 Library folder to My

I backed up 6000+ photos from Snow Leopard iMac v.10.6.7 to new Western Digital "My book" successfully, I think! But when I attempted to COPY my photos to it in order to free up space on my HD, I made a mistake. When I dragged the iPhoto (11) Library to My Book and re-named it to "iPhoto Library.old" nothing happened. So I dragged it again, re-named it again (same name--that was the mistake, I guess!) and then it took about an hour+ to do its thing. When finished and I launched iPhoto by holding down the Option key, the dialog window listed two libraries: "iPhoto Library.old" and iPhoto Library.old (default)". So now what? It seems that I still have the originals when I open iPhoto, and do I have two copies, also? Should I delete one of them and if so, which one and how? Or should I eliminate both of them and start over again? And if so, how do I do that? Right now, neither my HD nor the My Book have changed the number of GB available or free since before I began this process. Will the numbers only change after I actually delete my original Library AND empty the Trash? I appreciate any light you can throw on this subject for me. I could lug it all to the local Genius Bar, but now I'm afraid to unplug anything for fear I'll lose everything! Thank you, you wonderful, bright people. (An 83-year-old Grandma, trying to keep up a little, at least)

Oh my! Obviously, I don't know what I'm doing. But I do know that my goal was to do both---backup AND free some space. My iMAc is old (2006) and I upgraded it a year or so ago to Snow Leopard. I didn't think I had the capability of backing up without an external drive, but maybe I do since I upgraded. Do I?
But I bought this My Book mostly for freeing space because I like to make cards in Photoshop and I'm forever running out of space when I get too many layers (don't really know what I'm doing there, either).
Is there some way that I can rectify my mistakes and start all over?
Thank you so much for beng so prompt with your reply and patient with mine. I tried for so long to see the dialog box with the library listings. When I launched iPhoto, even with holding down the Option key, it kept immediately launching into the full screen. Finally, after an hour of doing it over and over again, it worked when I held the key down for 5 minutes. Then when I was typing my reply, I kept getting a message to "Request Time Out." Didn't know how to do that, so kept hitting the OK button and kept typing for another half minute. Finally, when ready to send, Safari couldn't do it. "Try again" exasperated me until I realized I would have to begin again and use Firefox. When I got there and ready to type, I got the message that my message had been retrienved and did I want to use it?!!
So your kindness is very much appreciated.

IPhoto library or pictures folder

While trying to back up my photos to Sugarsync service I realized that my iphoto library and pictures folder have disappeared. I have backed up all my photos to an external drive and they are still on my computer so I am not frantic. I can not find the library or the pictures folder though. I am using Macbook Air and the newest version of iphoto.

TD - did as you said, selected the photo, reveal in finder
all the photos now appear on the right side of the screen with a green check
On the the left side of the screen:
favories
shared
devices
remote disc
This would appear to mean that my photos are on some remote disc/server? I am an icloud user but my photos are not there, I also do not save them to itunes. I have been using a backup service - Sugarsync and had been saving my photos there as a backup. Do you think they are all there now and none of them are on my computer?
Sorry, hate to ask all these questions.

Why will iphoto not open, library corrupted using older version?

iMac OSX Version 10.6.8 iMac12,2
Intel Core i5 iPhoto 8.1.2,
iphoto will not open, library corrupted using older version
I have removed all iphoto files and avatars as one person has suggested. I am suppose to reinstall iPhoto using the discs that came with the computer.
I am not sure what to do with any options that might be provided. Any help will be appreciated.

Be sure the DNG Converter's compatibility is set to provide support for your version of ACR:
Benjamin

Link missing from iPhoto Library to picture files

In iPhoto '08 when pointing to a picture and using drop down box to "show original file" it shows the linkage/ file tree diagram from picture to next level up subdirectory to Original to iPhoto Library to Pictures. Yet when looking for my picture files from Finder to User to Pictures to iPhoto Library there is no linkage to the Original subdirectory. NB there is no arrow under the iPhoto Library indicating a subdirectory. All that shows is a Preview column showing size of the pictures in the file but no file. How can this be fixed so I can find pcitures from Finders approach.

Thanks. First of all, I really appreciate the time you are taking to try and help me.
To begin, attaching pictures for emailing purposes wasn't the main problem for me, because I am using Mail to read my Yahoo mail, and have been using the email button in the iPhoto app.
My frustrations were when I was on a site, such as Shutterfly, snapfish, and I was choosing the pictures that I wanted to upload. I have thousands of pictures and because I don't keyword or rename them, I was used to being able to find the pictures I wanted by the visual in file system. Based on the folder names. I guess I am confused, because when I click the browse button, I am presented with what looks like a finder window. So, maybe my question is how to view the picture files via the finder. I was referring to your suggestion:
"Also, for 10.5 users: If you use the extended Open or Attach dialogue (with Column View) you can scroll to the bottom of the Shortcuts and find the Media browser there. Select any pic you want from there."
When I do the above, I still keep just launching the app. not seeing the files that are hidden within.
I did follow your instuctions below, but was unable to attach. Only when I dragged the photo to Safari on the dashboard, did it open in a separate Safari browser. It did not link or merge with the attach window.
Open Safari and go to attach a pic to an Email. The attach window descends in Safari
Now, pop back to the iPhoto Window and drag the pic from the iPhoto Window to the attach window
Does that work?
If it does, you can then try replacing the iPhoto Window and use the Media Browser window, but remember you're dragging from the browser to the Safari window, not trying to find a file via the Attach window.
Yes but iPhoto is nothing like Windows Explorer. If you want to mimic that format you would use the Finder, not iPhoto. iPhoto is a database application, a photo organiser, not the main Computer filing system.
I guess this is more what I would appreciate help with. Although, I think I need to spend a little more time in iPhoto creating Albums, versus the Events that all of my pictures have be organized in by default.
I think you might have misunderstood my comment below...I just want to be able to find the photo files with a visual not just the file name. Because I have no other way to find them in a browse situation.
Of course, you'll be able to do the same. But why you would want to work via "little thumbnails" when you can do so in more comfort via the Media Browser or the iPhoto Window I don't know.
I was formerly using Picasa on my Windows computer, which is a really easy app. and when I created a new album, it was very easy to find in the Windows Explorer when browsing for an upload. Obviously I need a little more time with the iPhoto, but I have been trying to do this for about 2 months when I got the computer, with what I thought was pretty decent common computer knowledge, but feel totally lost. I guess I feel a little bummed that I made a switch to Mac based on the concept that it was simpler, but it has proven to be much for difficult to do the very basic things I use my computer for everyday.
You've changed Computer, Operating System and now you've made an enormous change from using the File System to organise your pics to using a Photo Organiser. There's going to be change involved, and some learning to be done.
Thank you again for your time.
Kari

IPhoto 08 - Library Corrupt? Pictures start vanishing...

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