All the photos gone are from my library, but are still in the data folders

Question

when i scanned something onto my computer a few minutes ago and then went to import it into iphoto, i opened up iphoto and a message that said something about my thumbnails needing to be redone because of a new version of iphoto or something (i haven't done anything to itunes--updates, gotten a newer version--since i got the computer in 2006. so i don't know what that was about). i clicked okay thinking that my thumbnails would now show up because earlier they just showed up as a blank box. but then the only photo in my iphoto library was the image i'd just imported. all my albums were gone too. i went into my data folder on finder, and the photos are all still there. just not in iphoto. why is this? is there a way to get the photos back on without importing them again? importing would take forever seeing as there's more than 4,000 images.

Answer 1

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