Apple genius did an Archive & Install on my OS. Got home-no pics in iPhoto

Question

Hi,
My iMac wouldn't start and nothing I did was helping, so I took it into the Apple store. After trying a few things, the genius did an Archive & Install of Tiger, and everything appeared to be fine. So, I happily went home.
However, later in the day, I opened iPhoto for the first time and there were no photos showing up. No dotted outlines-- nothing. At the bottom, it says that the library contains 0 photos. When i look in the library folder in finder, I see that all my pictures are there and the folder is several GB large. However iPhoto, apparently, doesn't want to see them.
Now fortunately, I'm good about backups and I have a backup library that is usable and I'm pretty sure I won't lose anything (definitely not much). But this is weird and frustrating to me-- does anyone know how I might get my old library to show up exactly as it was (and as it is in the photo library folder)???
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
SS

Answer 1

SS:
Since your image files are still in the Originals folder you can start a new library and import the originals from the old library. That's about your only option as the database file, Library6.iPhoto, has been overwritten and lost all the information about the photos. Here's how to go about it:
Creating a new library while preserving the rolls from the original.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
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 rolls as the original library. However dates on the rolls may be different but can be edited as you would the roll title.
Once this is completed you can delete the iPhoto library folder from the desktop. If desired, you can keep the older library folder to try other fixes on it.
In the future I recommend you make a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto file after each import and after doing a lot of editing and organizing in the library. Then if you experience a similar loss all you need to do is replace the damaged database file with the backup copy and you'll be back to the same place in the library as when you make the backup. See the tip at the end of my signature.
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 written 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.