Can't find the pictures after moving the library to EHD

Question

I followed the instructions of moving the iphoto library to the external HD. I created an alias and moved it to the Pictures folder. I opened IPhoto and I can see all the events and thumbnails, however when I try to open any picture and I get the message that the picture is not found. I guess is that the picture files are located outside the library. the library has the pointers to the old folders....
I have 17000 pictures, how can I find each of them?
I tried opening IPhoto with the "option" key pressed and choosing the library in the EHD. I get the same result. I can see all the events and thumbnails but It can't find the pictures.
Message was edited by: calfon1

Answer 1

Did you try opening and checking the validity of your library before you copied it back to the EHD? By not finding some of the photos do you mean you get the "!" window when you double click on a thumbnail?
If so then try the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache files that are located in the User/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
3 - reboot, 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 the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Fix #2
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select options #1 and #6.
If all else fails create a new empty library on the EHD and do the following: sart over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
2. Open the library package like this.
Click to view full size
3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
4. 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.
Then you can compare the number of photos between this library and the other to see if either is more complete.
Message was edited by: Old Toad