Can't get iphoto to work after tampering with library in Finder

Question

I think I made a big mistake when I tampered with the iphoto library in Pictures in Finder.
Now I can't get iphoto to work. All the pictures are gone in iphoto, the spaces are there but they are blank.
When I open iphoto it goes into the mode (little spinning wheel appears) where I have to "force quit".
Any supggestions on what I can do? Thanks.

Answer 1

The list that shows is just data files and such.
You can burn the entire iPhoto Library folder.
You can burn each Year folder or any other variation.
This is my workflow. The reason I do it the way I describe is because I want a backup of just the photos and video clips I take so I can copy them to a partition of my external drive and burn them to disc. On the other partition I backup my entire users folder
When iPhoto 5 first came out I really think it was programmed to import the smaller 30 sec video clips that cameras were taking at the time. Since then, digital cameras, at least my Canon S2 can take clips as large as your memory card can hold. The first time I tried to download my images and movie clips with my new camera, iPhoto stalled at the movie clips. I wasn't going to take any chances messing up my iPhoto Library so I started using Image Capture to download all my images and Movie clips. I actually like doing it this way a lot better. My movie clips are downloaded into my Movies folder where I then put them in a dated folder.
My photos are downloaded into my Pictures folder, where I then put them in a dated folder. I import the dated folder into iPhoto. I also keep all dated folders from photo downloads in the Pictures folder till I get enough Movie folders and Photo folders to fill a DVD. I burn them and then delete them from the hard drive.
This way I have the photos in iPhoto and I also have just the photos backed up to DVD.
The Movies I keep on the hard drive in their dated folders until I use all the clips for my iMovie projects for the Year. I then make sure they are all burned to DVD, then I delete those from my hard drive.
Using Image Capture to download images and video clips:
Open up Image Capture which is found in the Applications folder.
When it is opened, go to Image Capture/Preferences
Under the General button choose
Camera: When a camera is connected, open Image Capture.
The next time you connect your camera Image Capture will open.
In the window that opens you will see an Options button. Click on that button to set your options.
To find out more about Image Capture (it can do a lot more) Click on Help in the menu bar when Image Capture is open.
iPhoto: How to Change the "Open Automatically" Preference
If you find you can't change any of Image Captures preferences or can't access any drop down menus or they are greyed out, check to make sure Image Capture is loose in the Applications folder and not within a sub folder.
Here is info on backing up your photos:
Backing up your iPhoto Library
1. Burn the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder to a CD or DVD
This method will give you a burned iPhoto Library folder that can be copied back to your computer to replace a damaged library. You can also use this method to backup an old library when you want to create a new Library to use as your current library.
insert a blank CD into your internal or external CD-RW drive and copy the iPhoto library to the CD icon on your desktop. When you drag the CD icon to the Trash/Eject button in the Dock, you are given the option to burn the CD. Click Burn and the CD is created. To burn a DVD backup of your digital images, use a DVD and a SuperDrive-equipped Mac
The easiest way to burn an iPhoto Library folder in the Finder that is larger than 4.7 gig to fit on one DVD is to burn sections of the folder.
Drag the iPhoto Library folder to the desktop
Double click the folder to open it.
Drag each Year folder to the desktop.
You should be left with the iPhoto Library folder containing all the data files, and the Year folders.
Combine whatever year folders that amount closest to a DVD burn size on one DVD. Make sure that you have burned all the Year folders, then the iPhoto Library folder with all the data files.
If you ever need to use this backup, insert the DVDs into your computer and copy the folders to the desktop. Put all the Year folders back into the iPhoto Library folder. Then put the iPhoto Library folder back into the Pictures folder.
You can also check out applications for disc spanning:
Disc-spanning software
DropDMG
Toast
Dragon Burn 4
BackityMac
Retrospect Express-comes with some external drives
Retrospect for Macintosh Desktop Edition
2. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to an external drive formated for a Mac. Do not use this as your only back up as the external can also go bad.
3. Copy the ENTIRE iPhoto Library to your iPod in disk mode
4.Creating your own CDs and DVDs for viewing in iPhoto
This method is a great way to back up Albums of older photos or even your entire library if it is small enough to fit on a DVD. This method will give you a library that will mount within iPhoto in the source column to be viewed. To import any images from this library they need to be dragged into your library in the source column.
If you just want to backup the images in your library:
1) Within iPhoto select the images, albums or rolls you want to backup. Go to Share>Export and export them to a newly created folder on the desktop. Follow the directions in the next link.
Creating a CD or DVD to be viewed in Windows or by a photo processing company
1.. If you backed up the entire iPhoto Library by burning within iPhoto or burning the folder in the Finder, make sure the burned copy is a good working copy before you delete the iPhoto Library folder in the Finder. You delete the iPhoto Library in the finder by dragging it to the trash when iPhoto is closed. When you next launch iPhoto it will create a new empty library for you to start anew.
2. If you burned just the images, be aware that that is all you are archiving. No metadata will travel with the images such as comments, keywords, etc.
You can then delete those images within iPhoto by highlighting them and hitting the delete key, then empty iPhoto's trash. Do this often and in groups so iPhoto will not choke on too many images.