"Damaged" library unable to transfer to new Mac

Question

Hi,
I am trying to upload my pictures from my external hard drive onto my new MacBook. My old iBook was using iPhoto 2, which I believe is the issue because I have tried opening iPhoto with my EHD library, moving it to the desktop, and moving it to the pictures folder. Each time, after clicking "upgrade photos" I still receive the error message "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." Will I not be able to view them at all?

Answer 1

Depending on the nature of the damage you might have to harvest the full sized files from the library to import into a new iPhoto 7 library. First download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administrator login name in the owner section and Staff in the group section. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field. Now try to open it with iPhoto.
If that doesn't work download and run iPhoto Library Manager to rebuild the library 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: It may take some time to create the new library if you have a lot of photos. Report back on how long it took and how many photos you have in the library so we can give other users an idea of how long it may take.
Now try opening the newly created library with iPhoto 7. If that fails you can try the following:
1 - launch iPhoto 7 with the Option key depressed and, when asked, select Create Library.
2 - drag the iPhoto 2 Library folder into the open iPhoto window.
This will import the original and modified files as new files. However, you will end up with many, many Events which you'll probably want to consolidate. You can do that by making Smart Albums by Month or by Year, select all of the photos is those smart ablums and creating a new Event (Roll in a former life).
When you get the new library up and running you may want to cull out the modified files (which will look like duplicates) with Duplicate Annihilator. Be sure to make a backup copy of the library before running it in case the outcome is not what you wanted.
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) 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 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: There's now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.