Fixing iPhoto Libraries on external drive

I have a lot of pictures, so I use an external USB hdd for my iPhoto library.
The other day, I didn't have my USB hdd with me, but temporarily needed to use iPhoto. So I created a new one on my MacBook.
After the use of iPhoto, I deleted the local iPhoto gallery again and tried to hook back to the one on the USB hdd.
But somehow, my gallery/db/archive is messed up. It doesn't show my pictures anymore not to mention the albums.
All the files still seem to be there:
2006
AlbumData.xml
Data
Dir.data
Import
Library.data
Library.iPhoto
Library6.iPhoto
Modified
Originals
Thumb32Segment.data
Thumb64Segment.data
ThumbJPGSegment.data
disabled
iPhoto.ipspot
iPhotoLock.data
iPod Photo Cache
but for some reason it doesn't load the data. Instead, there are "empty" images in my overview. 32 of them. just exactly the amount of images I used to have when using iPhoto locally temporairly. If I click on it, it sais something like: photo not found.
Does anybody have an idea how I can restore the images AND the meta data/albums from my USB hdd? ... I know, I can just import again, but this would lose all my ratings, meta data and albums
thanks for any advice!

What happened when you launched iPhoto with the Option key depressed like Terence suggested and selected the library folder on the external HD?
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.

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