Have I deleted all my photos?? Help, please!

Question

I received an email with some jpg attachments that I wanted to save. So, I saved them to my pictures folder and then moved them to iPhoto. Then, once I had them in iPhoto I went back to my pictures folder to delete them from there but I think I accidentally deleted the iPhoto folder too. When I open iPhoto, I can see the list of events and photos - all the file names are there, it knows event names and how many photos are in each event, they all seem to be there under photos, even the folders I've made are there - with the correct names and number of images. BUT.... I can't see them. I go to open each image and I get nothing. I just can't believe that they're all gone, if I can still see their file names??? Oh - and I pulled the iPhoto folder from trash so it's not in there anymore. Can you tell I'm new to all this?

Answer 1

Cathy:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Open the iPHoto Library package like this, go the Originals folder and verify that the original image files are still in the various subfolders. Once you do that launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select the first three options.
If that doesn't resurrect the library you'll have to start over with a new library and import the originals folder as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Open the library package like this.
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 Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.
To help recover from a similar problem in the future, damaged database file, see the tip at the end of my signature.
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 created 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. 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.