How can I retrieve deleted photos from trash?

Question

Please help! My wife accidentally deleted all of the images from the "All Images" folder. This included all pictures in iPhoto and some clip art (about 7,000 files). I am not concerned about the clip art, but the photos are a concern. We had a few dozen events in our iPhoto library. The events are all still there, but the photos are not. There are white boxes in each event where photos used to be. It looks like all the photos are still in the waste basket. Is there a way I can move them back into iPhoto? And furthermore, is there a way to have them go back to the events from which they came?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
when it comes to burning them to a CD again it is only those few that first showed that i can burn...?
Sounds like you may have a damaged database.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD