IPhoto 6.0 causing iMac G5 to dim and almost crash

Question

I had a computer crash associated with modem problems which I was able to fix using Applejack. Since then, my computer dims when I'm doing a lot of printing of photos. After about ten or so photos the computer dies and the printer stops printing. I can hit the button on the back and it comes right back up again, without needing to reboot, but when it completes its interrupted printing the colors are way off. I can start over and print again, but it dies again shortly afterward. This happened a couple of weeks ago and I stopped printing; it was fine for everything else. Later I tried printing photos again and it acted up. I haven't done a photo since, but it's okay printing text - so far - although when I try to print recipes from an online source they seem to be misaligned and I don't think they were when I printed from the same site before.
Then the other day I was working with Photoshop Elements files from iPhoto, massaging them and making web-ready jpgs, and had several of them up, and it almost died again.
Any ideas what's going on and how to get my Mac working properly again?

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. It sounds more like system software issues than iPhoto. Run Disk Utility and verify the disk. Repair permissions while you're at it. If repairs are indicated you'll need to boot from the system install disk and launch Disk Utility from the Utilities menu in the first window after the language selection window.
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.