Iphoto 6 toolbar stopped appearing in full screen (mouse moved to bottom)

Question

I have iPhoto 6.6 on an iMac core duo running osx 10.4.11. While it formerly worked correctly, now the toolbar no longer appears when the cursor is moved to the bottom of the screen in full screen edit mode.
I have determined the following:
The problem exists only in my main account (and only recently appeared) but works correctly in other accounts. In my main account I have tried the following, singly and in combinations:
Create a new iPhoto library, remove the iPhoto preferences file, login with the shift key down to disable login items, removed the /Library/Contextual menu items folder. None of these corrected the problem. In full screen edit mode, menu item View->Show Toolbar does show the toolbar. However, when the toolbar is hidden, it still does not automatically show when the cursor is moved to the bottom of the screen. Switching to other screen sizes does not correct the problem. The menu at the top of the screen does automatically appear when the cursor is moved to the top of the screen.
The term "main account" refers to an account in which I do my routine work. It does not have administrator privileges. I have other accounts on this system, including one just for admin.
Since the toolbar automatically appears in other accounts, I assume that some data in my account has been corrupted. It appears not to be the iphoto library or preferences file since I have replaced these, or any startup item since I have disabled these.
What else in my account could cause iPhoto to not correctly determine when the cursor is at the bottom of the screen? Or to otherwise cause this problem?

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
ince the toolbar automatically appears in other accounts, I assume that some data in my account has been corrupted.
It could be a preference file other than iPhoto's that's interfering with iPhoto. This will tell you if that's the case:
Trouble Shooting Preferences
Go to HD/Users/Your_name/Library. Move the Preferences folder (in its entirety) to the Desktop and make a second copy of it so you have Copy A and B. Now try the the process again and determine if problem is fixed.
If the problem IS fixed, then go to the new Prefs folder that the OS will have created and open it up.
Open Copy B on the Desktop and select all of the items inside. Drag them into the open new library folder. When the Copy window comes up check the Apply to All check box and then click on the Don't Replace button as seen here. That will keep the new files created and bring back all of the others.
If the problem is NOT fixed, trash the new Prefs folder and move the intact Copy A folder back to the Library folder .
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.