IPhoto 6 Won't Upgrade v5 Library

When I launch iPhoto 6, I get the following error message: "Unable to upgrade this photo library because the current user doesn not have access. If possible, repair permissions for the iPhoto Library folder and try again." It also says that the path of the item that failed is an invisible .DS_Store file.
I've repaired permissions twice, once with Disk Utility and then with Cocktail. Neither solved the problem. Then I removed the folder with the .DS_Store file, but another .DS_Store file stopped the process.
Anyone had this problem and solved it?
TiBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.4) 1GB RAM

blloyd:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Try to manually set the ownership and permissions on the iPhoto Library folder as follows:
Setting Permissions for iPhoto Library Folder
1 - Select the iPhoto Library folder and type Command-I.
2 - When the Info window comes up go to the Ownership and Permissions section and make sure You have Read & Write permission and that the Owner and Group have Read & Write also. Others - Read Only.
3 - Then click on the "Apply to enclosed items..." button.
See if that won't help.

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I bought a new MacBookPro moved everything from old MacBookPro, new machine runs 10.6.7 - but iPhoto won't 'upgrade' the library - just hangs up supposedly while writing new library. help. thanks.

i bought a new MacBookPro moved everything from old MacBookPro, new machine runs 10.6.7 - but iPhoto won't 'upgrade' the library - just hangs up supposedly while writing new library. help. thanks.

How did you "move everything" over?
Migration assistance does not handle the iPhoto library well sometimes - the best way is to drag the bad iphoto library from the pictures folder on the new system to the desktop, connect the two systems together (network, firewire target mode, etc) and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity from the old system to the pictures folder of the new system and launch iPhoto on the new system - it will open and convert the iPhoto library as necessary and you will be fine - once you test the iPhoto library you can delete the one on the desktop
LN

HT5037 Upgrader won't upgrade my library?

When I try to open my iPhoto library, it says that it first needs to be prepared by the iPhoto Upgrader. When I use the Upgrader it says the library does not need to be prepared, but it still won't open. How do I resolve this?

By moving your iPhoto library between Macs with Dropbox there's a good chance the library was damaged due to the fact the Dropbox doesn't have servers formatted properly for iPhoto libraries, OS X Extended (journaled).
Try connecting the two Macs together via Firewire (Target Disk Mode, Transferring files between two computers using FireWire), LAN and copy the library directly from the old Mac to your new one. Or use an external HD formatted properly to transfer the library.
Otherwise, if the other suggested fixes fail to get you back up and running try the following with the library that is more likely to hold all of your image files (even if it can't be opened with iPhoto):
Starting over from scratch with new library
Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
1. Open the library package like this.
2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
3. Drag the subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.
This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.

Help! iPhoto 5 won't load my library correctly

I recentlly reinstalled OS X on my G5. I always keep my pictures folder for iPhoto 5.0.4 on my external FW Drive. Usually if I do a reinstal I have no problems with this. I start up iPhoto, it asks where the library is or do I want to create one, I navigate to the FW drive and it loads them right up.
This time... before loading it said this library needs to be upgraded, once upgraded these photos will not be viewable by previous versions of iPhoto..." I choose upgrade.
Now my photos all look squeezed like through an anamorphic lens in library view.
Then when I double click on them to view them nothing shows up in the viewer. Nothing.
Any help ?
I'd like to retain the work/effects I did on my library of pictures. There is about 3,500 pictures in it.
thanks,
tnixer

Hi txchain,
Why did your library need to be upgraded. Did you install iPhoto 6?
If you installed iPhoto 6, did you install the latest update?
You can try a rebuild and see if it helps.
Try this:
Before doing a rebuild make sure iPhoto's trash bin is emptied. You can do this by control clicking on the trash bin, or from the menu bar under iPhoto.
Close iPhoto
Duplicate the iPhoto Library folder
Drag the duplicate to the desktop (hopefully you have enough room on your hard drive for the duplicate.)
Launch iPhoto holding down the Command and Option keys until you see the rebuild options screen.
Choose the first three options. If you were missing photos in your library, also choose the last option. Be advised that you will get a roll of orphaned photos and it might be quite huge. Most of them will already be in your iPhoto library, but use caution when deleting anything from this roll until you are sure the photos are still in your library in another place. It might be a good idea to share/export this roll of photos just in case you need to import them again.
Back to the rebuild, depending on the size of your library it might take some time. When it is done, hopefully your photos will be there.
You might see some unexpected results as I did when I did a rebuild. Photos had been moved to wrong dates, video clips had lost their duration info and some were even orphaned from the jpg pointer file. It took me some time to straighten it out again.
This is the reason to make a duplicate before you rebuild, in case you do not like the result. If you don't like the result, close iPhoto, then delete the rebuilt library and drag the duplicate back into the Pictures folder making sure the name is iPhoto Library. Launch iPhoto and it should open the library in the Pictures folder.
iPhoto 4 or later: Rebuilding the iPhoto Library

HT202146 iPhoto won't upgrade old library

I have iPhoto 9.6 (9.10.29) on my Macbook Pro with OS X Yosemite v. 10.10.1. I tried to access an old iPhoto library from 2012 from an external drive. I got the message: The photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto. I agreed to Upgrade. It unexpectedly quit. 5 times. Help?

What format is the external drive?

After install, won't upgrade photo library

I have just installed ilife 06, changing iphoto from 04 to 06 and I am unable to upgrade my photo library. Here is the message: "Unable to upgrade. Current User does not have access". I have gotten info in iphoto and confirmed I am the user, I have repaired the permissions in disk utility, and I have gone thru the steps to unlock via the Terminal. Nothing worked. Any ideas? Pleae help!

NotaPipe:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. That has happened to others and the following has been able to fix it for some: download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, substituting your account name for mine. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field.
Give it a go and see if it will help you also.
Do you Twango?

Can't open iPhoto 6 - crashes when upgrading photo library

I just installed iPhoto 6, but cannot open it. Each time I open it it tries to upgrade the photo library (which is fairly immense). With four minutes left in a 51 minute upgrade the program crashes - all 5 times! I have checked that all other software is updated and that the computer is restarted - any other ideas??

farmers96:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. First try the following: download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administartive name in the owner and group sections. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field.
If that doesn't fix it, answer this question: have any of the files in the library been edited by Photoshop or Photoshop Elements?
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.
I've written 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

HT5037 The iPhoto Library Upgrader tool doesn't work. I've downloaded it, and follow the directions, but iPhoto still won't open.

The iPhoto Library Upgrader tool doesn't work. I've downloaded it, and follow the directions, but iPhoto still won't open.

Your Library is damaged.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places 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.
As for goign back: do you have an undamaged library?
Regards
TD

IPhoto '11 (9.3) - Won't upgrade library after update to 9.3 (gets stuck on Step 5)

Two weeks ago I upgraded iPhoto to 9.3 using the automatic Apple updater. Thereafter, when I try to re-start iPhoto, iPhoto automatically attempts to upgrade the library using multiple steps. Each time the process gets stuck on one of the steps, hanging for as long as I'd let it. Force quit doesn't show the process/application as not responding, but I can kill the applicaiton and try again.
I see this is a somewhat common occurrence (for example, here), but I haven't yet found a solution that works, at least not for me.
Since this problem has started occurring, the process tends to get stuck at the end of step 5:
I have tried multiple solutions, including holding down alt/option or control when starting iPhoto for force a rebuild of the library (same result). I reinstalled iPhoto from the App store (same result). I went back to a version of my iPhoto library from before the problem started using a Time Machine backup of the iPhoto Library (same result). And in response to some threads suggesting removing the files like com.apple.iPhoto.plist (see here) but I can't find any "com.apple.iPhoto.*" files on my HD. Interestingly (maybe) I don't have a HD -> Users -> Home -> Library directory at all. I only have a HD -> Library directory (although perhaps this is where it shows up for my primary account when I'm using this account).
I'd be very grateful for any help/suggestions/guidance.
For example, is there a log file showing the date that I upgraded to the newest iPhoto release so I can be sure I'm restoring an older iPhoto library? Any other ideas?
Many thanks!
-DJg

I have try to do few things like rebuild library, intalling old version etc. at the end always i got images and events but I loose folders and albums.
So finally
I bought external drive to make a copy of my images
I found my old backup of MAC OS X before upgrade to Lion and install them
All folers are existing so now I can imoprt only images from last two months and rearrange them into folders.
I will stay with version 9.2.3 and wait at least 1-2 month before I will install any new update from Apple.

IPhoto 08 unable to upgrade or load older backed up iPhoto 06 library

Hi, I've been looking at posts for a couple of hours for a similar issue, but nothing seems exactly the same to me. We have been using iPhoto 08 for quite some time. Prior to upgrading to iPhoto 08 (from iPhoto 06), I had several iPhoto libraries...some backed up to external drives. Now I want to see some photos from one of those older, backed up libraries. When I try to open it in iPhoto 08, it says I need to upgrade the library. Fair enough. So I click Continue and then I immediately get a an error message saying the library is damaged and unreadable. If I use Terminal to examine the contents of the iPhoto directory...it seems everything is there (jpgs, AlbumData.xml...etc) and I can copy a jpg out of there and open it individually. So the data seems to be there. And AlbumData.xml is pointing to an existing location. But iPhoto 08 can't upgrade the library. What gives? If I try to run iPhoto Library Manager, once I get by the selection screen it again tells me I need to upgrade and I get the same "unreadable" error so that doesn't seem to work. I suppose I could copy all the jpgs out manually and reimport them, but that seems like a lot of work as there are thousands of photos. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!!

It sounds like the database file is damaged. (And by the way, that's not the AlbumData.xml file. That file is used for Sharing. The actual db file in a v6 Library is the library6.iphoto file)
As iPhoto Library Manager can't do the job, I fear your next move is a manual re-build of the LIbrary:
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls 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'
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'
Go into the damaged iPhoto Library and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
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

Won't upgrade iphoto library after install of iphoto 6!

I keep getting an error message that says "library can't upgrade because current user doesn't have access" .
This happens after I installed iphoto 6, everything seems to have gone fine, but then after waiting 10 mins from my previous library to update, I get that message. (my friend burned me the ilife 6 dmg. file which is what I used to upgrade from previous iphoto)
My question is, can I just delete any existing iPhotos and just start from scratch and install iPhoto 6 all over again? In other words, instead of trying to use my friends burned dmg. file. can I just erase everything and start from scratch by purchasing the iLife 6 Install DVD??
I won't lose all of my pictures right? I've backed them up via an external harddrive and they are also in my pictures folder as well.
I just want to know if I can erase iphoto (by placing in trashing can) and starting fresh with the iphoto 6 install DVD.
any help would be great.....right now I'm stuck in limbo, and can't order new prints or anything

eeshell
(my friend burned me the ilife 6 dmg. file which is what I used to upgrade from previous iphoto)
This is an infringement of the licence for iPhoto.
can I just erase everything and start from scratch by purchasing the iLife 6 Install DVD??
Yes, but also delete the pkg files with iphoto in the name in HD/Library/receipts
I won't lose all of my pictures right? I've backed them up via an external harddrive and they are also in my pictures folder as well.
This is correct.
Regards
TD

IPhoto asks for an upgrade of Aperture and otherwise won't open

After upgrade to Maverick, iPhoto asks for an upgrade of Aperture (which I don't have and never had), and otherwise won't open. If I click "ok", the Applications store opens and asks me to BUY Aperture (69,99 EUR).
There must be a bug in iPhoto 11 after the upgrade to Maverick..?

I can only guess at a couple of solutions:
#1
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your
User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your
User/Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder (Snow Leopard and Earlier).
or with Lion and Mt. Lion delete the contents the User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/
Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
3 - reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Home/Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and press the Return key - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.
If you're running Mavericks, 10.9, go to your Home folder and use the View ➙ Show View Options menu to bring the this window:
where you can check the Show Library Folder checkbox.
#2
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
2 - Run Option #4, Rebuild Database, followed by Option #1 if needed.

IPhoto 11 won't launch and crashes every time I try to rebuild the library. Urgh.

iPhoto 11 won't launch- it's another case of an infinite skinny wheel. I've tried rebuilding the library numerous times, each time it takes about a day and each time it crashes near the end. This is just ridiculous. Any tips folks?
APPLE if you can hear me... shouldn't you be testing this stuff prior to release? I know you do but I mean, like REALLY testing it? This is my second iPhoto upgrade disaster. The last time I lost my entire library, had to spend £80 on recovery software that recovered not only most of my photos, but every image cached on my machine. So then I had the fun of sorting through literally thousands of images...
And I only got the upgrade becasue my iPhone is refusing to sync, freezing on the iPhoto bit. Gah.

Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Iphoto won't display photo library

I recently upgraded to iPhoto 9.3.2 and to Mountain Lion on my iMac 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.
I'm not 100% sure when this problem occured, but now, when I open iPhoto, it won't display any photos. All it shows is a note saying "To get started with iPhoto...etc"
I've tried the following so far:
- repair permissions
- disk repair
- holding down option command when opening iPhoto and choosing repair database and rebuild database (nothing happened on either occasion)
- tried launching earlier versions of iPhoto from my Time Machine back-up: 9.3.1; 9.3; 9.2.3. Got the same problem with each
- tried to import photos. Tried several different ones but always, iPhoto would hang on 'finishing import'
- tried rebuild library in iPhoto Library Manager but I get an error: An error occurred trying to open the database at /Users/MichaelSasha/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Database/apdb/Library.apdb (14)
I also have a Mac Mini and have successfully upgraded to iPhoto 9.3.2 & Mountain Lion and have no problems with photos. I accessed the Mac Mini from the iMac and copied across a photo and tried to import it on the iMac but got the 'finishing import' hanging issue
This is really puzzling me! I've exhausted all the options I can think of. Hoping someone out there has any suggestions.

Did you try restoring an earlier version of you iPhoto Library and see if it would open with iPhoto? If you have with no success then try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. If you can create and run a new library then the problem lies with your current library. And, since you've tried all of the repair fixes the only option left is:
Start over from scratch with new library
Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
1. Open the library package like this.
2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
3. Drag the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window.
Click to view full size
This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

I downloaded the iPhoto update and now it won't open the library on my external hard drive telling me it is locked (which it isn't) what do i do?

i downloaded the iPhoto update and now it won't open the library on my external hard drive telling me it is locked (which it isn't) what do i do?

What version of iPhoto?
What format is the disk?

IPhoto 6 Won't Upgrade v5 Library

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