IPhoto Crash, then all Slideshows go missing.

Question

I tried to "SHARE: Send to iDVD" one of my slideshows.
The computer got stuck "preparing images".
After an hour of waiting with no progress, I assumed the program was locked.
I closed the program (not force-quit).
When I restarted iPhoto, ALL of my slideshows were gone.
No only the one I was "sharing" with iDVD.
But a half dozen other ones as well!
Where have they gone? Are they truly deleted?
Is my hard-drive now littered with corrupt file bits all over the place?
If so, how do I locate and remove them?

Answer 1

Your database has been damaged.
Where have they gone?
They have been damaged in the db.
Are they truly deleted?
There is no way to recover them unless you restore from your back up, of course.
Is my hard-drive now littered with corrupt file bits all over the place?
No.
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 *iPhoto 08* 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