Iphoto crashes at application startup

Question

When I try to launch iPhoto, I get the following error message: iPhoto quit unexpectantly. The program never gets a chance to launch: The error message is as follows:
Process: iPhoto [1040]
Path: /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/MacOS/iPhoto
Identifier: com.apple.iPhoto
Version: ??? (???)
Build Info: iPhotoProject-3780000~2
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [273]
Date/Time: 2009-12-29 21:55:55.748 -0800
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.6.2 (10C540)
Report Version: 6
Interval Since Last Report: 55073 sec
Crashes Since Last Report: 16
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report: 16
Anonymous UUID: 5B824A11-0F62-46B7-B824-9CE00F16FC80
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 0
Dyld Error Message:
Library not loaded: /System/Library/Frameworks/InstantMessage.framework/Versions/A/InstantMessage
Referenced from: /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/MacOS/iPhoto
Reason: image not found
As suggested by other postings, I tried to repair permissions using disk utility but was unable to find the com.apple.iPhoto.plist in the preferences folder. I tried opening up Iphoto using a guest account, but the same error message occurred. I also tried using the Iphoto Library Manager and it is unable to open up Iphoto--I get this error message: The operation could not be completed because a timeout occurred while launching iPhoto. But I can still access the photos when I "Show Package Contents" of the Iphoto Library.
Is there something wrong with the Iphoto application itself? Can I reinstall Iphoto without risking losing the contents of the Iphoto Library, especially the saved albums and events?
Thanks,
Dorothy

Answer 1

As you are on iPhoto 08, make sure you update to the latest version of that - v7.1.5
That message can mean 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 *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