Iphoto crashes before it fully opens!

Question

I've seen a lot of posts about this, but none with my error message. My iPhoto wont even fully open before it crashes. Here is my error message:
Process: iPhoto [179]
Path: /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/MacOS/iPhoto
Identifier: com.apple.iPhoto
Version: ??? (???)
Build Info: iPhotoProject-4190000~4
Code Type: PPC (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [78]
Interval Since Last Report: 311 sec
Crashes Since Last Report: 1
Per-App Interval Since Last Report: 0 sec
Per-App Crashes Since Last Report: 1
Date/Time: 2009-12-14 17:46:51.969 -0600
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.8 (9L31a)
Report Version: 6
Anonymous UUID: 01CC51FE-62BA-4396-9BA9-7BA6FB61780F
Exception Type: EXCBADACCESS (SIGSEGV)
Exception Codes: KERNINVALIDADDRESS at 0x0000000022e90538
Crashed Thread: 0
Any help is much appreciated!
Jaimie

Answer 1

The most likely explanation for what's going on is a dodgy file or files inside the Library. That's why you had a problem on 08 and why you also have one now. Upgrading the app will never fix a damaged Library.
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.
Then let iPhoto 09 update the Library.
Regards
TD