IPhoto hangs on opening preferences, slows to a crawl after multiple edits

Question

while i reallly like most of the new features and clean ups for iPhoto, i keep running into spinning beach balls - usually for 5 minutes or more at a time. it's not just iPhoto, but other parts of iLife as well, but iPhoto is where it hits me hardest. and it seems to be iTunes related. Yes, i have a large library, but WHY does it take iPhoto so long to read the same library file the iTunes does in a few seconds? And WHY does it happen every time i open preferences after logging in? 5 minutes is way too long to wait to use a program i routinely use each day.
also, after making a number of edits on a number of pictures, iPhoto slows down to a crawl. it beach balls between images for minutes, then at last never comes back. i have to do a force quit.
what's up with this strange behavior? is it going to be fixed REAL SOON? and it sounds like i can't even go back to 06 since the libraries have changed. Any advice?
d

Answer 1

Dale:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. I believe TD's suggestion was directed primarily towards the editing issue. The preferences and accessing iTunes from iPhoto issues we'll have to live with until iPhoto issues a fix via an update.
Boot into Safe Mode and try the editing again. If the problem goes away there there's an issue with your account. If it persists then it's either the library or the application.
If the edits work OK in the Safe Mode then create a test library, import a couple of photos and see if the editing issue continues. If not, import some more and try again. You can use the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager to copy events from the problem library to the new one and keep your keywords, comments and titles intact. If the new library continues to be able to edit OK as you continue importing via iPLM then you may want to continue until the new library is complete and trash the old one.
If the editing problem continues in the test library then a reinstall of iPhoto might be warranted. To do so you'll have to delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder. Then reinstall from the disks that iPhoto came on.
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 created 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries. 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.