Iphoto is 'damaged or unreadable' and I can't re-create!

I searched the board and found a link to manually rebuild the Library but when I tried to manually recreate, the 'Originals" or "modified" folders did not show up in the Content folder. I do have a backup on an external drive but b/c of some Iphoto issues in the past, on the Hard drive, it's all completely unorganized and there are a ton of photos that were in a Canon program vs Iphoto, so I'm not sure if I actually just drag all those photos right back into a new Iphoto library on my computer?
I was using Iphoto last night fine, put the laptop to sleep and now it's not working. Help?
Thanks!
Bernice

What do you mean by manually recreate?
Do you have a copy of the library that you were using when it stopped working correctly? If so try the following on it: make a temporary, duplicate copy of your library and apply the two fixes in order as necessary.
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

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Iphoto upgrade examines my photo library and says its damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened.

For some reason, iphoto automatically goes to an upgrade window upon launch. I believe I still have iPhoto 09 but since it won't launch i can't check that out. But it was created on 3/13/09 and last modified on 9/20/10...so I'm sure it's still the 09 (or is the 08?) version.
At any rate, when I launch iPhoto I automatically arrive at an upgrade window (which tells me that after upgrade my photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iphoto - OK, fine, I hit the upgrade button). Right after I hit the upgrade button, I see that my photo library is being examined. Which results in a message telling me that my photo library is damaged or unreadable and must be restored.
OK, I go to Time Machine and restore the latest. After restore, I see all the files. But when I launch iphoto, hit the upgrade button, it again examines the library and finds it unreadable. I've done this several time now.
Now what?
Thanks, Jim

Well that's a Catch-22 isn't it. You can't open the Library but need to for the rebuild.
Coupled with the dodgy back-up I think your only option now is to create a new Library, recover the photos and start over.
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.

I downloaded the new iphoto to my macbook pro. Now when I open it, there is a message telling me that "your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." What do I do I had 16,000 pictures.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!

I downloaded the new iphoto to my macbook pro. Now when I open it, there is a message telling me that "your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." What do I do I had 16,000 pictures.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Try download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.

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Suggestions?

Try download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.

When trying to open iPhoto I get: "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup."

I am trying to open iPhoto i get this message: "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." I don't know what to do... Please help

What happens when you restore your backup as suggested?
LN

"Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened"

"Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup."
THIS IS THE MESSAGE i just got!! i was importing photos off my digital camera.
I NEVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE?
And i got this message..
as far as "back up" uhhhh never did that on my I photos pictures. what can i do!?!
Ann L
LasVegas

Using iPhoto 08?
Easiest solution: restore from your back up. When you say "uhhhh never did that on my I photos pictures" then you're telling us that you don't really care about them. Only a fool has any important data on a computer without a back up.
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. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.
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.

HT4906 i'm using an older version of iPhoto on my desktop Mac and I can't seem to control the number of photos appearing on my iPhone and iPad, will upgrading to the newer iPhoto resolve this?

i'm using an older version of iPhoto on my desktop Mac and I can't seem to control the number of photos appearing on my iPhone and iPad, will upgrading to the newer iPhoto resolve this?

What version do you have?
iPhoto menu -> About iphoto.
What goes to your iPad/iPhone is controlled in iTunes.
Regards
TD

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What to do?
Uh, restore from a backup?
You can try repairing the iPhoto database. Hold down the Option + Command key while launching iPhoto. Try each option in turn, checking after each repair I fit helped.

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I can't get it to stay open when I press F3
Help!!!!

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Message was edited by: CtDave

How do you change the year date of a calendar you're trying to create? iPhoto calendar shows 2012 dates and I'm trying to create a 2013 calendar. Thanks

How do you change the calendar year in iPhoto from 2012 to 2013?

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IPhoto 9.3 - all libraries damaged and unreadable (and un-rebuildable)

Since the update to the 9.3 version of iPhoto NONE of my previous libraries can be opened. I had always updated iPhoto at each update in the past, but it has never happened something like this.
Every library I try to open, it gives me the following error: "your iphoto library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup".
I tried to repair the libraries in many ways, as suggested in other posts on the support website (e.g. using PhotoLibraryManager or with the Rebuild function of iPhoto itself), but none of them worked.
I have backups in time machine, but none of them works even if restored.
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Click to view full size
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Iphoto library is damaged or unreadable

Please help!
I just imported photos to my computer, erased originals, then read the following message on my computer "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." I noticed earlier today that I haven't backed up my computer in 71 days. Please tell me I haven't lost all of the photos I have imported since then.
Ideas?

Thanks so much for your help. I am planning to try your suggestions but have a few questions. When you say make a copy of my bad library, should I just use time machine with my external drive like I usually (but not in the last 71 days) do?
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AS to TM - you really need to have it going all the time - it is a great tool but if you only run it once in a while it is virtually useless - the time you need it (maybe now) it will not have what you need
Also, when I rebuild as you suggested (#3), do you think my most recent photos will be there?
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I just tried to "insert photo" on Word and it does show the most recently imported photos. I am just hoping I won't lose them. (I imported from 2 different cameras in the last few days.)
that is good
Again, thanks for your help. *I will be backing up on a more regular basis after this*. Learning the hard way...
YES!
LN

Iphoto is 'damaged or unreadable' and I can't re-create!

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