IPhoto Library Corruption

Not sure if this applies in this forum...
I run a system which imposes a 3GB limit on user directories. This works fine, however if iPhoto is run when they have filled their quotas iPhoto ditches the library. The only way to recover is from a backup which thankfully is daily.
Is there anything I can do to avoid this, other than telling users not to fill their profiles up?

Mark
The only way to avoid this corruption is if iPhoto has enough space to write the library6.iPhoto file. If there isn't then you get a corrupted library, end of story. Backing up the library6.iphoto file is the only workaround.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

Photo in iPhoto Library Corrupted after forced Restart

Hi,
I'm a switcher. I've decided to switch to mac after contemplating for almost 6 months. I'm glad I've switched, the Mac is an excellent machine and Superb OS!!
Recently, I have encountered a problem while using iPhoto, Photoshop Element 2 and Preview together. (Please note that I did not tempered any files in iPhoto library. I have stored all my photo in My Documents which I do my editing using PSE 2 and Preview a pictures stored on the desktop). While dragging a file from My Document folder to the Trash, the Dock hanged! I quit all the apps and the dock is not responding and I decided to relaunch Finder by going to Force Quit and still no respond. I try restart the system but it hanged and I have to switch off the mac by pressing the button. When I re-sart the system and launch iPhoto, it prompted that "The photo library was created with an unreleased version of iPhoto" and I can't start iPhoto at all. It seems that some of my photo in the library are corrupted. Has anybody has the same experience? Would appreciate if anybody can help.
I've been playing my iMac for about 1.5 months already, and the only apps that I'm not comfortable is iPhoto. I've been using Picasa 2 on my Dell notebook to organize my photo and it's much more simpler and user friendly as compare to iPhoto.

Jonathan:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions and the Mac community. First, what I do whenever I have to have a forced restart of my Mac or have a kernel panic (dark gray curtain descends over the screen with a multiple language warning) is to immediately boot into single user mode and run the file system check (fsck). Here's how:
FSCK - File System Check
To start up in single-user mode
1. Restart the computer.
2. Immediately after the startup sound, press and hold both the Command (Apple) and "s" keys on your keyboard. The computer will display a series of text messages, at which time you may release these keys.
When the computer has started up, it will display a command line prompt (#). The computer is now in single-user mode.
How to Run the File System Check from the Command Line
Once you have reached a command line, follow these steps to use fsck:
1. At the prompt, type: fsck -fy (NOTE, there is a space between the k and the -)
The fsck utility will go through five "phases" and then return information about the disk's utilization and fragmentation. Once the check is finished, if no issue is found, you should see "** The volume <name of volume> appears to be OK."
If fsck alters, repairs, or fixes anything, it will display the message:
**** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED ***
IMPORTANT: If this message appears, repeat the "fsck -fy" command until this message no longer appears. It is not unusual for your computer to require several "passes" of fsck, because first-pass repairs may uncover additional errors. Run it until you get two consecutive times with an "OK" result.
3. When fsck reports that no problems were found, type: reboot
4. Press Return.
Now to your problem. It's more than likely that, as you expected, you have a damaged dB file in your iPhoto library folder and I doubt you'll be able to recover but we'll give it our best shot.
First run Disk Utility and repair disk permissions (also recommended after any software installation or update). Make a backup copy of the iPhoto Library folder (select and type Command-D). Now launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. I would only select the option to rebuild the database.
If that brings it back you're on you way and can delete the backup library folder. If not and the rebuilt library is more messed up than the original, delete it.
Your best shot now is to launch iPhoto and when it asks to find a library or create a new one select Create. In the File menu select the Add to Library option. Direct iPhoto to your old iPhoto Library folder and select it for importing. That should get your photos back partially organized but don't know how much. You will lose album, keyword and comment information.
For future reference read

BUG: iPhoto 9 Slideshow - Text Slide Bugs and iPhoto Library Corruption

I was wondering if anyone else has run into the following issues:
I have had multiple issues with iPhoto crashing, stop responding, and database corruption where I cannot open iPhoto. These issues all began when I tried to use the new themed slideshow in iPhoto v9.1. Previously, I had only used iPhoto to create basic slideshows with iPhoto v7.x. I was hoping that I would be able to create my masterpiece in iPhoto 11 (v9.1) but I have only been frustrated by my attempts so far.
What should have been a 3 - 4 hour operation has become a 20 hour nightmare and I still don't have a slideshow to show for my efforts. This has been one of my most disappointing uses of Apple software ever.
Repeatable, reproducible bugs that I have run into include:
1. Deleting a photo that appears in the timeline before a sub-title causes havoc with subsequent sub-titles (a.k.a. Text Slides). Subsequent subtitles are randomly copied to pictures following the one it was assigned to. Further, there is no subtitle icon in the timeline and the photos have to be manually modified to eliminate the subtitle. Work around is click the "Text Slide" button
2. Zooming and/or image placement is not preserved and not visible when previewed, exported, or iPhoto is closed and then reopened.
3. The iPhoto Library becomes corrupt and permissions problems prevent me from working with my photos. This happens while working on slideshow. I have had to rebuild my library and repair permissions no less than five times since I started working on my slideshow.

iPhoto's slideshow feature is fine but no tool for a "masterpiece".
Alternatives to iPhoto's slideshow include:
iMovie, on every Mac sold, as is iDVD.
Others, in order of price:
PhotoPresenter $29
PhotoToMovie $49.95
PulpMotion $129
FotoMagico $29 (Home version) ($149 Pro version, which includes PhotoPresenter)
Final Cut Express $199
It's difficult to compare these apps. They have differences in capability - some are driven off templates. some aren't. Some have a wider variety of transitions. Others will have excellent audio controls. It's worth checking them out to see what meets your needs.
However, there is no doubt that Final Cut Express is the most capable app of them all. You get what you pay for.
Regards
TD

IPhoto library corrupted. Should I move to Aperture, or make smaller libraries?

Hi,
Mountain lion mac mini, running most recent iPhoto.
iPhoto library of 376 GBs (finder size)
In November I had hard drive issues which corrupted a previous library. I created a new one library, and merged libraries from old backups on a different drive. using iPhot library manager. Now, several months later, iPhoto is stating that I don't have permission to write to the library. It quit. Now it won't open. I have tried using the iPhoto repair utility - first to repair permissions, then to repair the database. Still being told that I don't have permission.
This database is on an external drive that I have read and write permissions, the iPhoto library file tells me that I have Read and Write permissions.
Given the size of the database - should I move to Aperture? Would it do a better job? Or should I make smaller iPhoto libraries?

This database is on an external drive that I have read and write permissions, the iPhoto library file tells me that I have Read and Write permissions.
And how is your drive formatted? Does it have the correct formatting for iPhoto libraries - MacOS Extended (Journaled)?
To check the format see this document: Format external drives to Mac OS Extended before using with Aperture
The title says Aperture, but it applies to iPhoto as well.

IPhoto Library corrupted!!! or not.

I believe my iPhoto library is corrupted. Am I right in assuming that the photos additional information I added has been lost. My concern is that there is around 9,500 photos that have been grouped, people/places have been named. I prefer not to do all this again. Any suggestions would help. I have only basic knowledge and need step by step help.
Many thanks in anticipation
Grant

I was doing an import but iPhoto crashed. The report is at the bottom. Every time I open it, it crashes immediately. This report is produced. I created a new library as a test and it works fine. But all my photos are in the original library and I can't import from the original library into a new one or least I don't know how to.
My profile is still correct.
Also I cannot find the first aid in iPhoto.
I hope this helps.
Process:         iPhoto [4938]
Path:            /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/MacOS/iPhoto
Identifier:      com.apple.iPhoto
Version:         9.4.3 (9.4.3)
Build Info:      iPhotoProject-720091000000000~1
App Item ID:     408981381
App External ID: 15017489
Code Type:       X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [160]
User ID:         502
Date/Time:       2014-11-07 09:01:23.342 +1000
OS Version:      Mac OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)
Report Version: 10
Interval Since Last Report:          69645 sec
Per-App Interval Since Last Report: 231880 sec
Anonymous UUID:                      FBB31434-FB24-C0B5-A984-1552139A2C56
Crashed Thread: 0 Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '*** -[__NSArrayM insertObject:atIndex:]: object cannot be nil'

IPhoto library corrupt

I cannot create a book, card or calendar in iPhoto, rand apple and they said my library attributed to my user account is corrupt and gave me a few steps to do to hopefully resolve it, unfortunatley it has not worked and their help is closed at moment,..
I have done an 'Alt/Cmd / iPhoto to bring up the 'rebuild photo library' box, ticked all the options and it started validating and re-building the library,..
However an alert popped up saying "Upgrading Thumb Nails", The photo IMG_2593.jpg could not be opened becuse the oroginal item cannot be found'
I get the option to canel or find Photo,..
If i click find photo i do not know where to go to find it,.. if i press cancel it moves on but keeps repeating the alert with more photo images it cannot find,.
Does anyone know the solution, do i need to delete the full photo library snd re-add from my time machine backup,.. if so how do you do this,..????
Note - i have already deleted iPhoto and re-installed iLife/iPhoto 11 and is updated to the latest version
thanks

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 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. .
Regards
TD

Iphoto library corrupted/unreadable, do I need new IPhoto software

Did not backup photo library, message says library unreadable/corrupted. What now?

Try iPhoto Library Manager, a free program: http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/
I've used it to several times rebuild and consolidate my iPhoto library, but not (yet) to attempt to fix a corrupted library.

IPhoto Library corrupted

iPhoto 11 crashed while importing a jpeg photo and I had to do a force quit. The library is now corrupted and the icon is blank rather than iphoto. When I try to restore from TM it asks if I want to replace the file and I click replace. It starts to copy the file then quits and says I do not have permission to complete that task. How am I going to be able to restore the library?

Hi folks, I solved the problem myself. I went into Time Machine to an earlier backup that I knew had a good copy of my iPhoto library. Instead of selecting ~>pictures>iPhoto Library, I selected ~>Pictures and clicked Restore. Time Machine then asked my for my password and after entering it, TM started to copy the entire Pictures folder into my Home folder. This took awhile as it was about 30gb, around half an hour but it completed the job and I have my photo collection back. Eureka!
I hope this may help someone else who has had trouble restoring their iPhoto Library.
Paco

Half of my iPhoto Library corrupt

I was browsing through all of my photographs in iPhoto (there are over 5000), and I was not able to view about half of them. I got a grey screen that looked like it was just loading forever. I dragged some photos onto my desktop and tried opening them in Preview, and also in Photoshop, but I got error messages saying these files were now corrupted.
What can I do to retrieve all of my photographs? I need many of them for my portfolio, and I am not happy at all with iPhoto right now. Can anyone please help me? Or at least point me in the right direction?
-Mike

I opened the library once or twice through finder out of curiosity, but I didn't change filenames, or tamper with the files themselves. I should mention though, that I recently installed a demo version of Aperture on my Mac and unsuccessfully tried to import my entire iPhoto Library into Aperture (Aperture froze during the process, and I gave up). I didn't notice the corrupted files until much later though. But.. I wasn't really looking.
Could my fling with Aperture be the root of all my problems?

IPhoto library corrupted by Time Machine? Help!

Hi,
I need some advice. It appears that I have lost thousands of photos. I know that's not true cos I have a Time Machine backup, but I want to run my situation past you before trying to recover my library. You see, I had a Time Machine backup error. Actually, scratch that, I had a problem with iPhoto not showing some particular photos. They showed up as just a dotted outline, yet when I chose 'show original file' or clicked to edit the photo, it appeared. So, the photos were there, but the thumbnails had a problem.
After some time spent searching for a fix, I started iPhoto with the command and option keys pressed and chose all options to rebuild iPhoto. This looked like it was gonna take some time (I have over 4500 photos) so I left it alone and went to bed. In the morning, iPhoto appeared to be fixed but Time Machine had reported an error while backing up. I clicked ok, did a new backup by clicking 'backup now' which worked fine and carried on as usual.
I've used iPhoto some more today and then, this evening, another TM backup failed. I tried again, and it failed again. I searched the internet to figure out why and discovered how to view the log file. This reported this: Jun 19 21:22:59 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Library6.iPhoto to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Lee Webb’s intel iMac/2010-06-19-210546.inProgress/5A645817-7095-47FC-A658-A447B5A5814C/mac hd/Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copied 1656 files (294.5 MB) from volume mac hd.
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copy stage failed with error:11
Jun 19 21:24:17 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Backup failed with error: 11
So, something seems to be wrong with the iPhoto library. I reckon that the rebuild process was somehow interrupted/corrupted by a TM backup. Following some instructions I found in C3 here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2057525 I ran a verify on my TM backup drive. This returned with OK. I then excluded my iPhoto library from my backup and ran the backup again. It worked fine, which would confirm that the iPhoto library is indeed the problem. Good. Ok. So, that's where I am now. Except it isn't. When I now start up iPhoto, my library has shrunk down to 748 photos! Eeek! What's happened, and what can I do about it? In iPhoto, those 748 photos add up to 1.4gb yet the iPhoto library file is still 12.87gb.
Please can you help me.
I just want to make sure I do the right thing instead of panicking. I've switched off my TM backup for now.
Many thanks,
Lee

Does your library work as it should? Try a minimal backup: launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed to rebuild the library. Select the last three options.
Click to view full size
Another option would be to rebuild the library with iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 -Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 -Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your User/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - 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
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - 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 untouched for further attempts at fixing or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
Then keep the old library excluded from the Time Machine backup and run TM to see if the new library will backup normally.
OT
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier versions) 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 or later), 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. There are versions that are compatible with iPhoto 5, 6, 7 and 8 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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.
NOTE: The new rebuild option in iPhoto 09 (v. 8.0.2), Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup" makes this tip obsolete.

IPhoto library corruption after 9.6.1 upgrade

I´ve been working with iPhoto for years, and I had a library with 60gb of photos, but after the last update (that I did some minutes ago), the program restarted and asked me to choose a library or to create a new one. I choose the old one, but it appears to have nothing on it! So i went to finder, just to check the size of the file, and it´s only 7,5 mb, so I think something went wrong. What can I do to restore the library?
I also had a time machine backup done, but wen I go to the old files, they are the shame size (7,5mb), so whats wrong with iPhoto? how can I recover my old pictures?
Some time ago, I was an aperture user, so I have another elder copy of the library (but it´s for aperture), and this one has the 60 gb size, so I think that it is something wrong with the update.
Does anyone know how to deal with this?
Thanks!

I just noticed that I was using an aperture library with iPhoto instead of an iPhoto one, wich is located (as I can see in Time Machine) inside the program folder, not in the images folder (where it is the new iphoto library), so I think that with the update, something deleted it. I will try to restore that old one from Time Machine, but I think that I will happen again if I update iPhoto. Can I convert an aperture library into an iPhoto one?
Thanks

Time Machine corrupted iPhoto library? Help!

Hi,
I need some advice. It appears that I have lost thousands of photos. I know that's not true cos I have a Time Machine backup, but I want to run my situation past you before trying to recover my library. You see, I had a Time Machine backup error. Actually, scratch that, I had a problem with iPhoto not showing some particular photos. They showed up as just a dotted outline, yet when I chose 'show original file' or clicked to edit the photo, it appeared. So, the photos were there, but the thumbnails had a problem.
After some time spent searching for a fix, I started iPhoto with the command and option keys pressed and chose all options to rebuild iPhoto. This looked like it was gonna take some time (I have over 4500 photos) so I left it alone and went to bed. In the morning, iPhoto appeared to be fixed but Time Machine had reported an error while backing up. I clicked ok, did a new backup by clicking 'backup now' which worked fine and carried on as usual.
I've used iPhoto some more today and then, this evening, another TM backup failed. I tried again, and it failed again. I searched the internet to figure out why and discovered how to view the log file. This reported this: Jun 19 21:22:59 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Library6.iPhoto to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Lee Webb’s intel iMac/2010-06-19-210546.inProgress/5A645817-7095-47FC-A658-A447B5A5814C/mac hd/Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copied 1656 files (294.5 MB) from volume mac hd.
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copy stage failed with error:11
Jun 19 21:24:17 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Backup failed with error: 11
So, something seems to be wrong with the iPhoto library. I reckon that the rebuild process was somehow interrupted/corrupted by a TM backup. Following some instructions I found in C3 here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2057525 I ran a verify on my TM backup drive. This returned with OK. I then excluded my iPhoto library from my backup and ran the backup again. It worked fine, which would confirm that the iPhoto library is indeed the problem. Good. Ok. So, that's where I am now. Except it isn't. When I now start up iPhoto, my library has shrunk down to 748 photos! Eeek! What's happened, and what can I do about it? In iPhoto, those 748 photos add up to 1.4gb yet the iPhoto library file is still 12.87gb.
Please can you help me.
I just want to make sure I do the right thing instead of panicking. I've switched off my TM backup for now.
Many thanks,
Lee

Hi,
I need some advice. It appears that I have lost thousands of photos. I know that's not true cos I have a Time Machine backup, but I want to run my situation past you before trying to recover my library. You see, I had a Time Machine backup error. Actually, scratch that, I had a problem with iPhoto not showing some particular photos. They showed up as just a dotted outline, yet when I chose 'show original file' or clicked to edit the photo, it appeared. So, the photos were there, but the thumbnails had a problem.
After some time spent searching for a fix, I started iPhoto with the command and option keys pressed and chose all options to rebuild iPhoto. This looked like it was gonna take some time (I have over 4500 photos) so I left it alone and went to bed. In the morning, iPhoto appeared to be fixed but Time Machine had reported an error while backing up. I clicked ok, did a new backup by clicking 'backup now' which worked fine and carried on as usual.
I've used iPhoto some more today and then, this evening, another TM backup failed. I tried again, and it failed again. I searched the internet to figure out why and discovered how to view the log file. This reported this: Jun 19 21:22:59 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Error: (-8062) SrcErr:NO Copying /Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Library6.iPhoto to /Volumes/Time Machine Backup/Backups.backupdb/Lee Webb’s intel iMac/2010-06-19-210546.inProgress/5A645817-7095-47FC-A658-A447B5A5814C/mac hd/Users/leewebb/Pictures/iPhoto Library
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copied 1656 files (294.5 MB) from volume mac hd.
Jun 19 21:23:46 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Copy stage failed with error:11
Jun 19 21:24:17 lee-webbs-intel-imac /System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[10907]: Backup failed with error: 11
So, something seems to be wrong with the iPhoto library. I reckon that the rebuild process was somehow interrupted/corrupted by a TM backup. Following some instructions I found in C3 here: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2057525 I ran a verify on my TM backup drive. This returned with OK. I then excluded my iPhoto library from my backup and ran the backup again. It worked fine, which would confirm that the iPhoto library is indeed the problem. Good. Ok. So, that's where I am now. Except it isn't. When I now start up iPhoto, my library has shrunk down to 748 photos! Eeek! What's happened, and what can I do about it? In iPhoto, those 748 photos add up to 1.4gb yet the iPhoto library file is still 12.87gb.
Please can you help me.
I just want to make sure I do the right thing instead of panicking. I've switched off my TM backup for now.
Many thanks,
Lee

My iphoto library (located on an external hard drive) was open when the hard drive was accidentally disconnected. We plugged it back in, but the library is frozen. Any suggestions on what I can do without corrupting/losing my iphoto library?

The cable to the external hard drive that houses my iphoto library was accidentally disconnected while the library was open and up on the screen. We plugged it back in, but now the screen is frozen. Has anyone experienced this before? If I force quit, will I corrupt and lose access to the library on the external hard drive?

Shutdown the Mac. Disconnect and power off the external drive (if it has its own power supply). Reconnect the external drive and power on (if applicable). Boot Mac. If the external drive is not reading properly, open Disk Utility, select external drive, run Repair Disk.

IPhoto library upgrade failed, one third of the photos lost, but the library works as normal. No corruption.

Hello! I recently replaced my tragically crashed Macbook Pro 2008 with a newer model and transferred my volumous iphoto library of 20 000+ photos to my new machine. To be able to use my iphoto '08 library with Aperture I had to upgrade the library in the iphoto '11 version. I left the computer on during the day, and when I got back it seemed to work fine. I browsed my library in Aperture and could see all the thumbnails, but looking closer I noticed a small yellow warning triangle with an arrow in the corner of some pictures. Turns out all pictures from before ~2010 are lost! When I wiev the photos I see nothing but the infinite black of the data void.
Here's how I've tried to fix the problem:
1. Opening the iPhoto Library package in Finder. All the folders for the earlier dates are there, but they are empty. I notice no incorrect or impossible dating, which seemed to be a common problem among users who's libraries where corrupted during the upgrade process.
2. Rebuilding the iphoto library in iphoto. No effect.
3. Recovering the iphoto library from my Time Machine Backup. SInce my old hard drive was just 200 GB, I stored all pictures older than one year on my external hard drive (note that about half of those pictures were successfully imported/upgraded). Both the internal and the external hard drive where backed up using Time Machine on a NAS from Seagate (Black Armor 110, 3TB). I was able to access backed up files on my external drive through Time Machine on my old computer, but since it is now rendered unbootable I tried using Migration Assistant to let my new computer inherit the old backup. However, I could not find the backup of the external drive in Migration Assistant, just my old internal drive. When I tried to access the backup volume on my NAS through Finder it didn't show up (I could find it that way on my old computer).
4. Googling "iPhoto library upgrade failed", or "Inheriting Time Machine backup of external drive", and similarily desperately specific phrases - Nothing useful. Other people seems to have had problems with corrupt Libraries, but I'm not sure that's the case here.
My pictures must exist somewhere on my computer and in a backup on my NAS. I just can't find them! Do anyone have a clue to what may have gone wrong? I'm afraid the computer might have gone to sleep during the upgrade, because I didn't thinkabout adjusting the power saving settings before starting it. But since pictures 1-8000-something are missing, it doesn't seem to have worked properly during the whole beginning of the upgrade, not just during the middle. As I knew I had a backup of the library I didn't worry about upgrading the single functional copy. From now on I will think thrice before doing anything as serious as this.
I am eternally grateful for any answers that might help me recovering my photos!
//Teodor Nilson

b) I split up my photo collection into two iphoto libraries. One for the new photos stored on my internal HD            and one for photos older than one year stored on my external HD
And exactly How did you Split up your iPhoto library?
c) I used Migration Assistant in an attempt to access the Time Machine backup of my old MBP from my new      MBP (by inheriting the backup). When I made my backups, I made sure Time Machine included the external      HD. But Migration Assistant could only find the backup of my Internal HD with the library of new photos!
And again
You should not use Migration assistant on an iPhoto library - it generally does not work
and
     d)   When signing in and mounting the NAS in Finder, I used to be able to see a Time Machine backup      folder/icon. Now I was unable to locate it.
I believe you are using your NAS for your Time Machine backup. If your Time Machine backup and/or your iPhoto library is on a NAS you will have problems - both need to be on Mac formatted volumes - the least troublsome is a volume formatted Mac OS extended (journaled)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Manually preparing a new disk for Time Machine
If you want to erase a disk before using it with Time Machine, follow these steps:
Open Disk Utility (located in the Utilities folder).
Connect the disk if it isn't already attached.
In the left side of the Disk Utility window, select the disk you want to use with Time Machine.
Optional: If you want to partition the disk, click the Partition tab and select a layout. Make sure "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" is selected in the Format menu for the partition that will be used for backups. Click Apply.
Click the Erase tab.
Optional: If you want to securely erase the disk, click Security Options to configure, then click OK.
Click Erase.
After erasing, open Time Machine preferences in System Preferences and configure as described in the section above.
Are the iPhoto libraries kept on an external drive formated Mac OS extended (journaled)? Or are they on the NAS? - If you are using the NAS for iPhoto and/or Time Machine that is the source of your problems
LN

Do NOT use Dropbox for iPhoto backups - corrupted library

So after a couple of weeks of problem solving I've just been able to recover part of my 72gb iPhoto library.
My office was burgled a short while before Xmas so I was left to recover my stuff all from Dropbox which I have set to synchronise, together with iTunes. Problem is, Dropbox sees the iPhoto library in a totally different way to OSX, so when I grabbed the package, it wasn't coherent.
I've had to do a lot to try to rebuild, repair both the database and thumbnails, but there's still so many missing thumbnails etc and there appears to be an entire year missing. So I have a huge task of manually pulling images back in from the backed up (corrupted) package.
Can anyone tell me, what's the original folder? Is it Originals or Masters??
Meanwhile, how can I fix this?
Thumbnail is correct, when I click on file:
I get this:

If all else fails and you can confirm that the Masters folder contains your original source files you can try this:
Starting over from scratch with new library
Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
1. Open the library package like this.
2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
3. Drag the subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.
This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.

IPhoto Library Corruption

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