IPhoto Library Damaged

When I try to open IPhoto I get a message that my library is damaged and has to be restored.The only option is to quit. I have time machine but have never had to use it. How do I restore my IPhoto Library?

Restore from Time Machine then.

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IPhoto library damaged or unreadable

I have not made any changes or updates to my MAC and started getting a message in my iPhoto app that the library was damaged or unreadable to restore from a back up. What do I need to do? I do not want to lose the pictures and slideshows that have been created.

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.

HT2638 I am using OSX 10.8.5 with iPhoto 11. I have damaged my iPhoto library and am unable to open up my library with iPhoto. When I use 'open package contents' with the library, I can see that all my photos are there. Can I rebuild the events?

I have tried the option + command button while opening iPhoto but this has not helped.

Your next step would be tp try rebuild with iPhoto Library Manager and its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
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.

Need help saving iPhoto library from damaged hard drive

Trying to help my wife, she has the following:
MacBook Pro running OS X Lion version 10.7.3
iPhoto 11 version 9.2.2
Her hard drive failed last week and she had a ton of photos on it, of course not backed up.
We took her machine to the local Apple Store, they confirmed they couldn't recover the data and they installed a new hard drive in the MacBook. We took the old hard drive to my local PC supplier who's very clever, he worked on the hard drive and was able to copy all my wife's documents to another storage device.....but, he couldn't copy the iPhoto library and is requesting some help.....he doesn't know much about Macs, nor how iPhoto works.
I've read a lot of the posts on this forum and am learning about how the iPhoto library works....and how it requires a Mac based back up hard drive in order to copy it. Okay, here are my questions:
1. My PC troubleshooting guy can see the iPhoto library icon on the damaged hard drive, he says its a huge file. It appears we would need to supply him with a Mac formated back up hard drive, then he could just move that iPhoto library icon (which contains all photos) to the new back up drive. Is this correct?
2. Once we have this old iPhoto library on the new back up hard drive, we could bring it home of course, but then I need to get it into the new hard drive on my wife's MacBook Pro. I'm assuming I can plug this back up drive into my wife's machine, then import the old library into her machine. How do I do this properly?
3. If I bring the old library into the new MacBook Pro hard drive, will it erase the existing iPhoto library on her new hard MacBook Pro hard drive, or will it combine them somehow? She has added of course some pics to the new iPhoto library already, but if we have to delete them it won't kill us. The old stuff that got recovered from the damaged drive is more important.
Thanks ahead.....now to the experts?

Thanks Terence.....
regarding this point:
3. use the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager to merge the Libraries. that way you won't lose anything.
I have another access to her new photos, whereby I could reload them onto her MacBook if we lose the new library.....so I'll save the $20 and just reload them.....two more questions:
1. So, if I drag the iPhoto library folder from the new back up hard drive to the Pictures Folder in Finder, will that overwrite the existing library folder on her MacBook?
2. After I drag this folder into finder, will iPhoto recognize everything? I assume yes....just checking.
thanks ahead!

Recovering an iPhoto Library from damaged HD and moving it to new HD

Dear Experts,
I am seeking directions on a procedure that might be straight forward but I must be do this correctly. I lost my iMac internal HD when it stopped booting. The System was 10.4.8 and iPhoto6. Booting from Norten showed 68 damaged blocks. Set up a PowerBook and connected via fire wire to iMac and ran in target mode. I Finder copied the entire contents of the dead HD to an external FW drive. Lost about 3 GB's of data from dead HD but don't know what is missing. The iPhoto Library from the dead HD has, among many files, a "Library.iPhoto" file as well as a "Library6.iPhoto" file. It also contains Original, Modified, and Recovered Photos folders.
I replaced the damaged internal HD drive with a new drive. Installed a clean version of Tiger on the new internal HD and did all software updates to get me current to 10.4.8. When I opened iPhoto6 from the new internal HD there were, naturally, no photos. When I opened iPhoto with "option-iPhoto open", I was instructed to select a Library. I directed iPhoto to the "iPhoto Library" from the external FW drive. Every thing appears to be normal, with the original organizational structure intact.
I now want to move the original AND modified photos from the external FW drive to my new internal HD, preserving roll names, ratings, keywords, i.e. the complete database. Afterwards, I want to erase the external FW drive, so I must be sure that I have the complete folder on the internal HD. I don't want iPhoto to be linked to the Library Folder on the FW.
1) Should I trash the contents of the iPhoto Folder on the internal drive (which has no photos) and replace it with the contents of the iPhoto Folder on the external FW drive (the one from my original disk)?
2) Should I simply replace the "Library6.iPhoto" on the internal HD with the "Library6.iPhoto" file on the FW?
3) Must I use iPhoto Library Manager to move my old data?
4) Would I have to use iPhoto dB Backup from Toad's Celler?
5) When I commissioned the new internal HD, I used the option of transferring all my settings, preferences, etc. from the old computer (the contents of the damaged internal HD which I had copied to the external). Could this have corrupted anything in the iPhoto Library? Why do I have a "Library.iPhoto" file in the old iPhoto Library Folder and not in the new iPhoto Library Folder on the new internal HD?
6) When I opened the original iPhoto Library from iPhoto application, my picture count was 2037. In that same folder, the total pictures were as follows:
"Originals" Folder: 2149
"Modified" Folder: 487
"Recovered Photos" Folder: 37
Why the discrepancy?
Many thanks.
iMac G4, 800 MHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I recommend you do number 1 from your list. Then open iPhoto with the option key so you can reselect the correct library folder on your new internal HD.
You shouldn't need to do any of the other things you mentioned.
As far as the numbers question 6, have you deleted photos without emptying the iPhoto trash? Try emptying the iPhoto trash and see if the numbers now match.

I try to open I photo and I get the message, your iPhoto library is damaged...please restore from backup. But i din't made backup copy. How can i delete previous library and work wrom the new one?

I try to open I photo and I get the message, your iPhoto library is damaged...please restore from backup. But i din't made backup copy. How can i delete previous library and work wrom the new one?

Try this (assuming you're using iPhoto 12): make a temporary, duplicate copy of the library and try the three fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your Home/Library/Preferences folder.
delete iPhoto's cache files that are located in your Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Fix #2
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library.
Select options #1, #2 and #6.
Fix #3
Rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
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

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?
TM is ok but for this if you have disk space I would just duplicate the iPhoto library as an extra measure until you complete this
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?
We have no idea - that is why you need a current backup at all times - rebuilding does what it can but sometimes it can not save some photos - the only way to find out is to do it - and that is why you need a current backup just before you do it
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

How to repair a damaged jpg file in iphoto Library

I hace some damaged jpegs in my iphoto Library which i want to repair. I've used stellar software but no results.
does anyone know a really good tool to repair jpegs?

civil engineering wrote:
You 're wright, i didn't provide you details how the matter occurred and what kind of damage there is.
So i give you the link of another discussion i've opened to look at.
Mac Pro 3.1 os 10.8.5
iphoto 11 problem with showing up some photos
In your other post, you indicated that
"The whole matter occurred after disk defragmentation with Tech Tools pro 7 or Drive Genius 3, I don't remember which of them i used to the disk that iLibrary exists … Also disk warrior reports that "Detected that the resource header is damaged and cannot be repaired!" "
The jpeg repair tool you were using can sometimes recover a photo file if several pixels are missing. Typically the photo is recovered with some black portions corresponding to those missing pixels, probably not optimal but better than nothing.
Unfortunately, your mention of "defragmentation" in connection with the corrupted files is alarming to me. Files on a computer are not stored in one single place, they are typically stored in pieces all over the physical disk. The file catalog provides a map that the computer uses to put these pieces back together when you, say, view a photo. Defragmentation is almost never required for a modern Mac, and if one exercises a defragmentation tool on a system that has a few small directory or catalog problems (caused maybe by a computer freeze or a forced restart), those can become magnified as all the myriad file pieces are moved around ("defragmentation" tries to unify as many of those pieces as possible by physically moving them around on the disk). Which is why making an archive backup is always necessary before defragmentation -- but disk defragmentation is not needed anymore with modern operating systems, I wonder why you would use such a tool as the benefits are small or nonexistent but the potential to greatly magnify a small issue into a big problem is significant.
Well, that's history now, but you can perhaps try a few of the other jpeg fixing tools that are commercially available. Also, try opening the problem jpegs with some other programs, such as Adobe Photoshop or other software. I fear that your corrupted jpegs are really a symptom of more systemic directory or disk problems. I would (a) back up everything securely [two backups is extra safe], and then (b) run your Apple hardware test suite to test your hardware as a failing hard disk and/or memory can lead to such unfixable file corruption, and if (b) shows everything is ok, then (c) run Disk Warrior to try to detect and repair whatever directory corruption exists. The jpegs may not be fixable, they may be missing essential file components, sort of like losing the first 20 pages and last 20 pages of a 200 page novel plus getting the chapters out of order and losing the chapter numbers, you might never be able to figure out the story in the novel if those pages cannot be found and the right chapter order cannot be determined.

My iPhoto library want open. it says "you can not open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete., my iPhoto library want open. it says "you can not open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete.

my iPhoto library want open. it says "you can not open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete., my iPhoto library want open. it says "you can not open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete.

Back up all data. Delete the iPhoto application and download it again from the App Store.

Damaged iphoto library

The wife's ibook died (failed logic board I think) without a good backup after several weeks of unexpected crashes. I extracted the hard drive and put it into an external fire wire drive kit. The drive works and many of the files are recoverable except the iphoto library. The ibook was running iphoto 7.1.1. The iphoto library is 3.15 GB. When I copy the iphoto library it proceeds normally until the very, very end (after like 5 minutes of progress) and gives me error code -36 "The finder cannot complete the operation because some data in iPhoto Library could not be read or written." I tried a file recovery program also without success. Any recomendations for my next step? The Wife wants the photos bad.

For iPhoto 7.1.1
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

I just upgraded to Photos and now I can't open my iPhoto Library in Photos OR iPhoto. How do I get my photos back?!?

I recently updated to the new Photos and when I went to import my library into Photos, it wouldn't let me. Kept throwing errors. I followed the suggested fixes using the terminal regarding permissions, but that didn't work. I decided to just go back to using iPhoto, but when I opened that it wouldn't see my library either. I tried copying it to an external hard drive and opening that, but it didn't work. I can browse for it and see it on my computer but it's grayed out and I'm unable to select it. Please help. I'm terrified I lost all those photos.

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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
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.
Regards
TD

New iMac or new Mac Mini... and iPhoto Library separate drive?

I have a 2007 iMac Intel Core Duo 2.4Ghz (4 meg RAM) with a hard drive in need of repair, according to Disk Utility (and repeated by DriveGenius 3.) The Repair option is not available. I have had occasional difficulty with this particular Mac, and this is actually my second hard drive,and it is out of warranty. I had already planned to replace this computer later this year.
In attempting to download and install Lion OS, the install failed, and the computer became essentially inoperable. I was able to use Time Machine to get it back running, but cannot repair what is surely a damaged HD. Apple Support came to the same conclusion.
I have become interested in a few goals: (1) To purchase a Mac Mini along with an Apple Thunderbolt monitor (when available) in order to separate my CPU from my monitor. (2) I want to separate my media files from a CPU hard drive for safety, for the very problem I am experiencing now. (3) I want to make my iPhoto library and iMovie library available to my wife – perhaps on an external dedicated drive - for her newer iMac, to various iPhones and iPads, and to two Apple TV units.
We have a home network with an Airport Extreme, and several Ethernet outlets. Both iMac’s currently use Western Digital external drives for Time Machine backups. I have another external Seagate drove solely for my iMovie files. I just purchased a Time Capsule 2TB (but have not yet opened) with the idea that this would be where the “shared” iPhoto library resides.
My questions –
Would you recommend using a Mac Mini + monitor, or go with a new iMac (my current iMac is my third and the only one that has given me some problems.) I do not have any specialized use of my computer beyond the common iLife applications.
I want my photos and videos to be easily available to my family on their Apple devices (I’m the only one with the significant family photo library) and I haven’t quite devised a plan to accomplish that. Can you make suggestions?
Thanks for any assistance you can offer.

Currently the Library is on EHD 1 and you want to copy it to EHD2?
Connect them both to the iMac. Make sure EHD2 formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and drag the iPhoto Library from EHD 1 to EHD 2
To open either Library with iPhoto 11: Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
It will update the Library to the new formats. Remember once you do this the older versions of iPhoto will no longer be able to read it.
Regards
TD

IPHOTO Library file will not open after update of iPhoto 9.6.1

I am trying to open up my IPHOTO Library in IPHOTO 9.6.1 with not success.
My computer is a Mac (27-inch, Mid 2011), 2.7 GHZ Intel core i5 processor, 8 GB ram, AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB graphics card, 1TB Hard Drive.
My iPhoto 9..6.1 appears to be created on March 16, 2015 and was modified on March 20,2015 which I assume is from a security update 2015-003.
My iPhoto Library was created March 22, 2012 and was last updated March 1, 2015. To the best of my knowledge, it has not been open since it was last updated. Unfortunately there are no current backups to the file.
When I launch IPHOTO the screen shows a rotating sprocket then after a period of time I receive a message:
Your photo library is either in use be another application or has become unreadable. Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your iPhoto library, to do this , quit iPhoto, and then reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keys pressed. You can also try restoring your photo library from a backup.
When I follow this am left with four items to chooses from: repair permissions, rebuild thumbnails, repair database, rebuild database. The first is selected and assume this is by default. I am not sure what the best choice is to select. Secondly since i have no backup of the file and I am not sure the file is corrupted, I started trying to create a copy on on an external drive however the file (192GB Size) new completes a copy routine. I considered a backup process which would take multiple hours.
Looking for direction.

1. make a back up. No matter how long it takes.
Most Simple Back Up:
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex: Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically.
Example of such apps: Chronosync - but there are many others. Search on MacUpdate or the App Store
2.
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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
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.
Regards
TD

I am trying to copy iphoto library Error Code 36

I am trying to copy iphoto library from one hard drive to another and get the message The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “iPhoto Library” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36) = Need to back iy up or my wife will kill me. thanks for help

Here is something you can try:
Obtain iPhoto Library Manager. It is an inexpensive program you can download. Run it and tell it to REBUILD your iPhoto Library from your original iPhoto Library. It will create a NEW file in a destination that you specify (you can specify the other hard drive and thus get a backup all at once) and try to recreate the iPhoto Library based on the info from your original one. Depending on the problem causing your -36 file error, iPhoto Library Manager may (a) successfully recreate your entire photo library successfully on the other hard drive; (b) recreate all of your original photo library except for the part that is damaged; or (c) won't be able to finish at all if the disk problems are severe enough.
If (c) happens, you may have to copy the actual photos individually out of the iPhoto Library and into a new iPhoto Library. The actual photos are inside the iPhoto Library. You can find them by control-click once on the iPhoto Library and select Show Package Contents. The folder called Originals or Masters has the photos (originals) and a folder called Modified or Previews has the edited photos. I suggest COPYING (not moving) these folders to the external drive. You will then need to re-import the actual photos inside these folders to a new iPhoto Library.

Help! How can I restore iTunes/iPhoto library from Time Capsule to new Mac?

Sorry to trouble you, because it looks like this should be an easy thing, but I can't find an answer anywhere...
I've got an 2008 MacBook Pro that suddenly began to suffer start up problems. Sometimes it boots to a black/grey screen and sometimes the screen/mouse freezes after only a few minutes of use.
I've borrowed my brother's Mac until I can find out how to get mine repaired, so I'd like to copy over my iTunes and iPhoto stuff from a Time Capsule (where I'm hoping it hasn't been damaged) to his Mac. I only want to copy the iTunes and iPhoto stuff, without filling up his computer with all my other junk.
Is there an easy way to do this? Thanks!

Hi ...
I've found a solution to my problem.
Time Machine locates extenal HDD backups differently depending if they were done via a network or via a USB/FireWire/Thunderbolt connection.
My initial backup was done via a direct Thunderbolt connection. I ran into the above issue b/c the second time when I tried looking for the backup file the HDD was conencted to my iMac and I was accessing it via a network conenction.
I simply connected the drive directly to my MacBook pro and ... voila. I was able to see the backup, select the iPhoto library and begin the restore.
Hope this helps.
BTW - I found this out by reading the 'blue box' selection on this page: http://pondini.org/TM/E2.html
(Thanks goes to Pondini!)

IPhoto Library Damaged

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