IPhoto Library says it's empty-don't know what to do next-info overload

Question

Okay, I am a newbie. I am overwhelmed with all the info I've read in the forums and now I am afraid to make a move and screw something else up! Your help would be very much appreciated. I will give some background:
Main Problem: My iPhoto is empty. There is nothing in the Library. Where did everything disappear to?
1. I organized my desktop today (bad idea) - had lots of folders and photos on it (like a messy desk). Did this cause some of the problems?
2. I moved the photos from the desktop into the "Pictures" file folder (with better folder names for me-more changed locations for the photos-another bad idea-huh?).
3. While in the Pictures folder I saw the iPhoto library and wondered why it was there. I dragged it out of that place to the desktop. I put it back in the Pictures folder later thinking that was a problem, but at some point I got the message that there were no photos in my library.
4. My iPhotos had many albums, books, etc... two books ready to go to print - of course they are missing in action.
5. I had photos on my desktop (I used in my books, etc.) and photos simply imported into iPhotos from my camera (so they aren't on my desktop). Where would those photos be? They WERE in iPhoto as an Event. I didn't drag them anywhere.
6. I don't have the Time Machine program set up. Just discovered that while researching this problem. I thought I could go back in time.
7. I am using a iMac and have version 8 of iPhoto.
What does anyone recommend I do?
Thank you. CBJ2009

Answer 1

Main Problem: My iPhoto is empty. There is nothing in the Library. Where did everything disappear to?
Sound like you may have created a second blank iPhoto library - launch iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) key and use the select library option to select from available valid libraries - hopwfully this will solve your problem
1. I organized my desktop today (bad idea) - had lots of folders and photos on it (like a messy desk). Did this cause some of the problems?
That is not a problem AS LONG as none of the things you changed were in the iPhoto library (note that the all images smart folder displays items from the iPhoto library so you have to be very careful if you use it (probably best not to)
2. I moved the photos from the desktop into the "Pictures" file folder (with better folder names for me-more changed locations for the photos-another bad idea-huh?).
Again That is not a problem AS LONG as none of the things you changed were in the iPhoto library - the pictures folder is fine
3. While in the Pictures folder I saw the iPhoto library and wondered why it was there. I dragged it out of that place to the desktop. I put it back in the Pictures folder later thinking that was a problem, but at some point I got the message that there were no photos in my library.
THat is not good - never muck with the iPhoto library - and never change anything inside of it
If iPhoto was running when you did this you may have a bigger problem - but for now lest assume not - most likely you launched iPhoto while there was no iPhoto library available and it created a blank one - hopefully step one fixed this
5. I had photos on my desktop (I used in my books, etc.) and photos simply imported into iPhotos from my camera (so they aren't on my desktop). Where would those photos be? They WERE in iPhoto as an Event. I didn't drag them anywhere.
Assuming that you left the default setting for iPhoto to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library" your photos are all in the originals folder of the iPhoto library. Unless you deleted your iPhoto library in the process of playing around and emptied the trash - they are there.
6. I don't have the Time Machine program set up. Just discovered that while researching this problem. I thought I could go back in time.
getting TM running would be a good idea
LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN