IPhoto quits unexpectedly before loading, but works fine for other user

Question

iPhoto won't load, it bounces on the dock, the menus load across the top, and then the message "the application iPhoto has unexpectedly quit..." comes up.
When iPhoto is started by another user, it loads well, although there are no photos in that one.
I tried removing all photos from mine and that didn't do anything, it still failed to load.
I also trashed the com.apple.iphoto.plist file, and that did nothing.
This is a new mac, and the last thing I did when iPhoto worked was import a whole bunch of photos from an external hard=drive (which had come from iPhoto on my old emac). I watched while it imported, and it seemed ok.
Then I changed the desktop picture to a photo out of that library. Just to see whether that had anything to do with it, I removed that picture from the desktop, but that didn't stop iPhoto quitting again.
I also tried holding down option while opening iPhoto to manually choose the library. Funnily enough, the iPhoto library file in my Pictures folder wasn't available - I could see it, but it was grayed out and couldn't be selected. Then I tried creating a new one - iPhoto Library 2, but that didn't stop the program from quitting either.
There is 3.38 GB of photos in the original photo folder.
Is there anything else I can do? I can see that all the files are there when I open the originals folder, I just can't get iPhoto to work.
thanks in advance!
Lachlan

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Since it works OK in the other account there may be a preference file other than iPhoto's that's interfering with iPhoto. Here's how to determine if that's the case:
Trouble Shooting Preferences in Leopard
1 - Create a folder titled "Preferences A" on the Desktop.
2 - Open the working Preferences folder, HD/Users/your_name/Library/Preferences, and move the contents to the Preferences A folder on the Desktop.
3 - Make a duplicate copy of the Preferences A folder on the Desktop as a precautionary backup.
4 - With the working Preferences folder empty run the application again and determine if the problems is fixed.
NOTE: you may have to drag the contents of the working folder to the trash and empty if moving the contents to the A folder only copies them instead of moving.
5 - If the problem is fixed:
A - open the working Preferences folder (HD/Users/your_name/Library/Preferences).
B - Open the Preferences A folder on the Desktop, select all of the contents and drag them into the working Preferences folder.
C - When the Copy window pops up check the "Apply to All" check box and then click on the Don't Replace button as seen here.
6 - If the problem is NOT fixed, empty the working Preferencess folder and move the contents of the Preferences folder on the desktop back into it.
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) 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. 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.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.