Iphoto quits unexpectedly on upload even AFTER rebuilding library

Question

My iphoto 08 is quitting unexpectedly after uploading photos from two different cameras. This happened a few times last month and after the third time iphoto would not open at all and said that my library was damaged/inaccessible. I followed the directions on this forum and rebuilt the library using iphoto manager. That seemed to do the trick but after the second photo import, iphoto started quitting unexpectedly again. I'm worried that there is still a problem unsolved by the rebuilding.
I have also repaired disk permissions. I have 40GB available space on my hard drive.
Is there a problem with my iphoto? Should I import photos another way and then drag the photos into iphoto instead?
PS I have Mac OSX but not sure where to look to identify the exact version. We do all the automatic updates.

Answer 1

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Have you tried deleting the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder.
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.
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.