IPhoto says my photo library is unreadable?!?
When i open my iphoto a notification comes up :
but i have not changed even used iphoto for about a year now.
I have tried holding down option + command keys and this menu comes up:
i have tried every single option however it just comes back with the original message. I was wondering if there was any way to reinstall iphoto or some how reset iphoto.
i am currently using 10.8.2 mountain lion and is running on a macbook pro late 2011 edition
Well if you have no back up you need to make a back up now. It might be too late, but you're not going to know until you fix this.
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
Then try:
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
Similar Messages
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"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable... Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your photo 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."
How do i solve this problem? Dpes rebuilding your photo library delete all your photos? I have thousands of photos with no back up HELP!!Well if you have no back up you need to make a back up now. It might be too late, but you're not going to know until you fix this.
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
Then try:
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 -
This pops up immediately after I open up the application. I have quit and restarted my laptop many times and nothing has changed. I do not want to lose all of my photos, please help.Thank you.
Start by making a back up:
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
Then try repair the Library:
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 -
When I start my iPhoto it says: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I don't have a back-up of my library and I don't know what to do! Thanks
Try to restart your Mac. If the library is really in use by another application, that can clear it.
Tell us more about your system. Which version of iPhoto are you using? Which version of MacOS X?
Where are you storing your iPhoto Library?
What happened before this problem first started? Did iPhoto crash? Did you move the iPhoto Library somewhere else?
Try Terence Devlin's fix here: Re: IPHOTO LOCKED
Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Look there for a file called ‘iPhoto’Lock.data or similar. Drag it to the Desktop. Make no other changes. Start iPhoto. Does that help? -
I was editing photos in my iphotos and it froze on me. So I shut down my computer and when I restarted I now can not access them. It says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. What can I do to fix this?
What you're describing is the Finder window for your external hard drive. When you're in iPhoto and try to edit a photo what happens?
Are you saying that the photos for your iPhoto library are located on the external HD while your library is in the Pictures folder on the boot drive? That would indicate a referenced library. You can check to see if you're running a referenced library by checking the Advanced Preference pane in iPhoto:
Click to view full size
So based one the Advanced preference pane in iPhoto what type of library are you running. Where is the library itself located? It should look like this:
By default it should be located in your Users/Home/Pictures folder. However, it could be run on an external HD. -
when I open iphoto I get an error message that says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable, I have tried restarting computer and opening iphoto whilst holding down option and command key, but then I get the following message-Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup. Please can anyone help?
Make a back up now. If you have any vaule in Your photos always have a back up.
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. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate
In Library Manager the Rebuild command is under the File menu. There's also an excellent Help available.
Regards
TD -
My iPhoto won't open. It says "Your photo library is either in use by another application or no longer readable." Please tell me I haven't lost all my pics?! I do not have them backed up. I have tried restarting my mac. Please Help!
What haven't you backed them up? You should always have a back up of any important material on your Mac. Make one now:
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. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate
What version of iPhoto do you have? -
I had to reinstall Mountain Lion 10.8.2 on my iMac. Now when I try to open iPhoto i get a pop up saying my photo library was created by a newer version. Did I miss an update or what
We have no way of knowing. Maybe you did or maybe you didn't. If you don't tell us what version you have, how could we know?
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When trying to open iPhoto the computer says:
‘The photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto.’
So I click ‘upgrade’
Then it says: ‘You can’t open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto.’
Etcetera...
What to do??
TheoIs your Apple Intel-based, poppelmacbook? If not, you should consider treating yourself to a new Mac. Last December I gave up my old because it just could not update...anything because it was not Intel-based. Updating everything on this OS to 10.9 has been confusing for me, but I just could not work with that old Mac because the updates were too smart? for my 10.6. It is upstairs now...for visiting family: games, garage band, etc.--things I never did use. Apple refurbished and purchase the extended warranty. Apple loyalist since late 1980's.
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Hi, I just updated my mac from version10.6 to 10.9.3 os mavericks. i went to open iPhoto and it says "Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade." does this mean I have lost all photos i had in there? It does not give me a choice, it just says quit or upgrade? p.s. i didn't realise ther was a way to back up my computer beforehand, which i am guessing this is time machine?
1. No, you haven't.
2. Back up the iPhoto library(this can be done through Time Machine or by dragging it to a drive, partition, or disk image formatted as Mac OS Extended) and then click Upgrade.
3. Aside from Time Machine and drag-copying items from your home folder, programs such as the Disk Utility, Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper can make backups.
(108026) -
I tried to open my iphoto last night on my iMAC and it somehow updated on it's own and now has a message saying "The photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto. Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade.The upgrade process for very large libraries may take an hour or more to complete." I only have the option to quit or upgrade. What does this mean? Have i lost my pictures? i don't properly have my back up hard drive set up so all my pictures aren't backed up.
"The photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto. Your photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iPhoto after the upgrade.The upgrade process for very large libraries may take an hour or more to complete."
After your iPhoto application got updated to a new version, iPhoto will convert the iPhoto library to a new format, that is used by the new version. The warning tells you, that after this upgrade older iPhoto versions will no longer be able to read the iPhoto library. If you have a second Mac with older software that might be important. Make a backup to be on the safe side and let iPhoto upgrade the library. -
When I try to open iPhoto, a message comes up saying "What photo Library do you want iPhoto to use?" I cannot find my photos anywhere now!!! HELP!!!
Hi Thomas,
I actually just found my photo library in the trash????? I have no idea how they got there, but I have moved them back to the Picture folder and all is well again.
Thanks for replying to my post.
Cheers,
Kathryn. -
Hi when I open iPhoto it's says "What photo library do you want to use" Have I lost all my photos? I don't know what to do here can anyone help please?
Is there an item named "iPhoto Library.photo library" or similar in your "Pictures" folder, showing with an icon like a fan of pictures?
Or did you store your iPhoto Library in a different folder, perhaps on an external drive?
if you cannot find your iPhoto Library search for it with Find Any File, as described by Old Toad in this post:
Re: My iphoto library has disappeared. How do I find it?
Old ToadFeb 4, 2014 9:05 PM
Re: My iphoto library has disappeared. How do I find it?in response to onpurpose
Download and use Find Any File to search for a file named "iPhoto6.Library". It's a file unique to all iPhoto libraries.
FAF an search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, packages and system files. If there's another iPhoto library hiding somewhere on your hard drive FAF will find it.
OT -
I need to minimize the space photos take on my MacBook Pro OSx 10.7. They are in iPhoto, Aperture, Pictures/Photo Library, etc. Are they taking space in all of these locations?
Are they taking space in all of these locations?
It depends on how you are using iPhoto and Aperture.
iPhoto and Aperture each create their own library files, and the default location for them is in /users/youruseraccount/Pictures
You can configure iPhoto and Aperture to use the same Library file, in which case your photos are only stored once. But if you are using iPhoto & Aperture with independent library files, you may in fact be duplicating your storage.
The second consideration is whether or not you have configured iPhoto and/or Aperture as reference libraries, in which case their library files only reference photos you have stored in other places on your hard drive. Setting them up as reference libraries does not duplicate the photos inside the library files. -
I imported photos from an old iPhoto (2001) to photo library and can now see them only as thumbnails but not when I click on them. The screen is black cannot see or print either. Is there any way to salvage those old photos? I now use iLife09. OS 10.6
Did you import the old iPhoto library into the new one? That's not what you want to do because you will import all of the original, modified and thumbnail files as if they were original files. Lots of duplicates and useless small photos.
Do you have a backup copy of the library that you imported into to? If you do then bring it in and then use iPhoto Library Manager to merge the two libraries into a new, 3rd library.
If you don't then you'll have to try to fix the current one and then cull out the duplicates and small useless photos as follows: make a temporary, duplicate copy of your library and apply the three fixes in order as necessary.
Fix #1
1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your HD/User/Home()/ Library/Preferences folder.
2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your HD/User/Home()/Library /Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
3 - 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 down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Fix #2
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #3
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.
If this doesn't fix the problem you'll have to start over from scratch and create a new library from the files inside the Originals folder of your current library. But first you should cull out the small photos that would be the thumbnails from the 2001 library.
Move the Originals folder to the Desktop, open and do a search for Kind=photo, File size is less than 10 KB. That should find all of the thumbnail files which you can then drag to the Trash. You might have to make that less than 50 KB. Then Import the remaining photos into a new iPhoto library.
OT
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