IPhoto won't restore images

Question

Hi,
I used to have version 7.1.4 of iPhoto, and then, when I updated iPhoto to 7.1.5, I thought it deleted ALL the photos and videos in my library! But, if I go to My Home Folder >> Pictures, right click on iPhoto Library, and select Show Package Contents, Go to the Data folder, and there are all my pictures in folders! I tried copying a picture over to iPhoto, and it just says that photo is already in the iPhoto library, and it doesn't show anything in in the iPhoto interface! I also tried going into Time Machine with iPhoto, and Time Machine sees the pictures and videos, but when I try to copy them across, the iPhoto just locks up. Could somebody please help me? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

tomtheapple
Don't change anything in the iPhoto Library Folder via the Finder or any other application. iPhoto depends on the structure as well as the contents of this folder. Moving things, renaming things or otherwise making changes will prevent iPhoto from working and could even cause you to damage or lose your photos.
There are several folders inside the iPhoto Library and their titles are not always clear. You really don’t want to re-import the contents of the /Data folder. All that’s inside there are the wee thumbnails that iPhoto uses for display in the iPhoto Window.
Secondly, iPhoto will not import pics already in the active iPhoto Library.
Some things to try:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point it at the iPhoto Library. If iPhoto sees a valid Library there it will open it. If not, then you likely have a damaged database file.
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