Library needs to be prepared?

Every time I try to open iPhoto, a message comes up that says "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared" and sends me to a link to download a software update. I've downloaded the update 5 times and iPhoto still won't open. I also tried updating all the software on my computer and restarting everything and nothing seems to work. Has anyone else had this problem??

You have to download and RUN the upgrader program - then run the new version of iPhoto
LN

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I just purchased the latest iPhoto to update my 7.1.5.I have run the Library upgrade tool 2x, each saying installed successfully.But, each time I try to open iPhoto, I get the msg,"To open this version of iPhoto,the library needs to be prepared"OSX 10.9.3

I just purchased the latest iPhoto to update my 7.1.5.I have run the Library upgrade tool 2x, each saying installed successfully.But, each time I try to open iPhoto, I get the msg,"To open this version of iPhoto,the library needs to be prepared"OSX 10.9.3

each saying installed successfully
It looks like you installed the Library Upgrader, but did not run it. It is installed in "Applications > Utilities". Launch this tool and click the "Choose Library" button to direct it to your iPhoto library.

My iPhoto library won't open because "it first needs to be prepared," but running the iPhoto Library Upgrader does not change anything. What gives?

I'll try to be as detailed as I can:
I have a mid-2010 iMac. I backed-up and then wiped my Mountain Lion hard drive so that I could have a clean install of Mavericks. I am now in the process of importing my backed-up files, like iTunes and documents, from my external back-up to my new Mavericks machine. Everything in this process has worked so far. I moved the iPhoto library over from the external back-up to the proper location (Users->Pictures->iPhoto Library). Two hours later when the transfer was complete, rather than having a normol iPhoto Library icon (stack of pictures with a photo of a flower), the library appeared as a folder with a half done progress bar and an "x" close button in the corner.
This library would not open so I deleted it and started the whole thing over. Two hours later, same thing. I then restarted my machine and got a regularl looking iPhoto Library icon, but now when I try to open it I get a prompt that says "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first nees to be prepared: to prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader avaliable from Apple." I downloaded the iPhoto Library Upgrader from Apple, ran it, and it says that the library has been updated and can now be used. But when I try to open iPhoto, I hit the same problem, iPhoto doesn't open and I instead get a prompt saying that the library needs to be prepared.
One more thing, when I run the iPhoto Library Upgrader, there is a un-progressing progress bar (a sideways barber shop poll) that says the program is building thumbnails, but then Upgrader gives me a prompt that the library has been upgraded (even though the progress bar is still cranking along). PLEASE HELP.

What version of iPhoto were you running prior to Mavericks? First boot into Revovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and repair the disk and disk permissions. Then reboot back into Mavericks.
Two hours later when the transfer was complete, rather than having a normol iPhoto Library icon (stack of pictures with a photo of a flower), the library appeared as a folder with a half done progress bar and an "x" close button in the corner.
There was a problem with copying the older iPhoto library from the backup. Delete the library and drag it once again from the backup drive to the Pictures folder. Run the upgrader again. Is this what you see when your first launch the upgrader?
OT

I have a MacBook Pro version 10.7.5 Every time I try to open iphoto I get the warning: "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. You have opened this photo library with a newer version of iPhoto." How do I do this?

I have a MacBook Pro version 10.7.5 Every time I try to open iphoto I get the warning: "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. You have opened this photo library with a newer version of iPhoto." How do I do this? I recently bought aperature, and it has been since then that I get this warning.
Thank you!

No I have not tried those things. I don't even know what that means I suppose I have the newest version of aperature; I just bought it 4 days ago.

Can't open iPhoto "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. To prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader available from Apple." Doesn't work...

I've tried to open my iPhoto and a message box opens up and reads "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. To prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader available from Apple." I update this and this message continues to pop up. I've even tried to rebuild it, but no matter what I do the same message appears and iPhoto still wpn't open. Can somebody please help me?!

i'm having the same problem with my iMac (Mac OS X 10.7.5) . i haven't really made any updates to it and yesterday when i tried to access the iPhoto library of my MBP (from my iMac) is when problems started. The iPhoto on the iMac initially said I need to install the recent version of the iPhoto. Since I can't find a 9.0 download, I went to buy the iPhoto on the App store.
When I tried to install iPhoto (version 9.4.3) to the iMac, I got this message:
The iPhoto Library Upgrader is a tool that prepares libraries from iPhoto 5 or earlier, so you can upgrade them with the current version of iPhoto. You can download the tool here.
Note: If your library is from iPhoto 6 or later, this tool is not required."
I then installed the iPhone Library Upgrader, but I got the same prompt:
'You can't open your current photo library using this version of the iPhoto. You have made changes to your library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto."
I guess this takes me back to square one? I am inclined to buy the iLife on eBay with the iPhoto 9.0 version, but needed to know if this is the case before I unfortunately bite the bullet.

HT5037 Indefinite loop trying to open iPhoto - need to prepare library with installer. Follow instructions and it says it is prepared but still won't open and says it needs to be prepared.

I open iPhoto and receive a message saying 'To open your library with this version of iPhoto it must first be prepared.' Then the Learn More or Quit option. I click Learn More and am taken to a site to download the installer. I follow the instructions and launch the installer. It says 'Your library can now be updated by the current version of iPhoto. Would you like to launch iPhoto now?' I click launch iPhoto and a warning pops up saying that it needs to be prepared. this is an indefinite loop and I haven't been able to launch iPhoto in over a year! This is extremely frustrating! HELP!

Care to share how you resolved the issure for others who might have the same issue?
OT

HT5037 All of a sudden I can't open my iPhoto library. I get a message that says "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. It takes me to this page. Bought MacBook Pro 11/2012. Don't have a clue as to version of

All of a sudden I can't open my iPhoto library. I get a message that says "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared. It takes me to this page. Bought MacBook Pro 11/2012. Don't have a clue as to version of IPhoto

Is this library one that you've been using since you bought the MBP? If so and you're running iPhoto 9 then apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with
Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - 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.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - 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. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

IPhoto was working fine. Performed update for HP printer, which should have nothing to do with iPhoto. But the next time I tried to open iPhoto, got this message. "To open your library with this version of iPhote, it first needs to be prepared." When I g

iPhoto was working fine. Performed update for HP printer, which should have nothing to do with iPhoto. But the next time I tried to open iPhoto, got this message. "To open your library with this version of iPhote, it first needs to be prepared." When I g

What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later...
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

HT5037 I keep getting this message despite already upgrading on my new Mac.To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared.

I just purchased a new Mac OS x 10.9.1.
I'm trying to move over files from Passport which was my backup for my old Mac. Not all my photos transported over. I'm missing about 3 years worth. I followed the instructions for the iphoto 11 upgrader for the library, download, utility etc. But no go.
Now Iphoto -- the app -- wont open at all without thisk pop up:
To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared
To prepare the library, use the iPhoto Library Upgrader available from Apple.

But
Then you do not have an iPhoto library - it is not possible to move "some" of an iPhoto library - it is a single entity and must be treates as such
Exactly how step by step did you do this?
I was able to move virtually all my photos and "events" prior to 2010.
I did create a copy of my old iPhoto library from the Passport drive on the desktop but that to gives me the "to open..."message when I tried to open it.
So run the library upgrader (applications folder ==> utilities) against tha tlibrary and then open it using iPhoto 9.5.x
LN

HT5037 when I click on iPhoto(9.5.1) i get "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared." but i downloaded the up-grader, used it and it tells me the library can open with the current version... what should i do now?

When I click on iPhoto(9.5.1) i get "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared." but i downloaded the up-grader, used it and it tells me the library can open with the current version... Then when I click on the iphoto again i get the same message "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared."'
What should I do?

The upgraded is only necessary for libraries created with iPhoto '07 or eearlier. Just double click the library to open it in iPhoto, and let it upgrade, if it has been created by a newr version.

HT5037 To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared.

I opened iphoto and got an error "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared." What do I do? My photos wont open for anything. I have the latest version if iphoto.

1 - NEVER import an iPhoto library into another iPhoto library - it does not work and creates an incredibable mess
at this point you need to go back to your backup from before you added the clipped image to it
2 - exactly how did you "add" the clipped pic to your library (Skitch share to iPhoto ?)
3 - we can not see your or your compter so details are critical - what version of iPhoto do you have? Of the OS?
LN

HT5037 IPhoto I am being advised that I need To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared.

To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared.
I am receiving this message: To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared.
But when I try to prepare as by instructions, I am told that my existing version doesn't require to be prepared?
Any help please!

Given that you present nothing except a problem with no contexno one can possbly anser
What version of iPhoto do you have? You state that you have OS X 10.8.5 in your profile - is that correct? What are the instructions that you are following that do not work?
LN

TS4040 I assumed this would help my problem with not being able to open apps like Preview or TextEdit since I installed Mountain Lion. Instead, first I'm prompted to enter a password, then once I do that, I get an error box telling me the Library needs re

I assumed this would help my problem with not being able to open apps like Preview or TextEdit since I installed Mountain Lion. Instead, first I'm prompted to enter a password, then once I do that, I get an error box telling me the Library needs repairing. So I click on Repair, and once again I'm prompted for a password, which I enter, then the same error box opens, and so it goes. Can anyone help me with this problem? I'd greatly appreciate it.
Thor

Back up all data. Don't continue unless you're sure you can restore from a backup, even if you're unable to log in.
This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership and access-control lists to the default. If you've set special values for those attributes on any of your files, they will be reverted. In that case, either stop here, or be prepared to recreate the settings if necessary. Do so only after verifying that those settings didn't cause the problem. If none of this is meaningful to you, you don't need to worry about it.
Step 1
If you have more than one user account, and the one in question is not an administrator account, then temporarily promote it to administrator status in the Users & Groups preference pane. To do that, unlock the preference pane using the credentials of an administrator, check the box marked Allow user to administer this computer, then reboot. You can demote the problem account back to standard status when this step has been completed.
Triple-click the following line to select it. Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C):
{ sudo chflags -R nouchg,nouappnd ~ $TMPDIR.. ; sudo chown -Rh $UID:staff ~ $_ ; sudo chmod -R u+rwX ~ $_ ; chmod -R -N ~ $_ ; } 2> /dev/null
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
The command will take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear, then quit Terminal.
Step 2 (optional)
Step 1 should give you usable permissions in your home folder. This step will restore special attributes set by OS X on some user folders to protect them from unintended deletion or renaming. You can skip this step if you don't consider that protection to be necessary, and if everything is working as expected after step 1.
Boot into Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at startup. Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial.
When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select
Utilities ▹ Terminal
from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open.
In the Terminal window, type this:
res
Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:
resetpassword
Press return. A Reset Password window will open. You’re not going to reset a password.
Select your boot volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.
Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.
Under Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs, click the Reset button.
Select
 ▹ Restart
from the menu bar.

IPhoto will not open "version needs to be prepared"

New computer running Mt Lion iphoto version 9.4.2
message on attempted opening states: "To open your library with this verion of i photo it first needs to be prepared" Next message says this is not necessary if you are usiing version 5 or later.
This happened after I had spent some time playing with the face recognition feature ...

Make a temporary, backup copy of your library if you don't already have one (Control-click on the library and select Duplicate from the contextual menu) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - 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.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - 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. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

"the iPhoto library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto." WHAT?

Ran software update a few weeks back and now I cannot seem to open iPhoto or access files within.
The error message as soon as I open up iPhoto reads: "the iPhoto library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto."
What do I do to overcome this? What happens to the files in "UPGRADE?"
Should I be worried about the safety of the files during upgrade?

Yes - you should always be worried about yoru files if they are important to you - never upgrade without backingup just in case (the normal case is no problem but you must be prepared)
LN

Library needs to be prepared?

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