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?

Question

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.

Answer 1

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