Old iphoto library wont load/open

Hi.
I am on the yosemite upgrade (10.10.1) and my iphoto is upgraded to 9.6 on a mac book pro.
I have an older library from my backup that I cannot open. This particular library has some baby pictures on it and I am hoping to recover them.
When i updated to Mavericks my computer crashed during the update and i was able to back up my data in safe mode (because i forgot to backup before..) and i have everything. i was able to get the OS installed and working, loaded the back up. My iphoto would not open but i downloaded it again and was able to use it but it would not open my library previous to the upgrade. Gave up, would come back once in awhile to try remedies read online. Now, looking into the package contents i saw what must be my pics (about 700 files in albums folder) and downloaded aperture because it would open that file type. No avail.
I like to think i am pretty computer savvy but i am at a loss here. I can give you any information you need to help me. Ive rebuilt, repaired, used command console, looked in icloud, etc.
Thank you so much for reading.

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.

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Trying to open old iPhoto library on osx 10.9.5 with iPhoto 9.5.1. iPhoto says I must upgrade but upgrade eventually hangs. Tried to rebuild/repair database but it always says you have to upgrade database first and eventually hangs

Trying to open old iPhoto library on osx 10.9.5 with iPhoto 9.5.1. iPhoto says I must upgrade but upgrade eventually hangs. Tried to rebuild/repair database but it always says you have to upgrade database first and eventually hangs

What version was the old library made with?
What is the exact message? when it hangs does it crash or do you have to force quit?
LN

Old iphoto library from an old computer's hard drive doesn't open anymore

My old computer broke some time ago, but I got the hard drive saved with its iPhoto library. I used to be able to open the old iPhoto from the old computer's hard drive with my new computer connecting them, but now it says that the old iPhoto cannot be opened because I have to update to a newer version, but the only button I can press is 'quit'. So I don't know how to get a newer version of iPhoto to my old hard drive or how to get the pictures out of the old iPhoto. I have a separate iPhoto in my new computer.
When I press 'show content' of the old iPhoto, there are no pictures anywhere.
Please help, I have my old pictures there!
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Best regards,
Petra

I used to be able to open the old iPhoto from the old computer's hard drive with my new computer connecting them, but now it says that the old iPhoto cannot be opened because I have to update to a newer version, but the only button I can press is 'quit'.
Petra, do you mean, you opened the old iPhoto application from the old computer on your new computer or did you open the iPhoto Library?
If you have a newer iPhoto version on your new computer, try to open your old iPhoto Library with the newer iPhoto version on your new Mac.
What was the old iPhoto version on the old Mac, and which version do you have now? And which version of MacOS X?
If you now have iPhoto 9.5.1 on your new computer, launch this version while holding down the options key (sometimes called alt key). This will bring up the library chooser panel. Select the old library on your old drive. iPhoto should offer to upgrade the library., unless your old library has been created by a very old iPhoto version.
If the old library had been created with iPhoto '08 or earlier, you need first to run the iPhoto Library Upgrader to prepare the library.
See this document: iPhoto '11: About the Library Upgrader
After running the upgrader, proceed as described above.
-- Léonie

I cannot open several pictures from my old iPhoto library which I saved on an external HDD.

Hi,
I saved my old iPhoto library on an external HDD and successfully opened them in past several times. But now with iPhoto 11 v. 9.2.3 all I can see is a black triangle (image attached) for majority of my pictures and folder from my old iPhoto library on the external drive. Several times I tried rebuilding iPhoto library but that did not help.
I am runnig MAC OS X 10.6.8 with most recent updates.
Thanks in advance for yor help,
I must admit its highly frustrating. Sometime I feel, am I still using the same Apple product or it is something else .
Image:

that indicates a disconnect to the original photos - have you deleted any photos using the finder or run any clean up software?
If no then download iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - and use the rebuild command in the free trial to create a new library leaving the existing one as is
LN

Recently purchased a new imac and thought my old iPhoto library transferred over. It wasn't. And I can't get iPhoto to open on my old mac ("can't open your current version of iPhoto using this version of iPhoto. You have made changes to your photo lib ...

I purchased a new imac (4G, OS X 10.6.8) in Feb 2011 and thought my old iPhoto library transferred over. It wasn't. And I can't get iPhoto to open on my old mac. It says, "can't open your current version of iPhoto using this version of iPhoto. You have made changes to your photo library using a newer version of iPhoto. Please quit and use the latest version of iPhoto". I don't think my old mac will support the newer version of iPhoto so I feel like I'm stuck (this is why I got a new mac -- cheaper than upgrading all my software, etc). Help! I really need to get to my old photos, and no, they are not backed up anywhere. Thanks.

You have two options:
Run the Library on a machine that has the same version as the machine that was stolen.
or
Recover the files from this library and start over from scratch.
To recover the files:
Go to your Pictures Folder (or whereever you have the back up) 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.
Your originals are in the Masters folder.
Note this will only recover your photos as imported from you camera.
Regards
TD

Can I add an old Iphoto library to the current one or just open one at a time

Is there any way to add an old iphoto library from a disc back into the current library? Or do I have to just switch them back and forth?

You can merge libraries using the pais version of iPhoto Library Manager
iPhoto it's self can only use one libeary at a time
LN

Original iPhoto library wont open

iPhoto.app version: 9.5.1
OSX Version: 10.9.4
In my Pictures folder I have:
- iPhoto Library
- iPhoto Library 2
* iPhoto Library (original) is huge, 461.19 GB
* iPhoto Library 2 is empty, which is okay as I created it trying to fix the issue of iPhoto Library (original) not opening.
What the problem is:
- iPhoto Library (original) doesn't open
Here is what I've tried:
- Creating a new iPhoto Library 2
Here is an additional issue
- Since I've created the iPhoto Library 2, iPhoto Library (original) does not display as an option to select if I open iPhoto.app and hold down the option button.
So I can't select the iPhoto Library to while holding down the option and command buttons, this only brings up the repair menu for iPhoto Library 2.
Iv'e tried to select the iPhoto Library (original) by opening iPhoto.app and holding down the option button, then selecting the Other Library button, finding the iPhoto Library (original) and then selecting it (BTW that's how I know what size it is). I can select it, but clicking the Open button does nothing.
NOTE: I'm a software engineer and have no problem using the command line, I'm thinking this is a permission issue or a database issue it just needs to be reindexed.
Question: I know from the command line I can reindex application data such as the mail.app, can I also do this with the iPhoto.app?
Any other suggestions?

to get the first aid option Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - from the resulting first aid window repair permissions and if necessary rebuild your database
LN

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iPhoto_606 cannot be installed on this computer.
An eligible iPhoto application could not be found in /Applications.
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Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
iPhoto_606 cannot be installed on this computer.
That means that iPhoto 6 is not installed on the computer. You can't run the version 6 updater, because you would have to upgrade first. Upgrading requires a purchase.
To see what version is installed, select iPhoto inside the Applications folder and do File > Get Info (or type Command-i). The info box will state the version number, and you don't have to launch the application to get this information.
While you're in the Finder (with iPhoto closed) navigate to Macintosh HD/ Users/ (your user name)/ Library/ Preferences/ com.apple.iPhoto.plist and move that file to the Trash. See if iPhoto will launch and load the library then.
If not, report back with the version number and we can go from there.
Regards.

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Hi guys!
I recently bought a new MacBook Air as my MacBook Pro was on its last legs... I have my backup for my old MacBook Pro on an external hard drive and I'm trying to put a selection of albums from my old iPhoto onto my new MacBook Air iPhoto. I can't simply click and drag it over as I get an error message "The iPhoto library is a Time Machine backup, and so cannot be used as the main library...". I've tried to reopen iPhoto while holding option and selecting my old iPhoto library from my external hard drive to open... AND I get the same message.
If anyone could help me out that would be amazing!
FYI: The hard drive I am using is a G|Drive mobile with Thunderbolt 1 TB.
Thank you very much in advance!
Cheers,
Kendall

I may sound like a real rookie here, but on my new MacBook Air there isn't a "Pictures" folder under "Users/kendallwilson" like there used to be on my old MacBook Pro (Early 2011). I'm still working out the new software on my MB Air, so where exactly should I open this new window to start following the steps you just provided me.
Thanks again!

How to import photos from an old iPhoto library

I have started using a new Mac (MacBook Pro Retina with OS10.10.1).
I saved my earlier iPhoto Library on my previous Mac to an external Drive. Now, if I try to open the old iPhoto Library file from my new Mac then iPhoto offers me to 'Switch Libraries' and to access pictures from the old library.
But this is not what I need. I would like to merge the old into the new (on my current Mac) and use a single iPhoto library for all pictures. In another word I would like to import content from the old library to the new and then use it as a single iPhoto library. When I try the 'iPhoto Library' files are inactive in the Finder....
Please advise steps to do do it.
Thanks

iPhoto can not merge libraries
And you must NEVER Import an iPhoto library - it does not work and creates a massive mess
To merge libraries you must either use Aperture (being phased out this year) or the paid version of iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -
Or continue to have two libraries and switch between them
LN

How can I import my old iPhoto library into my new version of iPhoto?

Just purchased new iMac and am trying to import my old iPhoto library, but keep getting Unreadable Files message. I have the library file and see that it shows up as an iPhoto Library under the Kind column.

Now that you're tried to open the correct library once see if you can perfor the following: 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.

How do I import an old iphoto library from an external hard disk while keeping my editing and organization in tact?

I am running iPhoto '08 on a MacBook Pro 2.2 GHz Intel C2D (MacBook Pro 3,1). I backed up my hard drive contents onto an external hard drive, then formatted my computer and installed Mountain Lion. I then re-installed iPhoto '08 and ran all the updates. Now, I would like to import my old library from the external disk onto my computer without losing my editing and organization; however, when I select "import to library" from iPhoto, the old iPhoto library is not a selectable option.
I know how to "show package contents" and import directly from the Original and Modified folders, but I don't want to lose my organization. Can I simply drag the content of those folders into my new Original and Modified folders? Will iPhoto read that correctly?
I tried to open the old library from the external disk, thinking to export them all to a folder and import from there, but that just opened my new library and none of the old photos were imported or available.
I'm running out of ideas and would appreciate any help you guys can give. Thanks!!

You don't import it.
Just drag the iphoto Library from the external to the Pictures Folder.
Then open it:
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'
Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.

Old iPhoto Library won't update

I have an old iPhoto library from iPhoto 9 that won't update to iPhoto 11 and won't open. How do I fix this or can I retrieve the photos from the old library without opening it in iPhoto?

Honestly I'm not sure what it is then. There is a forum for iPhoto, I would repost there and let them know what you have already tried, hopefully someone there knows what to do. You can find that forum at:
https://discussions.apple.com/community/ilife/iphoto

When I try to open iPhoto I get the error message "The library "iPhoto Library" cannot be opened.

When I try to open iPhoto I get the error message "The library "iPhoto Library" cannot be opened. To open it, you must upgrade to the latest version of IPhoto." But the app store says that the latest version is installed.
I just migrated from 2011 macbook to new 2014 macbook with Yosemite on it.
Here is the main error - Dyld Error Message: Library not loaded: /Library/Frameworks/NyxAudioAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/NyxAudioAnalysis Referenced from: /Applications/iPhoto.app/Contents/Frameworks/iLifeSlideshow.framework/Versions/ A/iLifeSlideshow Reason: image not found
MacBook Pro 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
OSX 10.10.1
IPhoto 9.6
Any help much appreciated.

There is a framework missing in your System library. You need to reinstall MacOS X to restore the dynamic library:
See:
Dyld Error Message:
Library not loaded: /Library/Frameworks/NyxAudioAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/NyxAudioAnalysis
Referenced from:
Have you run any cleaner applications that could have removed files, or installed third party software lately?
To reinstall the system, boot into Recovery:
See this page: OS X: About OS X Recovery
-- Léonie
Added:
How are you launching iPhoto? From your Dock? The Dock icon may still be linked to an older iPhoto version. Just to be sure, you are opening really iPhoto 9.6, launch iPhoto by double-clicking the iPhoto icon in your applications folder. Your crash log with the the "Library not found" error message should show the version number of iPhoto. Which version is it showing?

Can I import photos from an old iPhoto library?

Can I import photos from an old iPhoto library on an external hard drive to my current iPhoto library? The icon on the hard drive appears greyed out when I try via Import.

Open the older library and export the Photos from it to the Finder (File -> Export) and switch to the new Library and import those.
Or, use iPhoto Library Manager to move the photos, plus all the versions and associated metadata to the new Library.
Regards
TD

Old iphoto library wont load/open

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