Problems with old photos after upgrading to iPhoto 08

Question

Normally I am very good about backing up my photos. I had iPhoto06 for a couple of years, and had updated all of my photos through the end of 10/08. I got iPhoto08 at the end of December (yes...wish I waited) and installed it before backing up my November and December photos. Now for some reason, I can't do anything with the photos from that two month period. If I click to open the thumbnail pictures in iPhoto it just shows a big exclamation point. When I open package contents it does not show any photos that I already had in my iPhoto06 library, although the thumbnails all appear when I open iPhoto. The only reason I can access the other old files is because they had been independently backed up. I can't export, drag and drop and or do anything with the files from that two month period. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sounds like your database file has been damaged:
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