Updated to iphoto 11, can't rebuild library

Question

Hi all!
  I think I have a big problem on my hands, and am hoping someone has an answer. I have been using iPhoto 9 with no problems, and have my iphoto library stored on an external harddrive. It has about 20,000 pictures and a handful of videos (cell phone quality). Last night I decided to upgrade to iPhoto 11 for the AVCHD compatibility. I downloaded it from the app store, attempted to run it, and got the message that I needed to update my iphoto library. I allowed it to do that, but it stopped midway with the message that it needed to repair permissions. I again allowed it to do that, but it was unsuccessful. I came here and did some searching, and then tried to repair permissions by starting iPhoto with command+alt. That was unsuccessful.
   At this point, I strted to get nervous, so I made a duplicate copy of my iPhoto library on my external harddrive. It was at that point that I noticed my library was only 4.47 GB. Panic has now set in, because there is no way a library of 20,000+ could be that small, right?? I have never used Time Machine (i know, horrible), but have been slowly making DVD backups of 2-3 months at a time. I am nowhere near to done, and would loose quite a bit if something has happened to my library.
  Following advice from these boards, I have also tried to command+option start iPhoto and rebuilding the database. However, as soon as it starts, it stops again with the error that I need to update my library. When I allow it to update my library, that stops with the error that I need to repair permissions, and then it can't do that and quits. It's one big vicious cycle.  I've also tried the iPhoto Library Manager that some have suggested downloading, but the latest version said it was for iPhoto 7.something and earlier.
   Can anyone tell me what to do next? And is there any way that my entire library is still somewhere, intact??
THANKS in advance!
(I'm currently running OS X 10.9)

Answer 1

Last question first: there's no choice really. A USB/Firewire or Thunderbolt diks formatted Mac OS Extended, Journaled.
My worry about the 80k photos is that you're importing one library into another. 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.
As for Q1, I don't know if WIndows can reliably work with such a drive. Macs can work with a couple of formats but not iPhoto or Aperture.
Once the that new library is in, and if it's a mess, as I suspect, then trash it. Copy the Library again from the NTFS disk and try rebuild it:
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