Updting iweb/crashes/iphoto also crashed & lost photos/iweb & iphoto probs.

Question

Can someone please help me....... I updated my iwebsite this morning by adding a blog (only 5 blogs in total on site) and importing a photo from iphoto plus changing a couple of words on a photo page.
I then published which was fine.
I then went to do an additional change and publish.
A grey screen came down on the screen followed by 'restart computer' panel in 3 languages.
I restarted to find that iweb would not open and that all photos in iphoto had disappeared.
I then spent over an hour on the 'phone with the applecare protection plan customer help - we rebooted, went into an alternate account and did various other things but I was told the photos were lost and that I should reinstall iweb.
I noticed that the iphoto info still showed 602 mb (aperture shows 305 & this application is fine). Having gone through all my programmes I have now found all my photo files in Adobe Bridge.
1.Can anyone advise how I can import these back into iphoto. (Fortunately most were backed up - just the last week's work wasn't and individual files for an exhibition)
2. Can anyone advise what to do re iweb reinstallation and importing the saved iwebsite back in.
Sorry this is longwinded - should have done this in the first place rather than go to the apple care centre which hasn't resolved issue.
A big thank-you for any help or advice (I'm not a techy but can follow clear instructions!!)
Cheers
G5   Mac OS X (10.4.4)   iphoto 6.06(322) iweb purchased seperately/not packaged
G5   Mac OS X (10.4.4)  

Answer 1

If you look in your Pictures folder you should find the iPhoto Library folder. Check inside for an Originals folder and confirm that it contains your full sized image files. If so then you'll have to start afresh with a new library and import your photos from the old library as follows:
Creating a new library while preserving the rolls from the original.
Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
Drag the Originals folder from the desktop into the open iPhoto window.
This will create a new library with the same rolls as the original library. However dates on the rolls may be different but can be edited as you would the roll title.
Once this is completed you can delete the Originals folder from the desktop and the iPhoto Llibrary folder. If desired, you can keep the older library folder to try other fixes on it.
In the future I recommend you make a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto file after each import and after doing a lot of editing and organizing in the library. Then if you experience a similar crash all you need to do is replace the damaged database file with the backup copy and you'll be back to the same place in the library as when you make the backup. See the tip at the end of my signature.
As for iWeb, locate the User/Library/Application Support/iWeb folder and look inside. Is there only one .sites file in there. If there is more than one Control-click on the largest and select the "Show Package Contents" option in the contextual menu. Check to see if the files used to build your site are there. If so move the other file out of the folder and make sure the file is named Domain.sites. Then try opening it with iWeb.
To prevent iPhoto from this again check out this tip:
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.