Why just blank squares when I open iphoto?

I'm running version 4.0.3. Have 2500 photos and numerous albums. When I open iphoto all I get is empty squares with the photo number beneath. I loaded two photos from a camera card and they are just fine. I tried the iphoto "rebuild the photo data base" by loading with the option and shift key pressed, but after waiting about an hour for the process to proceed, when the photo library finally came on it was still blank squares. I haven't touched the photo library folder, but now seem to have two of them. I have an external hard drive, when I tried to load from the backup version it did the same thing. What's wrong? Help!
eMac Mac OS X (10.3.9) iphoto version 4.0.3

walter7
Welcome to Discussions.
Don't panic. When you did the rebuild iPhoto created a new iPhoto Library Folder, probably called iPhoto Library_1. You can move the newest one to the desktop. Leave the original where it is.
Most likely because of updates or installs you need to:
1. Restart your computer to repair the directory if needed.
2. Run "Repair Permissions" from Disk Utility located in your Applications>Utilties Folder.
Open the first aid window and select your internal hard drive: "Macintosh HD" - Repair Permissions
3. Try iPhoto again. If it doesn't work then QUIT iPhoto.
4. Your iPhoto preferences file may be corrupted.
(MAKE SURE you QUIT iPhoto first)
You will find it in your Home directory:
(Home/your account) >Library>Preferences>com.apple.iPhoto.plist
Remove or trash the preference (.plist file) and restart iPhoto.
If all this doesn't help you may be running into the hard drive free space issue. The OS needs a lot of free space on your disk to use temporarily for heavy lifting - like working with iPhoto.
How much space do you have?

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My guess is that the library has been corrupted from being run on an overfull HD.
So, try rebuild the Library on the External
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After the import, were you ever able to see those photos from inside iPhoto? Did the app crash during or after the import?
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Click "Last Roll" in the Source Pane (left column). You should see the photos from the most recent import.
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Are there photos in the Library? If not then just trash it and launch iphoto. It will make a new one.
If there are pics in it then 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.
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When I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'

when I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'

Reboot you system, if you have not already done so - this should take care of the "in use by another application" part of the message.
If the problem persist you will need to create a new library or to repair your library, or to restore it from your backup.
If you do not yet have any images in your iPhoto Library simply move it to the Trash and hold down the option-key while launching iPhoto again. This will give you the option to create a new iPhoto Library or to pick another one, if you have other libraries.
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Re: Why do I keep getting asked to repair my iPhoto library?
Re: when I open iphoto I get an error message that says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable,
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When i open iPhoto it says: "Caution: The iphoto library is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have permission to make changes to it."
I have looked and i have read and write permission.
I don't know what else i can do.
I just got this computer, I was transferring pictures from my desktop folder (from my old PC) into iPhoto. It stopped importing, i had to force quit and now i get this message every time.
I click ok and iPhoto shuts down.
Any advice?
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i had to force quit
The database may have been damaged when you did that.
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 Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 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, 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
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Why just blank squares when I open iphoto?

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