CyCLoBoT
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Photos app restarts Mac on launch

Every time I launch Photos app, my computer starts after few seconds. I have re-installed El Capitan, I have created new library multiple times but nothing seems to help. Once the computer restarts, it is not even generating any crash logs. I have tried importing images directly from my iPhone instead of iCloud and that doesn't help either. Has anyone come across this issue?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), null

Posted on Feb 23, 2016 8:56 AM

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CyCLoBoT

Q: Photos app restarts Mac on launch

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  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 23, 2016 10:30 AM in response to CyCLoBoT
    Level 10 (141,105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2016 10:30 AM in response to CyCLoBoT

    What version of Photos are you using?

    Where is your library located?  If on an external HD how is that drive formatted and connected?

     

    Have you tried repairing the library according to the instructions in this Apple document: Repair Your Library.

    Warning: If you use iCloud Photo Library with Photos, this action will cause Photos to upload all your pictures again (from Fix missing or incorrect thumbnails in Photos - Apple Support).

    Download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here (and recommended by Apple Support personnel) in the ASC to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

     

    OTsig.png

  • by CyCLoBoT,

    CyCLoBoT CyCLoBoT Feb 23, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 10:39 AM in response to Old Toad

    I am running the latest version of El Capitan (10.11.3) so whatever version of Photos came with it is what I am using.

     

    The photo library is located in Pictures folder in the User directory.

     

    I have tried to repair the photo library as stated in the guide multiple times. One thing I noticed when repairing is that it reaches 7% and then stops for a bit and skips right towards the end. I have over 6k photos/videos and it seems that it is not running fully.

     

    In one of the log files, I saw this error:

     

    msg:"unable to open database file", size: 1126400, path:/Users/USER/Library/Containers/com.apple.cloudphotosd/*/Assets.db, fs:160737665024/248828264448'

    abort() called

     

    This is the full error:

     

    Application Specific Information:

    *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSGenericException', reason: 'Failed to step (14): "insert or replace into AssetHandle (UUID,deviceID,fileID,generationID,itemID,lastUsedTime,path) values (?,?,?,?,?,?,?)" - errcode:000e, msg:"unable to open database file", size: 1126400, path:/Users/USER/Library/Containers/com.apple.cloudphotosd/*/Assets.db, fs:160737665024/248828264448'

    abort() called

    terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException

     

    No idea why the Path is showing /User/USER. Is it not supposed to list my actual username instead of USER?

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 23, 2016 10:52 AM in response to CyCLoBoT
    Level 10 (141,105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2016 10:52 AM in response to CyCLoBoT

    Download the demo version of PowerPhotos  and see if you can load and view the images in the library with it.

     

    If you can scroll thru the library to see if any of the thumbnails don't show correctly.  If you find any they may be damaged and preventing the library from opening. 

     

    If there are only a few of those here's something you can try (first make a backup copy of the library before trying).

    1 - Control (right) - click on each bad thumbnail in the PowerPhotos and select Show Original from the contextual menu:

    PowerPhotos001.jpg

    2 - you'll be taken to the folder inside the library where the original file should be located and the file selected. If the file is there move it to the library.

    3 - after you've moved all of the files to the Desktop try launching Photos to see if it will open.

    This is a long shot so be sure to only try this on a copy of the library package.

  • by CyCLoBoT,

    CyCLoBoT CyCLoBoT Feb 23, 2016 11:11 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 11:11 AM in response to Old Toad

    I just went through the entire library with PowerPhotos and all the thumbnails looked fine. I didn't see anything unusual. If there was an issue with the library or something else on my computer, would my computer not have restarted while using PowerPhotos? I think there's something wrong with the Photos app itself.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 23, 2016 11:13 AM in response to CyCLoBoT
    Level 10 (141,105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2016 11:13 AM in response to CyCLoBoT

    Here's another approach. See the note in red at the end:

     

    Starting Over From Scratch With a New Photos Library.

    1 - launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new library.

    2 - open your old library package with the Finder as shown in this screenshot:

    Popen.jpg

     

    3 - locate the Master folder in the old library and drag it onto the Photos icon in the Dock.

    Finder001.jpg

     

    This will create a new library with the same Moments as the original library but will not include the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.

     

    Note:  your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.

     

    Once the import is complete verify that the new library has all of your photos and working properly before deleting the older, problem library.

  • by CyCLoBoT,

    CyCLoBoT CyCLoBoT Feb 23, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Old Toad

    Unfortunately that did not work either. The moment it finished importing pictures and I switched over to Photos tab, the computer restarted.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 23, 2016 11:38 AM in response to CyCLoBoT
    Level 10 (141,105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2016 11:38 AM in response to CyCLoBoT

    Two more tests:

     

    1 - log into another user account on your Mac and see if you get the same boot problem.

     

    2 - boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and try there.

  • by CyCLoBoT,

    CyCLoBoT CyCLoBoT Feb 23, 2016 12:09 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 12:09 PM in response to Old Toad

    I had already tried this with a new user account and it did not work. I just tried it in safe mode and it crashed again (Mac restarted after few seconds).

     

    I will try to create a new user account on my brother's Macbook Air and will see if it's doing the same thing or not. If it crashes on his laptop as well then I guess we'll know that there's something wrong with my iCloud Photo Library.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Feb 23, 2016 12:17 PM in response to CyCLoBoT
    Level 10 (141,105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 23, 2016 12:17 PM in response to CyCLoBoT

    Those two tests show that the problem is system wide.

     

    At this point I would boot into the Recovery volume (boot with the Command + R keys held down) and repair the hard drive.  Reboot normally and see if the problem remains. 

     

    If it does, it's back to the Recovery volume and reinstall the system.