Lost iPhoto Library??

Alas, I don't have the answer, I have the same question. Suddenly my iPhoto opens with no photos. I think I know what I did wrong--I moved some files that were in Pictures, and perhaps inadvertently moved my iPhoto library as well. I found it in the new "untitled folder" that I had created, still in Pictures. But when I reopen iPhoto (by opening with Option key down) to choose the old iPhoto Library, it still does not contain any photos--Even though Finder tells me there is 69 MB in there. I moved it back under Pictures and moved the new Library that the program created, to Trash. Nothing seems to correct this problem. Isn't there a saintly guru out there who can help us?

I've had a similar problem and have posted my own question, but have received no solutions. Previously, I tried to move the library to an external hard drive, but all that showed up on the hard drive was a funny looking icon that said "iPhoto Library" but it was only 18 MB (my library is 24 GB). Today I tried again, and at 5.73 GB got the message, "The operation could not be completed due to an error. Error code -1309." After I click OK, the hard drive keeps rattling and the progress bar going like it's still copying. But when it's all done, no iPhoto library shows up on the hard drive. Even Spotlight can't find it on the hard drive. My iPhoto is iLife '08.

pandjwells

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

In the Finder:

Try going -f to start a search:

Kind -> Images

Size -> Greater Than -> 100 kb

Set it to search your entire Mac

Does it find any trace of the photos?

Regards

TD

Aline

Try the same search as above.

Regards

TD

catservants

That 1309 error suggests that one or other of the disks has suffered some damage, and might need to be formatted again, or checked with Disk Warrior or some such utility. I would suspect that it's the External. Start by checking it with Disk Utility. Remember that re-formatting will erase the drive and therefore you need to back up any data on there first.

Regards

TD

I turned on my computer and there was nothing in iphoto all 1,700+ pictures and event were gone. How do I find them. Por Favor

amigojohn

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.

Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting dialogue select 'Choose Library' and point iPhoto at your Library (in your Pictures Folder).

If that does not open the library then you probably have a damaged database.

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 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.

3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.

To create and populate a new library:

Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.

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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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

Thanks so much for the error code interpretation! You had an answer that the Apple Care tech I asked had no idea about.

When I run "Repair Permissions" on my iMac, it comes up with errors Disk Utility won't fix, so perhaps that's what's giving the -1309 error.

Might be time for Disk Warrior.

Regards

TD

Thank you so much for the tips Terrance. The option key launch iphotos worked. Also I found some in Trash ???? I do not know how hey got there. However, we are all back together.

Amigojohn