iPhoto is Corrupting My Photos and Videos

If that fails then I go to the image file, copy it to somewhere (desktop usually), then drag it into iPhoto. So, I never move or edit anything in the iPhoto folder; I only look at the files or copy them.

This might explain why you're having recurring problems.

iPhoto loses track of the image because of a corrupt or damaged database file. Your response is to recover the file from the Library Folder and then re-import it... and this image is then tracked... in the corrupt database file.

But you're not dealing with the core issue here: the corrupt database file. It keeps losing files and you keep adding them back and it loses files because it's corrupt.

You need a new Library with a new database file:

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.

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

Eric

It's very unlikely - you'll be glad to hear - that iPhoto is actually damaging your files. What this sounds like is a corrupted database file - that is, the file that tracks the various versions of your pics has been damaged.

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

onohah:

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Did you try Terence's suggested fixes? What might work for one may not for another. So go ahead and try them.

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) 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 created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), 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. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.≤br>
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

One question though: if the database file is corrupted then why can't I open the actual image/video files that are in the iPhoto folder from within Finder? If iPhoto isn't open then shouldn't those files be totally unrelated to the DB file?

Yes you should be able to access the pics via the Finder as they are tracked in the db, but no more. This suggests to me that you have hard disk issues.

I do look at or copy the files from that folder every once in a while, but I never move/delete them.

But why do you access the files via the Finder at all? Every time you do you risk damaging the Library. There are many, many ways to access your files in iPhoto:

For 10.5 users: You can use any Open / Attach / Browse dialogue. On the left there's a Media heading, your pics can be accessed there. Apple-Click for selecting multiple pics.




To upload to a site that does not have an iPhoto Export Plug-in the recommended way is to Select the Pic in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export and export the pic to the desktop, then upload from there. After the upload you can trash the pic on the desktop. It's only a copy and your original is safe in iPhoto.

This is also true for emailing with Web-based services. If you're using Gmail you can use THIS

If you use Apple's Mail, Entourage, AOL or Eudora you can email from within iPhoto. With 10.5 you can access the Library from the New Message Window in Mail:





If you use a Cocoa-based Browser such as Safari, you can drag the pics from the iPhoto Window to the Attach window in the browser.

Or, if you want to access the files with iPhoto not running, then create a Media Browser using Automator (takes about 10 seconds) or use THIS

Other options include:

1. *Drag and Drop*: Drag a photo from the iPhoto Window to the desktop, there iPhoto will make a full-sized copy of the pic.

2. *File -> Export*: Select the files in the iPhoto Window and go File -> Export. The dialogue will give you various options, including altering the format, naming the files and changing the size. Again, producing a copy.

3. *Show File*: Right- (or Control-) Click on a pic and in the resulting dialogue choose 'Show File'. A Finder window will pop open with the file already selected.

All of these are faster and safer than rooting through the iPhoto Library Folder.

why does it seem that so many people have problems with corrupted photos/databases in iPhoto (I see a lot of these problems in the discussions, and it's happened to me lots before)?

Some comments on this one:

You cannot judge what's going on with an application by visiting an Internat help site. Only people who have problems come here, all the other ones don't. So it's like going to the Emergency Room of your local hospital on a Saturday night and using what you see there as an assessment of the health of your community.

That said, the db problems are common amongst folks who have issues probably because there really isn't anything else to go wrong with iPhoto. And do you really think that

and it's happened to me lots before

is unrelated to

I do look at or copy the files from that folder every once in a while,

If you're having this issue regularly and you believe that it's not related to you surfing the iPhoto Library Folder, then check your HD for issues. Corruption is caused when the app is interrupted writing to the disk - by crashes, force quits and the like - or when there is disk damage that prevents a successful write out to the disk.

Regards

TD

Eric

I think you have a significant problem with something, and I really do think that iPhoto is the symptom, not the issue.

I was having photo corruption problems right away even though I had never opened the iPhoto folder from within Finder and I hadn't had iPhoto force quit yet at that point.

and

iPhoto crashes somewhat often for me (has been doing this since I first got the computer),

iPhoto is a mature application and, frankly, mine simply never crashes. I've found it to be robust and hard-wearing. So there's something in there that's causing this issue - a faulty install of the app, a minor glitch in the install of the Operating System because iPhoto should not crash "somewhat often".

Going into the iPhoto Library Folder will not damage your library but making changes there will. I didn't say it would. I said that anytime you go in there you risk damaging the Library.

I mostly access them from Finder when manually backing up my HD to DVD (which I don't do very often because it's not my primary backup method), or when trying to recover corrupted iPhoto images.

Tell me about recovering "corrupt iPhoto images"? Do you go in, drag the pics out and then re-import them to iPhoto?

Regards

TD

I am having the same problem. Did you resolve. Let me know the results. Thanks.