iPhoto Pictures Missing - What to do?

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iPhoto Pictures Missing - What to do?

My iphoto library starting behaving oddly after upgrading to iPhoto '09 a few weeks ago. Now, photos are missing - I am getting errors like thumbnails appearing but upon clicking them, a black screen with "!" appears AND some photos appear saying "cannot be found." I have rebuilt the library with iphoto - no change. i have also rebuilt the library with iphoto library manager. Here's where my questions now begin...

iphoto library manager took all day and all night to rebuild my library .... I finally had to stop it because I am leaving for the week (it was on faces rebuild - which I didn't care about, as I have barely done any faces recognition stuff yet). Anyway, I went into the folders where I knew previous photos had been missing and here's what I found:

1) Some photos were missing altogether (these appeared in the iphoto library manager's missing photos log) --- I will have to manually load these now, right?

2) Some events are completely gone (I know one of these was where photos were appearing missing).

Do I need to run rebuild when I have 48 hours to let the entire program run?

Also - this has crossed my mind:

Several weeks ago, I posted here about needing a second file of photos on my computer (in folders - my copy of my photos from my PC) and everyone responded that I did not ---- I have a sneaking suspicion that those photos WERE linked into iPhoto and now that is why some photos were missing? Although i'm not sure how all photos were not affected then?

What is my next step? Rebuild the library is the places where I know photos are missing? Is there a way to open my original library (where at least thumbnails of all photos were showing) and somehow get a list of all events out of it, so I can open the rebuilt library and identify what is missing for sure? I don't want any photos to get lost in the mix. It seems I should start from my rebuilt library to do this manual rebuilt? OR is there a way to trace back my original library to the missing photos (luckily, I still have my PC folders on an ext. hard drive), as this has some of my projects, etc, that I would like to keep?

Thanks for the help.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 24, 2009 7:11 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 24, 2009 7:58 PM in response to kmwalsh1

Oh yes, I've got the same the same problem. I took it to the local Apple store, in Sydney, but they didn't have a clue.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

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Apr 24, 2009 8:27 PM in response to kmwalsh1

The "!" effect is an indication that iPhoto has lost the link to the original file. Are you running a "managed" library, i.e. copying files into the library during import or a referenced, not copying when imported.

If you're running a managed library try the three fixes below in order as needed:

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select all options. *Have you tried this?*

2 - rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager. Try again, turn of the energy saver, dim the screen and let it rum until it finishes. You can use the computer while it's working.

3 - start over with a new library and import the Originals folder from your original library as follows:

Creating a new library while preserving the Events from the original library.

1. Move the existing library folder to the desktop.
2. Open the library package like this.
3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
4. Drag the Originals folder from the iPhoto Library on the desktop into the open iPhoto window.

This will create a new library with the same Events as the original library if you have the Finder checkbox unchecked in the Events preference pane.

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Answer 3

kmwalsh1 Author

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Apr 25, 2009 8:54 AM in response to Old Toad

I believe I have a managed library - in my advanced settings, I have checked "copy items to iPhoto library" (I read here that this is the setting I should have set --- *can you please confirm?*)

1- Tried rebuilding the library using iphoto itself - did not work

2 - Tried rebuilding using iPhoto Library Manager - about 50 events disappeared in the recreated library. *Should I try again?*

3 - It sounds like I will have to start over ... I have a pit in my stomach about this one (simply because i'm concerned about losing photos), but it appears to be my only choice. A few questions:
Will my folders move over as well? I have many many folders (these are how I organize everything) and do not want to lose them...
Will I have to go back and find the photos iPhoto cannot find itself (on my camera memory card, on my external hard drive, etc)? Or will they be "found" during this process?

I have been keeping my cameras' memory cards full for months, not deleting photos because I am not used to iPhoto ---- I am also trying to determine at what point it is safe to delete these photos off of my memory card.

Thank you for your help - really appreciate it.
Kelli

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Answer 4

Old Toad

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216,548 points

Apr 25, 2009 9:28 AM in response to kmwalsh1

I don't think you'll lose any photos. Find a photo in the library that gives you the "!" indication, note the name and search for that name using Find File. Find File looks in areas that Spotlight doesn't and is a more complete search. I think you should find two or three copies, the original, thumbnail and modified if you've edited it or it was a portrait oriented photo from a camera with the auto-rotate capability.

If you find that you still have those photos in the library then starting over by importing just the Originals folder of the old library will get all of your photos back.

OT

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Answer 5

kmwalsh1 Author

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Apr 26, 2009 9:18 AM in response to Old Toad

Hi -

I followed step #3 and created a new library. Doing this resulted in only about 1 year of photos (out of 5) being imported into the new library?

I am going to try again but I am unsure what happened here.
Is there a way to import my folders/albums into a new library, as well? These are critical to me.

If this does not work again, is there a way to go back to my original library and manually map iPhoto back to the original photos where I'm getting the "!"?

Thank you
Kelli

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Answer 6

kmwalsh1 Author

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Apr 26, 2009 9:50 AM in response to kmwalsh1

I have started to go back into my original library and map back photos (maybe this is the PC user in me - but this just seems easier and more trustworthy). A few observations:

1) If I link back 2-3 photos in a folder, all remaining photos seem to be "found" by iPhoto automatically

2) When I am searching for the original photos (using the file name - such as "IMG_901") - there are a lot of photos coming up with that file name (I use multiple cameras and multiple SD cards, so I am assuming this is why). Is this part of what could be confusing iPhoto?

3) I have read about the program File Sequencer for numbering photos, which I believe would eliminate this duplicate file name issue, if it is really an issue. But I am unsure how to best use it? Import my photos to the computer (not iphoto) and then rename? Or can I run this with photos already imported by iPhoto?

Thanks
Kelli

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Answer 7

kmwalsh1 Author

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Apr 26, 2009 10:39 AM in response to kmwalsh1

Ok - more photos were "lost" by iphoto than I thought and it is extremely difficult to track between the modified folder and the originals folder and map iphoto to the right place. in addition, some photos can be found as I tried to map but they are unselectable (grayed out)??

I am seriously lost as to what to do. Can I uninstall iPhoto 09 and go back to iPhoto 08? Faces and places just isn't worth this. I tried opening my backup before installing 09 but it still opens in the 09 version and cannot find the photos.

I am very frustrated. Should I be going to the Apple store (although I seriously doubt anyone there will be more knowledgeable than those on these boards)? Should I be moving to picasa? I now have about 15 different libraries, rebuilt, backups, etc and I just simply am unsure how to get iPhoto working with my photos.

Kelli

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Answer 8

Old Toad

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216,548 points

Apr 26, 2009 12:24 PM in response to kmwalsh1

If you were running a "managed" library then all of your image files should be in the Originals folder. Why you don't get them all when creating a new library from that Originals folder is beyond me.

When you try to map back to a missing photo only select the one that is located in the Originals folder of the library you're using. You can check on the location by using the Path button in the Finder's toolbar at top. If it's not there use the View->Customize Toolbar menu option in the Finder to add it.

OT

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Answer 9

May 24, 2009 11:45 AM in response to Old Toad

Hi there,

Did your find file option and all it found was the thumbnail version of the pictures missing in my library.

Now if I dont have a backup of my pictures or my library, in other words all i have is my iphoto 09 library, i am screwed???????

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Answer 10

May 25, 2009 7:58 AM in response to Meulemaster

Well I just spoke with Apple and they are telling me that it is most likely my fault and not the fault of me switching over to their new iphoto 09. They say I must have "accidentally" deleted about 20% of my original files from my iPhoto library.

I am really frustrated as I noew begin to realize that i have lost about 20% of my pictures and Apple is acctually trying to play it off as if they have nothing to do with it.

if anyone has any suggestions please mail me

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Answer 11

Yer_Man

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May 25, 2009 8:20 AM in response to Meulemaster

Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.

Look there for a Folder called Originals

Your photos should be in there. Are they?

Regards

TD

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Answer 12

May 25, 2009 9:41 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hi Terence,

Did this step already with the apple Rep and still my pictures are not in there.I even created a new library from my originals and modified folder. Now I have a 2nd library with one where a ton of pictures are double.

It is really weird because for some reason when I switched to iPhoto 09 it decided to erase some pictures from some events but leaving the thumbnail image of them. In my original library i have a lot pictures that are missing the original.

The thing that annoys me the most is that apple is telling me that I probably "accidentally" erased some of the original files myself. Like i would go into the iPhoto library, into the originals folder and randomly erase 15-20% of my pictures.

I am so sad as I am now realizing that these pictures are probably gone.

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Answer 13

Yer_Man

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166,098 points

May 25, 2009 10:36 AM in response to Meulemaster

Obviously we have no way of knowing what went wrong, but apart from noting the importance of having an up-to-date back up, the only thing I can suggest is that you try and recover the files using a File Recovery utility such as File Salvage

Regards

TD

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Answer 14

May 25, 2009 10:56 AM in response to Yer_Man

He TD,

I always keep backups of my ipoto library and when I switched to iphoto 09 everything seemed fine. Therefore I replaced all my backups with new backups from iphoto 09.

Thanks for your responses!

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Answer 15

lunasa

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May 25, 2009 1:40 PM in response to kmwalsh1

Exactly the same problem I encountered with I Photo. However, I was able to restore all missing photos with Time Machine.

Regards
L

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