HELP! How do I retrieve changes to my photos after my iPhoto crashed?

Question

HELP! How do I retrieve changes to my photos after my iPhoto crashed?

My iPhoto just crashed about an hour ago. I'm looking at my photos and the majority of changes I made are no longer there! Something odd, though - when I click on a photo, I get the spinning, colorful wheel, and then my photo seems to magically change itself to some of the edits I made - but not all of them!

Please tell me there is a way I can retrieve all the changes I've made. I'm panicking here! I have iPhoto 09 - version 8.1.

Thanks and hoping for a speedy reply.

iMac w/Final Cut Express HD 3.5.1, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Sony VX2000 digital video cam.

Posted on Oct 8, 2009 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,104 points

Oct 8, 2009 9:26 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

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

TD

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Answer 2

Oct 8, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Yer_Man

Okay, how do I do a Back Up?

The changes I made are basically color correction and lots of touch up (i'm working with old photos that I had scanned).

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Answer 3

Oct 8, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Yer_Man

Also, how do I stop my iPhoto from acting up? I click on a photo and I'm constantly getting the spinning wheel - which spins for about 30 seconds before it stops.

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Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,104 points

Oct 8, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

You mean you don't have a back up?

Wow.

Make a copy of your iPhoto Library on another disk. It's in your Pictures Folder.

Regards

TD

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Answer 5

Oct 8, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Yer_Man

I'll have to go with Plan B. No, I don't have a back-up. I bought Time Capsule to use as a media drive but I ordered the wrong connection to it and have to order another one. That's a moot point - I'll try Plan B.

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,104 points

Oct 8, 2009 9:55 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

*You need to back up either way*.

Regards

TD

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Answer 7

Oct 8, 2009 10:05 AM in response to Yer_Man

Can you tell me how I can do that? (backup)

Also, I just downloaded the iPhoto Library Manager - the full version for $19.95.

Also, why is my iPhoto acting so slow?

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Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,104 points

Oct 8, 2009 10:12 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

Can you tell me how I can do that? (backup)

At the very least duplicate the Library. There is always a risk that these troubleshooting steps may make things worse - a very minor risk, but one nonetheless.

Also, why is my iPhoto acting so slow?

Because the db is damaged by the crash?

Regards

TD

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Answer 9

Oct 8, 2009 10:15 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks. Let me see what I can do. Cross your fingers!

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Answer 10

Oct 8, 2009 10:45 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

Well, unfortunately I don't think it worked. However, my iPhoto is acting strangely. When I click on one of the photos I'm working on, the wheel spins and the photo strangely goes back to the latest changes I made - but it doesn't stay that way. Also, my iPhoto is not acting right. It is awfully slow, and just clicking on a photo to edit it causes the wheel to spin - for every photo.

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Answer 11

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,104 points

Oct 8, 2009 10:53 AM in response to Linda Schodowsky

Then go on to option 2

Regards

TD

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Answer 12

Oct 8, 2009 11:20 AM in response to Yer_Man

Actually, that's what I did. The only things that couldn't be restored were 6 photos - the very ones that had all the edits I made, disappear. So, I'm out of luck- but still am experiencing the strange behavior of iPhoto - where I click on the photos in question, and the recent changes show up, then disappear. That, and the fact that iPhoto is acting strange - very, very slow, with the spinning wheel.

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