IPhoto can't find my pictures

That usually is a sign of a corrupted library - this can be caused by many things including random events, hardware issues and making changes to the content (or structure) of the iphoto library using external programs including the finder, Lightroom and Photoshop

Have you made any changes of any sort to the content of the iPhoto library using external programs? If so you will need to start over

If you have not try rebuilding your library - depress the option and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild form the last automatic database backup first - if that does not work try the other options - last resort is to use iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ -

LN

Hello, I too have a similar problem. Since my startup disk was full I changed it to an external drive and copied the library on it. Until recently it was working fine but now i lost all my photos except last few downloads. the library shows 170 GB but Iphoto retreives only few and the interface looks really strange, not like the usual Iphoto window. help is most appreciated

What format is the external?

nd the interface looks really strange

In what way?

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 (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) 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.

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.

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

To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:

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

In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'

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 (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event 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 for this . will try in now. the interface means the look and feel of the iphoto. the screen where you have on the left the events, photos, books and on the right pics. that does not show in that way. what comes to the screen is really strange word processor looking page where I have few events on the left but there is no frame separator and no picture viewing frame on the right.

My original startup disk shows available space of only 190 MBs. My external startup has plenty of space. I dont know if this is relevant though.

external is Western Digital 1TB. I put a separator and created a startup and backup disk

THe iphoto library manager, when opens, shows all my events and photo folders. everything in its original form which I can not see in my iphoto. is this normal?

My original startup disk shows available space of only 190 MBs.

You need to fix this urgently

OS X needs about 10 gigs of hard drive space for normal OS operations - things like virtual memory, temporary files and so on. Without this space your Mac will slow down as the OS hunts for space on the disk, files will be fragmented, also slowing things down, apps will crash and the risk of data corruption - that is damage to your files, photos, music - increases exponentially. Your first priority is to make more space on that HD. Nothing else can be done until you do.

Regards

TD

thanks. the idea of installing 1TB external drive was to fix this space problem. but obviously apple still is needing original internal startup disk for certain things or apps. i dont think copying from that internal drive to external drive will work. i will read instructions for changing the startup disk again but in the mean time if you know a link or method that can help me fix is most appreciated.
thanks