Iphoto library is damaged or unreadable

1 - if your photos (and other data) are important to you you must always have a current backup - things will happen

2 - Don't use that camera card until you finish - you may need it for the latest set of photos

3 - make a copy of your bad library for safety and depress the option and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild from the last automatic database backup

4 - if that does not do it use the other rebuild options

5 - if that does not do it download iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - and use its rebuild option

Good luck

LN

Thanks so much for your help. I am planning to try your suggestions but have a few questions. When you say make a copy of my bad library, should I just use time machine with my external drive like I usually (but not in the last 71 days) do?

TM is ok but for this if you have disk space I would just duplicate the iPhoto library as an extra measure until you complete this

AS to TM - you really need to have it going all the time - it is a great tool but if you only run it once in a while it is virtually useless - the time you need it (maybe now) it will not have what you need

Also, when I rebuild as you suggested (#3), do you think my most recent photos will be there?

We have no idea - that is why you need a current backup at all times - rebuilding does what it can but sometimes it can not save some photos - the only way to find out is to do it - and that is why you need a current backup just before you do it

I just tried to "insert photo" on Word and it does show the most recently imported photos. I am just hoping I won't lose them. (I imported from 2 different cameras in the last few days.)

that is good

Again, thanks for your help. *I will be backing up on a more regular basis after this*. Learning the hard way...

YES!

LN