iPhoto Will Not Open

Greetings,

Looking at the post you mention old toad gave you steps to isolate out a potential issue with preference files. I'm assuming that you removed all the preferences and the same issue occurs?

If so do you get any kind of error message when you open iPhoto? If so please provide the details.

I'm also assuming you tried in a new user account on the computer and it worked fine correct? (just making sure)

Just for fun try going into Hard drive > Applications, and open up iPhoto from here while holding down the option key. Does it open?


_Unplug all external devices and test
_SafeBoot the computer and test iPhoto while in SafeBoot: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455
__While in SafeBoot remove Your User > Library > Caches (the folder) to the trash
_Restart the computer

If the issue persists at this point:
_Go to Apple > System Preferences > Accounts > Login Items and remove all items from here using the minus sign except the iTunes Helper (anything else here was not added by Apple and may be interfering with iPhoto) and then restart the computer again.

The option key allows you to create a different iPhoto Library or choose a particular library. To delete pictures you have to put them in the trash can and empty the trash. Option key doesn't do either of these things 🙂

My iPhoto will not open; I run Snow Leopard and the iPhoto is from iLife 08. It worked great until I had to erase my hard drive and reinstall everything. I have even tried reinstalling iphoto with the iLife disk....no luck a message comes up and says iphoto cannot be opened because of a problem.

Try the following:

Fix #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.

Click to view full size

3. Launch iPhoto and, when asked, select the option to create a new library or select the new library you already have created..

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.

OT

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 versions) 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. There are versions that are compatible with iPhoto 5, 6, 7 and 8 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. 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.

NOTE: The new rebuild option in iPhoto 09 (v. 8.0.2), Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup" makes this tip obsolete.