iPhoto slow to load

A couple of days ago I flushed out about 30GB out of the library.

As long as you have enough disk space, the amount of data in Gigs means nothing to iPhoto. What matters is the number of items. If you delete a large number of items from iPhoto at one go then you likely have some damage in the db.

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 Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.

If that fails:

Option 2

Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, 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.

There is no download for iPhoto 09.

Regards

TD

Just did this: copied all left in iPhoto to folder, zeroed out iPhoto. There are now 0 items in iPhoto, and it opens to a blank screen. I followed your instructions to boot, checked all boxes, and let the app run the selections. After that was over, it launched itself to 0 files, and took 20.5 seconds to load nothing. Same as it was before. I quit and relaunched three or four times, still get same result. Three second pause, 20.5 seconds of a spinning beach ball, then OK. Next, I am going to try your recommended download to manage library. Maybe I should have at least one photo in the library? What do you think? My thoughts are the program was looking for something it's not finding, and that search times out and it finally moved on. This may be what's happening, this string from Console:

12/21/13 9:50:41.898 AM Console[619]: Marker - Dec 21, 2013 9:50:41 AM

12/21/13 9:51:16.503 AM iPhoto[628]: This process is attempting to exclude an item from Time Machine by path without administrator privileges. This is not supported.

12/21/13 9:51:16.503 AM iPhoto[628]: This process is attempting to exclude an item from Time Machine by path without administrator privileges. This is not supported.

12/21/13 9:51:16.504 AM iPhoto[628]: This process is attempting to exclude an item from Time Machine by path without administrator privileges. This is not supported.

12/21/13 9:51:16.504 AM iPhoto[628]: This process is attempting to exclude an item from Time Machine by path without administrator privileges. This is not supported.

12/21/13 9:51:16.622 AM iPhoto[628]: CFURLGetFSRef was passed this URL which has no scheme (the URL may not work with other CFURL routines): /Applications/iPhoto.app

12/21/13 9:51:16.624 AM iPhoto[628]: CFURLGetFSRef was passed this URL which has no scheme (the URL may not work with other CFURL routines): /Applications/iPhoto.app

12/21/13 9:51:16.625 AM iPhoto[628]: CFURLGetFSRef was passed this URL which has no scheme (the URL may not work with other CFURL routines): /Applications/iPhoto.app

12/21/13 9:51:16.628 AM iPhoto[628]: CFURLGetFSRef was passed this URL which has no scheme (the URL may not work with other CFURL routines): /Applications/iPhoto.app

I do not have Time Machine activated, it is turned off in preferences. I use CCC for my backups, and only have the external drive on while I'm backing up.

OK, ran iPhoto library manager. It created a new library. I had on photo in there so there was something to work with. It rebuilt the library and shed some stuff from the old one, probably the linked photo info of what I had in there before. This new library is as lean as you can get: 1 photo (I even made the photo smaller before I put it in there, only 1000 pixels high). Still having same issue: 20.5 seconds of spinning beach ball. Bummer.

Turned on Time Machine. Tried my tests again. Same results with Time Machine turned on, and same messages in Console. I looked at login items, thought maybe something is starting that's tying in other software that might be injecting my bug, but they look harmless to me: Growl helper, iTunesHelper, SMARTReporter, Unmount Snow Leopard (my script I mentioned earlier), and SpeechSynthsisServer. This is going to be fun.

You're obviously having fun and I hope you enjoy it. Personally, it's all to tedious for me to be bothered following as you're not interested in troubleshooting this rationally but prefer to try haphazard things in a haphazard way. Good luck with your issue.

Since I have four other machines that work fine with this, I'll just focus my efforts and set up to use iPhoto on those platforms. In the meantime, I do have an opportunity to upgrade to iLife 11, which Apple has had at least five updates to improve compatibility with Mountain Lion, which might solve the issue. But I do appreciate your taking the time with this. I may post again if I find a solution in the meantime. Take care.

With all the original photos having been returned to my library and still experiencing the spinning beach ball, I installed iLife 11 just before this post. Apparently, Apple posted a couple of updates, and notes mentioning 'improved compatibility with .. Mountain Lion, Mavericks". Anyway, no more spinning beachball. Photos become available in just a couple of seconds after window opens. Like it should be.

I didn't need luck, just iLife 11