Lars T.
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: Rebuilding iPhoto '11 library didn't work...

Hi - I have approx. 12k photos on my iMac and several hundred iPhone movie clips. Having (in error) moved many of the movie clip underlying folders the clips no longer played when double-clicking, so the Genius advice was to rebuild the library. I first backed up my harddrive using Time Machine. I also observe in Finder that all 12,000+ photos are indeed in the hard disc. I've now tried to rebuild the iPhoto '11 library overnight. The first message came after a few minutes: "Rebuilding Library: 12671 Versions restored". Then nothing. For a whole night. This morning I ran out of time and patience and force-closed iPhoto. Probably a mistake but remember there was no indication that it was rebuilding anything anymore. When reopening iPhoto the library is blank, no photos, nothing...

 

Anyone recognise the problem and have any suggestion what I did wrong/any solution/time estimate of how long I should have waited please?

 

Thanks!!

 

Lars, London

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jun 17, 2011 12:42 AM

Close
Lars T.

Q: Rebuilding iPhoto '11 library didn't work...

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by gaborb,

    gaborb gaborb Jul 1, 2011 8:52 AM in response to Lars T.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2011 8:52 AM in response to Lars T.

    Same issue here.

     

    I tried freeing up some space on the hard drive (more than the size of my current iPhoto Library), but to no avail. iPhoto is not frozen, but burns 100% of one of my two cores, while iPhoto does not do anything. When shutting down iPhoto and launching the Library itself (and not iPhoto), then the Library seems to be empty, although it is some 80 GBs.

     

    Can anyone solve this?

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 1, 2011 8:56 AM in response to gaborb
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Jul 1, 2011 8:56 AM in response to gaborb

    You need to explain a bit more:

     

    I tried freeing up some space on the hard drive (more than the size of my current iPhoto Library), but to no avail.

     

    What did you do to achieve this?

     

    When shutting down iPhoto and launching the Library itself (and not iPhoto), then the Library seems to be empty, although it is some 80 GBs.

     

    Sounds like the Library is corrupted.

     

    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 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

  • by gaborb,

    gaborb gaborb Jul 1, 2011 9:11 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2011 9:11 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Well, I freed up some space by removing some files to an external hard drive.

     

    I'm trying option one now...

  • by gaborb,

    gaborb gaborb Jul 1, 2011 9:26 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2011 9:26 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    http://cl.ly/3a3H283x1B0n3J0N1q0k

    http://cl.ly/233w0K3J2D1V1g0L1q0J

     

    This is where I'm at now.

     

    It says it has restored all my photos, but it keeps going. I'm leaving my Mac on, and see what happens when I'm home.

     

    I'm afraid I'll have to stick with the second option...

     

    Thanks for your help in advance.

     

    Regads,

     

    Gabor

  • by clara b,

    clara b clara b Jul 1, 2011 11:54 AM in response to gaborb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2011 11:54 AM in response to gaborb

    I have the same issue.

    My iPhoto sais 0 KB but in my library the iPhoto Library still has the original 22 GIG.

     

    I tried 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.

     

    It says

    "Rebuilding library: 0 versions restored"

    for hours and doesn't move further

     

    And 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 back.

     

    I get message:

    "Cannot rebuild

    This library cannot be rebuilt because its XML file contains no image records."

     

    Any support appreciated!

     


  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 1, 2011 12:53 PM in response to clara b
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Jul 1, 2011 12:53 PM in response to clara b

    Clara b

     

    What version of iPhoto?

     

    Regards

     

     

    TD

  • by clara b,

    clara b clara b Jul 1, 2011 1:02 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2011 1:02 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Version 11

    9.1.3

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 1, 2011 2:50 PM in response to clara b
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Jul 1, 2011 2:50 PM in response to clara b

    AS neither of the rebuilding strategies are working you need to either

     

    a: restore from your back up

     

    Or

     

    b: recover youe original photos from the Library package, create a new Library and start over.

     

    Regards

     

     

    TD

  • by gaborb,

    gaborb gaborb Jul 5, 2011 12:01 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 5, 2011 12:01 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Terence,

     

    What would be the best possible way to recover?

     

    Option 1:

    I have a Time Machine Backup from 22nd June, but since then I have added a few hundred images to the Library, which I would not want to lose, and previous recoveries from Time Machine have resulted in lost photos (only the thumbs were visible, but the actual photos were not recovered, and I've lost thousands of them.)

     

    Would it be possible to recover from Time Machine and then replace some folders in the package?

     

    Contents of the corrupted iPhoto Library:

    http://cl.ly/0W2Q0a1A283a0R3X333U

     

    Contents of the iPhoto Library residing on Time Machine

    http://cl.ly/0L382y0C182C0H1q2s2n

     

    Option 2:

    Shall I try to restore from Time Machine, and if no data is lost, then simply tweak the few hundred images I recently added from the corrupted iPhoto Library I'm having?

     

    Option 3:
    Anything else?

     

    Thanks for your help, it is truly appreciated.

     

    Gabor

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 5, 2011 1:17 PM in response to gaborb
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Jul 5, 2011 1:17 PM in response to gaborb
    Shall I try to restore from Time Machine, and if no data is lost, then simply tweak the few hundred images I recently added from the corrupted iPhoto Library I'm having?

     

    That's what I would do

     

    Regards

     

     

    TD

  • by orfellemae,

    orfellemae orfellemae Jul 12, 2011 8:37 PM in response to Lars T.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2011 8:37 PM in response to Lars T.

    hello! I have a similar problem with my Macbook after installing iPhoto '11. Each time I open iPhoto it keeps on asking to rebuild my iPhoto library. Is there any way to stop doing this and getting it to work back to normal? Your suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you.

     

    Mae, Sutton

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 13, 2011 12:44 AM in response to orfellemae
    Level 10 (139,597 points)
    iLife
    Jul 13, 2011 12:44 AM in response to orfellemae

    Where is your Library stored?

  • by gaborb,

    gaborb gaborb Nov 1, 2011 6:13 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2011 6:13 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    I have forgotten to thank you for your efforts. It has been working perfectly since then. A Time Machine bakcup did the trick.

     

    Regards,

     

    G.