iPhoto crashes on opening preferences

I have the same issue. It appears to work fine but will crash on opening preferences.

Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and do the following:

1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your

User/Home()/Library/ Preferences folder.

2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your

User/Home()/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.

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3 - launch iPhoto and try again.

NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.

OT

Followed your instructions but it still crashes upon opening preferences. Any other suggestions and thank you for your assistance.

Try reinstalling iPhoto. To do so you'll have to delete the current application and all files with "iPhoto" in the file name with either a .PKG or .BOM extension that reside in the HD/Library/Receipts folder and from the /var/db/receipts/ folder,

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then install iPhoto from the source it originally came from and run all required updaters.

Again thank you for your help but still no luck. The problem continues.😕

Try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import a couple photos and try to open iPhoto's preferences to see if the same problem persists.

If iPhoto crashes in the new library then try again to delete iPhoto's preference file.

I have done that & it still crashed in both libraries.

Last suggestion: log into another user account on your Mac and see if you can open iPhoto and then its preferences.

Created a Guest Account, opened iPhoto and successfully launched preferences without crashing! It would appear that there is something in my Administrator's Account that is causing this. If memory serves me right I believe this started when I initiated Photo Stream but I am not certain. Any other suggestions?

That indicates that there's something in your account that's causing the problem. Sometimes it could be a preference file other than iPhoto's. Here's a way to test that:

Trouble Shooting Preferences

1 - close all applications.

2 - open your Library folder, Home/Library, and drag the Preferences folder to the Desktop. A new Preference folder will be immediately created in the Library.

NOTE: if dragging the Preference folder to the desktop only copies the folder then after the copy has been completed go back and drag the Preferences folder from the Library to the Trash in the dock. You will be asked to enter your Admin password. Then reboot and try again.

3 - run the application again and determine if the problems is fixed.

4 - If the problem is fixed:

A - open the working Preferences folder (HD/Users/your_name/Library/Preferences).

B - Open the Preferences folder on the Desktop, select all of the contents and drag them into the working Preferences folder.

C - When the Copy window pops up check the "Apply to All" check box and then click on the Don't Replace or Skip button.

5 - If the problem is NOT fixed, drag the Preferencess folder on the Desktop into the Library folder to replace the new one that was created.

Preferences were only copied to the desktop.and the System (Lion) will not allow me to trash the Preferences Folder as it is needed by the OS X sop I was not able to accomplish the task suggested. How can I get around this (I'm using my Admion Account).

I forgot about the differences in Lion. You can delete the contents of the folder but not the folder itself.

So after copying the folder to the Desktop go back to the Prerfereces folder, select its contents and drag them to the Trash. You will be asked for an administrative password.. Then you can continue with the test.

Sorry for not getting back sooner but I did as directed & rebooted my iMac and my account did not look as it did before so I had to Restore from my TimeCapsule. Therefore, knowing the results, I will not do that again! Would you please go over that procedure regarding MyHome Preference Folder.

Thanks.

When you rebooted did you try running iPhoto to see if it would run. That's what you're supposed to do. Then if it does run drag the contents of the Library folder into the new Library folder and in the message window that comes up select the Apply to All checkbox and click on the Skip or Don't Replace button. This will replace all of the files except for those that were newly created.

Thank you very much Old Toad for your help. I am very hesitant to do that again as I'm afraid of losing all my information. The last time I did this I had to restore from my Time Capsule otherwise I would have lost my stuff. I guess I will have to wait for Apple to come up with a fix (sometimes in the next few years). In the mean time I could use Aperture as it's preferences does not cause it to crash.

Again thank you!