Iphoto 11 keeps crashing on start up.

Question

Iphoto 11 keeps crashing on start up.

It had been working OK for a while. Now, before I can begin to use it, I get a repeated message it needs to rebuild my library--then crashes. Again and again. I have the latest Mac OS. What now?

Posted on Jan 21, 2012 8:28 PM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 22, 2012 12:09 AM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

Before anyone can help, they need information to work with. Basic stuff:

- What version of iPhoto.

- What version of the Operating System.

- Details. What were you doing when the problem arose?

- Did it ever work properly?

- Are there error messages?

- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.

Anything else you can think of that might allow someone else to understand your issue.

Post the first 50 lines only of the crash report

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

Jan 22, 2012 7:32 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hi I thought that I had given most of that info, however indirectly. I have the latest version of iPhoto (9.2.1) and the latest version of Lion on my iMac (I think--at least I haven't seen any OS updates offered).

Now when I try to open iPhoto, I get a message saying their are "inconsistencies" and the photo library needs to be rebuilt. This is the same message I got when I first upgraded to iPhoto 11 and I thought that was going to be a one time rebuild. I've only had this new iPhoto 11 for 2 weeks---before that I was using iPhoto 9, with no difficulties. I upgraded to be able to use the photo stream function.

IPhoto 11 worked for the first week or so. But now it crashes on starting, after giving that message of a rebuild being needed, but before the rebuild even starts. No error message. Just crashes.I haven't added any other new software that I can remember and the computer is otherwise working fine. I can send the crash report if you need it---

James

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 22, 2012 12:09 PM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

As a Test:

Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'

Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?

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Answer 4

Jan 24, 2012 10:56 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hi--thanks for working on this with me. So I did as you suggested and created a new blank library and put about 10 pictures into it. It seems stable-- iPhoto is not crashing and I get no warning that the library needs repair.

So what does that tell you?

I still cannot open my main photo library (with about 6000 pictures) without the repair warning--if I hit cancel and don't do the repair, iPhoto suddenly quits after a minute or so. If I do the repair (which takes maybe 5 minutes to complete) iPhoto still crashes after a minute or two--even if I am doing nothing with the app.

How do I get it to become stable with my full library of photos?

Thanks

James

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Answer 5

Jan 24, 2012 11:54 AM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

I am having a similar problem. I have around 3000 pics if the sync with my iPad worked. I don't know yet because when I try to open iPhoto, all I get is the dreaded whirly thing! I tried to rebuild, shut off photo stream since it had said it could not connect, nothing seems to change. I still have to force quit iPhoto. This should be SO much easier to run. What is Apple doing to correct iPhoto? I have had MANY problems with it and am about ready to scrap it!

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 24, 2012 12:50 PM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

James:

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.

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Answer 7

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 24, 2012 12:50 PM in response to Safari Sissy

Sissy

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

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Answer 8

Jan 24, 2012 2:02 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks, Terence. I will give it a try. Anything that will help will be greatly appreciated. I had tried your first option before, so I am now trying option 2. Option 1 did not work. Is iPhoto ever going to work right?? Just saying!!!!

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Answer 9

Jan 24, 2012 4:42 PM in response to Yer_Man

I tried rebuilding using Photo Manager, but it did not complete the rebuild. It always stopped and displayed an error message. After 4 attempts, I stopped. Not fun anymore!!

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Answer 10

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 24, 2012 10:50 PM in response to SafariSissy

If you could tell us what the error message actually is it might be of more use than your fun status. 😉

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Answer 11

Jan 25, 2012 5:26 AM in response to Yer_Man

This went well, though it took 6 hours---I didn't realize I had over 21,000 photos!

With the new Rebuilt Library iPhoto seems to be opening OK and not crashing.

I'm not sure I understand what rebuilding the library did. Does this mean I now have 2 copies of each of my photos (one in each library), or is it just that the data in the new library has been corrected?

In other words, if this new rebuilt library is working well, can I delete the original library--and if I do, what exactly am I deleting...? I'ld love to save the hard drive space and not have a duplicate set of photos, especially when one library (the original one) causes the app to crash. But I certainly don't want to do anything that would cause me to lose photos...... Thanks, James

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Answer 12

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 25, 2012 6:42 AM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

Yes you can delete the damaged Library. It's of no use to you.

Regards

TD

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Answer 13

Jan 25, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks, Terence. I will do what you suggest. However, can you just explain to me what I did when I rebuilt the Library? Did that create a duplicate set of photos? I'ld like to understand it better, for future reference......

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Answer 14

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,260 points

Jan 25, 2012 6:57 AM in response to jamesfromnewhaven

As I say above

This will create a new library...

So it's a whole new library with the masters duplicated.

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Answer 15

vhsf

Level 1

0 points

Jan 25, 2012 7:40 AM in response to Yer_Man

Hi!!!!

I made the two options and have the same problems with the new library. I made a copy of my original library in idisk. I erased the original library of my MAC. When I made the rebuilt process with IPLM, it could not made the copy of my fotos but the information of the new library said it has 9GB capacity used. I don´t know.

Pleaseeeee helppppp!!!!!

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