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iPhoto won't launch

iPhoto won't launch from my hard drive nor from the backup. I put the plist in the trash as suggested in a post by T Devlin but that didn't help. It worked fine a few days ago. I have an iMac and OS 10.5.8. Help!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Mar 15, 2012 7:14 AM

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17 replies

Mar 15, 2012 7:41 AM in response to RavenMcC

We need more data, for example exactly how are you trying to launch iPhoto...from the Dock, from the Applications folder, from Spotlight? Also what other troubleshooting steps have you taken besides moving a plist (exactly what plist file are you referring to????) have you tried.


It would also be helpful if we knew what version of iPhoto is installed on your computer.

Mar 16, 2012 5:39 AM in response to RavenMcC

Hi, and thanks for responding. The version is 8.1.2. I tried launching (double-clicking) from the dock like I always do, and when that didn't work, I restarted and tried again from the dock (actually several times). Then I restarted and tried from the applications folder, then restarted and tried from the applications folder on the back-up hard drive. Then I went online, found this sight, saw someone else had the same problem and they were told to delete the com.apple.iPhoto.plist from the Preferences folder in the Library on their hard drive, so I did that before I started this discussion. I am not familiar with Spotlight.


I don't know if this is relevant, but when I had the app open last, I was deleting duplicate photos from the library.


I haven't tried rebuilding the iPhoto library as suggested above - I will do that this morning.


Thanks for your help!

Mar 16, 2012 6:43 AM in response to RavenMcC

OK, thanks for the explanation. First thing you should do is rebuild the library. It is easy to to and may be all that is needed.


Also you should get to know your iMac a little better, Spotlight is an extremely important tool that can help you locate where things are on your computer. You can access Spotlight by clicking the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of your display. Then type in the name of a file, application, word, etc. A keyboard shortcut for opening Spotlight is Command - Spacebar. Just try it and do a search for something like Mail or a file that you recall. I've also included a link to Apple's Mac 101: Spotlight article that does a better job of explaining.


Last I know you are also new to these forums, one point is when you are replying to someone, please click reply in the post you are replying to. When you do then we can tell who your communication is directed to.

Mar 16, 2012 10:16 AM in response to RavenMcC

RavenMcC wrote:


Hi - I did as you suggested and created a new library. Now, when I click on iPhoto in the dock, it opens and shows the photos in the new library. So, the question is - have I lost all my photos that were in the old library?

Probably not however it does indicate that library is corrupt. Have you been using Time Machine, if so then you should be able to restore the library from a date when you know it last worked. If you have not been using TM start immediately, operating without any backup process is dangerous at best and a catastrophe at worst!

Mar 16, 2012 10:57 AM in response to RavenMcC

RavenMcC wrote:


Yes, I use Time Machine and have daily backups. If I understand you correctly, I should go to a backup created before iPhoto was corrupted, and then use Spotlight to find the iPhoto library on that backup? How do I then restore that library so that iPhoto opens it when I open iPhoto?


I really appreciate your help!

First make sure you have a backup of the iPhoto library that is creating problems. You may want to make a copy of it and store it on your desktop. Then use Time Machine to restore the library that you know works. Pay attention to where it is placed. After it has been restored you can double click the newly restored library and this should open iPhoto and also "teach" iPhoto this is where the library resides.

Mar 16, 2012 11:55 AM in response to RavenMcC

Back to the old Library:


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.

iPhoto won't launch

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