iPhoto opens, ball spins forever

What version of iPhoto?

Create a new account (systempreferences -> accounts or Users & Groups on 10.7) and see if the problem is repeated there. If it is, then a re-install of the app might be indicated. If it's not, then it's likely the app is okay and the problem is something in the main account.

Regards

TD

Make a back up:

Most Simple Back Up

Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.

Slightly more complex:

Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate

Then

To re-install iPhoto

1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)

2a: On 10.5: Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.

2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows: In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type

/var/db/receipts/

2c: on 10.7 they're at

/private/var/db/receipts

A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.

3. Re-install.

If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.

If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.

If you purchased it on the App Store or have a Recent Mac you can find it in your Purchases List.

DId you delete the receipts?

I've done everything you suggested and I am still having problems. Here is a screen capture of the error message that I keep getting. Any other recommendations you can share as I'm getting really frustrated.

I don't have an option to create a new photo library. I could only quit the app.

Please help.

Thank you.

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 Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)

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.

Regards

TD

Hi,

I tried Option 1 and after a hour, it seems to have gotten stuck at this point:

What next?

Thank you.

How big is your library? How much free space do you have on your boot drive?

OT

About 38 gb and have about 106 gb free

That shoots down that theory. 😟 Give it about another hour before you force quit out of iPhoto. Then try Option 2 in TD's post. That will leave your current library untouched for further repairs if so desired while creating a new library.

It seems like it rebuilt the library as all my photos are now in the library. But now I have another issue where the ball is spinning next to the "faces" icon. What should I do now?

Thanks,

Nothing. iPhoto is scanning all the faces so you can add names to them if you'd like after it completes its original scan. If you're not interested in using the Faces feature just let it finish it's initial scan and ignore it.