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iphoto won't open because it is damaged or incomplete?

I recently got a new hard drive for my MacBook Pro and had to reinstall all of my programs. So far I haven't had any problems except with my iPhoto. When I click the application to open it, a small gray box pops up and says "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." I'm really hoping there's a way to fix it without having to delete the app and repurchase it. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010), iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jun 12, 2012 7:45 PM

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38 replies

Mar 30, 2013 10:46 AM in response to LarryHN

Larry, thanks again for your kind help. What I described in the pervious post is what it said, after following your instructions, . It will not open at all, just the grey box pops up with the note, "You can’t open the application “iPhoto” because it may be damaged or incomplete." I can not get to the point of backing up becuase when I follow your directlys, "Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your iPhoto library" it keeps giving the grey box. Thus my confusion... Is there more infromation I could retrive for you? If so, are their directions on how to do so, I do not consider myself to be very computer savy, but I can follow instructions to the "T". Thanks again!

Mar 30, 2013 12:49 PM in response to LarryHN

Amazing sequence of issues. I just popped the iLife disk back in, the one that Apple support recently sent to me, and the one I used to reload the programs the other day, and now it say that the certificate is expired!!!! Ahhhh! I have a call in to a supervisor at Apple, the one who sent me the disk, and will see what he has to say! Amazing that such a simple thing can be so difficult and frustrating to deal with. All of my Expedition photos from the last two winters in Mongolia are not gone off this computer, and the back up is in Minnesota, where I am not! Thanks for your help!

Jun 23, 2013 8:06 AM in response to gg10192

I just got a new Air Jun 22, 13 and I have a corrupted or damaged iphoto. The white circle with a slash through it. I tried downloading the update from the site thinking maybe that would correct the corruption and it says "you must have 9.1 installed for this update." Well of course you do but I thought it would recognize the corrupted presence and overinstall it. but no go. Anybody have brilliant ideas on this fix? I literally just opened my computer and run it through its first start up?

Jul 7, 2013 7:57 PM in response to Yer_Man

So when I try to buy Iphoto for $15 on the app store a message pops up "Iphoto can't be installed on Mac HD because Mac OS X version 10.7.5 or later is required. Currently I have a


Mac OS X Version 10.6.8

Processor: 2.4 GHz intel core 2 duo

Memory: 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM


I got my machine in 2008. And have some ihpoto pictures on there from 2011 and would like to get them. However I am having this "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." Message and was wondering what my options are? I am not extremely good with computers but I assume I need to get an update in order to aquire the pictures???


Thanks,


Jack

Jul 7, 2013 11:35 PM in response to obrie540

You need to reinstall the app from the disk that came with your computer and then run software update.


To re-install iPhoto


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


2. Download it from the App Store to reinstall It's on your Purchases List there.


For older versions that have been installed from Disk you'll need these additional steps:


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 or later 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.


iphoto won't open because it is damaged or incomplete?

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