iPhoto Upgrade via appstore to 9.3 problems

Question

iPhoto Upgrade via appstore to 9.3 problems

I upgraded iPhoto and I can't start iPhoto any more. I get the message "The library “iPhoto Library” is open in (null)".

I started iPhoto by holding down the alt/option button, and saw that I had three different iPhoto libraries. I was able to select two of them (seperate times) and repair them to where I can access them, but the big one...the main one, can't be updated. I don't know what is wrong with it. The two that were repairable only had the pictures I had when I first loaded my iMac in 2008, but nothing since then...all of that is in the iPhoto library I can't access or repair via iPhoto now...since the 9.3 upgrade.

I looked in my files and see that the pictures are still there, I just can't access them with iPhoto.

Any idea what direction I should go in to fix this? I don't like that I have 3 different iPhoto libraries. How can I reload iPhoto from start and only have one library? I have everything backed up in time capsule, but this scares the crap out of me to possibly lose so much info/pics. Is there a way to rebuild iPhoto and consolidate these three libraries together?

Thanks in advane to anyone that can help!!!

Sean

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jun 14, 2012 12:44 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,338 points

Jun 14, 2012 12:52 PM in response to Sean San Diego

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 2

Jun 17, 2012 1:43 PM in response to Sean San Diego

Terence,

Thanks for the help. I tried to get answers on another discussion board and got no where. Option 1 took care of the problem. I rebuilt the database and it took about 15 minutes. Everything loaded up like normal and it actually took care of other problems I had prior to the iPhoto upgrade. I couldn't view videos and some pictures at all...not everything is back to normal.

I was wondering if you might be able to help me with one other issue. My photo library is nearly filling up my hard drive. How can I move all of my photos to my time capsule to free up room? The photos are already backed up there, but ideally I would like to have new photos I load go to timecapsule, rather than to my iMac HD. Any help on this process is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Thanks again for the help with the iPhoto issue.

Sean

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,338 points

Jun 17, 2012 1:45 PM in response to Sean San Diego

To move an iPhoto Library:

Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

1. Quit iPhoto

2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.

3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.

4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.

Couple of comments:

If your photos are on your TC and nowhere else then you have no back up and that's not wise.

Is that a wireless connection? A strong warning: If you're trying to edit the Library (that is, make albums, move photos around, keyword, make books or slideshows etc.) or edit individual photos in it via Wireless be very careful. Dropouts are a common fact of wireless networking, and should one occur while the app is writing to the database then your Library will be damaged. Simply, I would not do this with my Libraries.

Regards

TD

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Answer 4

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jun 17, 2012 1:51 PM in response to Sean San Diego

If your TC is used for TM then no - it will not work (eventually TM will fill the volume adn iPhoto can not work) pluse you then would have no backup of your photos - you need another external hard drive

LN

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Answer 5

Jun 17, 2012 3:51 PM in response to LarryHN

Can't I partician TC so that part of it is for back ups and part of it is for storage? Mine is the 3 TB version, so it's pretty big.

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