Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

2 points

Aperture Library not working after update

Hello, I have a problem with my Aperture library.

I had Aperture 3.2.4, and a perfectly working library. I copied the library to an external hard disk, and reinstalled my OS, since I had just added an SSD.

I then installed Aperture 3.2.4, and tried to open the library, that I had copied back in Pictures, but I got this message.

To open this iPhoto library in Aperture, it first needs to be upgraded. Verify that you have iPhoto 9.3 or later. Then open the library in iPhoto to upgrade it.

Since I had not used iPhoto in a while, I don't understand why I get this message, especially since the library is called Aperture Library.aplibrary

I then tried to update Aperture to version 3.3, hoping this would help, but I got no reslut, I still get the same message.

I installed iPhoto 9.3, and tried to open the library, this time getting a different message.

Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your photo library. To do this, quit iPhoto, and then reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keys pressed. You can also try restoring your photo library from a backup.

I get the same message if I try to rebuild the library, I tried in Aperture and in iPhoto.

BTW, the masters are safe, I tried to recover them in a new Aperture library in the meanwhile, and I have all my pictures, the only problem is that they are about 15 thousand and they were divided into hundreds of different Projects. Now I have them in one project called "Recovered Files".

What should I do?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 128 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD

Posted on Jun 22, 2012 3:59 AM

25 replies

marwandese Author

Level 1

2 points

Jun 30, 2012 9:39 AM in response to léonie

So i have to install aperture 3.2.4?

léonie

Level 10

195,025 points

Jun 30, 2012 10:23 AM in response to marwandese

So i have to install aperture 3.2.4?

no, only if you want to stay with Aperture 3.2.4.

The screenshot you showed was Aperture 3.3 asking you for permission to upgrade the library to Aperture 3.3 format.

If you double-click your Library again, Aperture 3.3.1 (you upgraded to 3.3.1, didn't you?) will now upgrade the library and hopefully better than the last time, since they fixed a bug and your library is now repaired.

marwandese Author

Level 1

2 points

Jun 30, 2012 12:15 PM in response to léonie

unfortunately i get this message as soon as I click upgrade

http://www.evernote.com/shard/s91/sh/c98bb422-47ed-4dfd-8685-9023a1821f3f/487758 c74d44538bf8bd05750d80dd16

léonie

Level 10

195,025 points

Jun 30, 2012 12:30 PM in response to marwandese

Are there any diagnostic messages in the Console Window?

marwandese Author

Level 1

2 points

Jun 30, 2012 12:45 PM in response to léonie

Well, performing the tasks you told me to do no, but then I tried to rebuild the library, after deleting the library file, and aperture started doing it but then hung, so I closed it and it corrupted it even more. i deleted the whole thing and I'm restoring the backup from my external hard drive again (exactly the same as the file I had this moring).

i'll get back to you as soon as the file finishes copying (i'ts almost 100 gb on slow usb 2.0)

marwandese Author

Level 1

2 points

Jun 30, 2012 1:48 PM in response to marwandese

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8075278/All%20Messages.log

this is a log from activity monitor.

anyways this is what I did.

1) I restored the aperture library file i had this morning

2) I opened it with CMD and ALT to get the repair window

3) I chose "repair database"

4) this went on for about 5 minutes, after that I got my file open with all my photos, the only problem is that they're all in one project called "recovered project", so it's the same problem i've had since the beginning, i have to manually sort out 15k photos...

Jun 30, 2012 6:55 PM in response to marwandese

Yikes. At least my photos are there, but I have 10K photos to sort out. Any chance of saving my projects? 😟

hoodcj1

Level 1

0 points

Aug 17, 2012 2:42 AM in response to Erik Veland

I have had the same experience, but what it took to restore functionality to Aperture, was change permissions to the disk that had the Aperture Library. I pressed CMD I and checked sharing & permissions. Although I had Read & Write permissions, I still couldn't open the library without the same error message you are receiving. I then changed the sharing & permissions for "everyone" to read & write. I then clicked the gearwheel to apply changes to enclosed items (or a similar message). After I did this Aperture opened as normal 😕

I am not sure what caused this, but I had recently backed up to an external HD.

Tescum

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2012 8:19 PM in response to marwandese

Well I had the same problem. And after try a lot of things... I quit.

After a month I tried in another computer with the original library. I updated it and then, the same....

But this time I tried looking in "trash".

And... All the time was in there.

I hope that everybody in here have the same luck.

Jul 25, 2013 11:51 AM in response to marwandese

I got this problem too, but I able to find the solution my self

This issue happen because of the Aperture trying to upgrade/open a corrupted library file

e.g. You got a Library call Library A

And then when you try to open it with Aperture, aperture detect this library is from older version and then ask you to upgrade it

Then you say yes, this is the most interesting part, if the upgrade fail, then you will get this message, and no way to open the Aperture again

Aperture will always prompt that error message

Why? Because everytime when you trying to start Aperture, Aperture will try open the Library A

And the worst part is, Library A is set as default library for Aperture

But, library A is corrupted and cannot be open

This is a dead lock

To solve the dead lock, we need to change the default library for the Aperture, so that it able to load smoothly

Well, we know the new Aperture able to open iphoto library,

Also, there is a shortcut for iphoto to launch Aperture at it menu

To solve the problem

1. Launch the iphoto

2. Create a photo album, let say Album A, import some photo to it

3. At iphoto, highlight the Album A, and then go to File/Open Library in Aperture

4. Yes, now Aperture will be launch and opening the iphoto library, which is Album A now

5. Once Aperture able to open Album A, it mean it will lock the default library as Album A, problem solve!

Aperture Library not working after update