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Aperture 3.3.2 hangs on launch (library issue)

The hits just keep on comin'! Last week my Aperture library was corrupted and I had to restore some files from a backup and delete some preference files to get it to work again. Now I'm having a new problem....

Aperture 3.3.2 launches and I get the "Opening Aperture library" window, but it never progresses to the usable application. Only a Force Quit allows me to try again. Launching Aperture while pressing the Option key allows me to select a different library (I set up a "dummy" library just for this purpose) and once the application is open, I choose File>Switch to Library>Other/New... and pick the main library, which then opens without further complaint. I can initially choose a dummy file on the same external hard drive as my main library, or I can choose a dummy from the Mac's hard drive—either one allows me to successfuly launch the application and proceed to opening the main library.

If I then quit the application and immediately attempt to re-launch it, the same thing happens again. I need to use the alternate library to launch, then switch from the active application.

I can switch to the alternate before quitting the app and it remembers the alternate library as the new default. It will then launch fine to the new default (alternate) library. At that point I can quickly switch to the main library.

So, I know the problem must be in the main library, but I can't figure out why it will launch successfully only after opening a different library.

I repaired permissions and rebuilt and repaired the database, but none of these seemed to fix the problem I'm having.

Any ideas?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 27" iMac Core i7 Quad 12GB

Posted on Jul 27, 2012 5:00 PM

70 replies

Persplex

Level 1

0 points

Oct 9, 2012 8:35 PM in response to Phillip Breske

Hey Everyone - I just went through the same frustrating fiasco. Couldn't get my Aperture to open without the spinning wheel of death. Tried different libraries. Tried deleting various plist and other files. Nothing worked. (Let the spinning wheel run overnight - it ate up over 50gigs of hard disk space and was still spinning the next morning. Quit aperture and the disk space was freed up again.) Tried deleting the app and reinstalling, no luck.

I tried going to the Apple system preferences - accounts pane and deleting all facebook, twitter, flickr accounts. This didn't work, but what DID WORK for me is to go to the icloud preferences pane and disabling the icloud photo stream. Aperture now works like a charm again.

léonie

Level 10

194,935 points

Oct 9, 2012 11:35 PM in response to John Bones

Corky and Leonie

I cannot find the files that you mentioned... using Spotlight or opening Aperture folder contents.

~/Library/Application Support

The files we mentioned are in your user library (~/Library) or the system library (/Library) - not the Aperture application package or the Aperture Library. So Spotlight will not show them. In Lion and Mt. Lion the user library is hidden by default. To open these libraries use the Finder's "Go > Go to folder" menu and type the name into the search field.

I wrote a little script "OpenSesame" to open the libraries in the Finder - you can download it here: http://dreschler-fischer.de/scripts/OpenSesame.scpt.zip

Uncompress it and open it in Script Editor and press the "Run" button, or download the compiled application - http://dreschler-fischer.de/scripts/OpenSesame.app.zip

To be able to run the application, yu need to change your security&privacy settings, however.

Oct 10, 2012 7:03 AM in response to léonie

Leonie

Thanks... I will try to figure this out.

I wish that Apple had put a disclaimer on Aperture indicating that you would need a degree in Computer Science if you planned to buy this product.

Also.... I wonder why Apple support staff does not respond to these kinds of problem with their software?

John

léonie

Level 10

194,935 points

Oct 10, 2012 7:11 AM in response to John Bones

Aperture already open in (null). Close (null).

Have you restarted your system? That should help, if files are still busy by other processes.

Level 1

65 points

Oct 10, 2012 10:42 AM in response to léonie

I'm on this thread but the recent updates seemed to fix the problem for me.

Does anyone who still has the issue have Apple Care ?

It would be great to utilize that and try to post a solution from that contact for the unfortunate others who still have issues.

Oct 10, 2012 12:35 PM in response to léonie

System has been re-started.

Sadly, it makes no difference.

Oct 10, 2012 12:41 PM in response to Glenn Cogar

Thanks for the tip on Mobile Me.

Interesting.... go a message " An error was returned from the Server. Please try again later."

Tried three or four times.... same message....

John

Oct 10, 2012 12:46 PM in response to Persplex

Disabled iCloud.

Does not make any difference.

Still cannot access my Aperture Library.

grrrrrr

Aye Es Oh

Level 2

330 points

Oct 10, 2012 1:16 PM in response to John Bones

John – Looking at the posts around here lately, it looks like most of the "null" issues have been fixed by recent Aperture updates, and using the forums to resolve complicated issues like this is a bit of a tedious process.

If I'm reading your posts right, it looks like you just bought Aperture again, you should have access to AppleCare, which might be the best route at this point. You can call them at 1-800-275-2273. That, or go to an Apple Store and see if you can get an appointment with one of the creatives.

movery

Level 1

24 points

Oct 10, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Aye Es Oh

I skipped 3.4 and went straight to 3.4.1 which fixed all my issues with opening. Everything now seems to work perfectly.

Aperture 3.3.2 hangs on launch (library issue)