HT201769: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

Learn about iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
christopherfromwinchester
Level 1 (11 points)

Q: iPhoto not responding

I have an iPhoto 09, version 8.1.2 (424), with about 50GB of images.  After years of behaving perfectly well, it says "not responding" about 3 times out of 4 when opened.  Is it because it is too big?  I have a Macbook bought in late 09, Mountain Lion.

iPhoto '08, Mac OS X (10.6.7), It's actually iPhoto 9

Posted on Mar 10, 2013 1:56 AM

by Terence Devlin,Solvedanswer
Terence Devlin Terence Devlin
Level 10 (139,490 points)
iLife
A:

iPhoto09 is good for 250,000 images, so no, it's not too big.

 

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 

Posted on Mar 10, 2013 3:38 AM

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christopherfromwinchester

Q: iPhoto not responding

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Solvedanswer

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Mar 10, 2013 3:38 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    Mar 10, 2013 3:38 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester

    iPhoto09 is good for 250,000 images, so no, it's not too big.

     

    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 

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Mar 10, 2013 10:29 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester
    Level 10 (140,928 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 10, 2013 10:29 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester

    How much free space do you have on your hard drive and how much memory?

     

     

    OT

  • by christopherfromwinchester,

    christopherfromwinchester christopherfromwinchester Mar 10, 2013 10:40 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 10, 2013 10:40 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you Tim Devlin for your ideas, which I have not had time to try yet.  Thank you also, Old Toad for your query.  I copied this from the details on my machine:   Memory  4 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, and have 123.68 GB free out of 249.2 GB

     

    Many thanks for your help and interest

     

    Christopher

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Mar 10, 2013 11:27 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester
    Level 10 (140,928 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 10, 2013 11:27 AM in response to christopherfromwinchester

    Check in iPhoto's preferences to see if you have anything checked in the Sharing pane.  Also check the Web pane to see if you have Check for newly published photos set to anything other than Manually? Also uncheck the checkbox at the top about info for published photos.

  • by christopherfromwinchester,

    christopherfromwinchester christopherfromwinchester Mar 11, 2013 3:45 PM in response to christopherfromwinchester
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Mar 11, 2013 3:45 PM in response to christopherfromwinchester

    Thank you very much for the help.  I used option 1, and also Old Toad's idea about unchecking boxes, and everything works again.

     

    Many thanks

     

    Christopher