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Aperture error opening database for library

I was working in Aperture--deleting photos--when it crashed. My Mac Book Pro rebooted but in trying to open Aperture after it rebooted, I got this message:


"There was an error opening the database for the library “/Users/rick/Pictures/Aperture Library.aplibrary”. My only option on the pop-up was to quit.


I found a suggestion here online to find the Aperture library, hold Command-Option and double click the library which supposedly would bring up a repair menu. It didn't. I got the same message as i did on trying to open Aperure quoted above, and again the only option was to quit Now I can't even open Aperture.


Any ideas how to get my library back? Thanks.

Mac Book Pro

Posted on Jul 6, 2013 9:46 PM

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Posted on Jul 6, 2013 11:08 PM

Do some diagnostic tests to narrow down the problen and post the results, please:


  • Try to launch Aperture while holding down the shift-key. Is that possible? Do you get the aplication window to open?
  • If not, can you create a new Aperture library, if you hold down the ⌥-key while launching Aperture and select other/new from the panel?
  • And if you even cannot create a new library, can you launch Aperture from a different user account? See: Isolating an issue by using another user account


Your error message should show a crash report in the message that pops up. Copy and paste the first 50 lines only into your next message.


Regards

Léonie

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Question marked as Best reply

Jul 6, 2013 11:08 PM in response to 1rdrd

Do some diagnostic tests to narrow down the problen and post the results, please:


  • Try to launch Aperture while holding down the shift-key. Is that possible? Do you get the aplication window to open?
  • If not, can you create a new Aperture library, if you hold down the ⌥-key while launching Aperture and select other/new from the panel?
  • And if you even cannot create a new library, can you launch Aperture from a different user account? See: Isolating an issue by using another user account


Your error message should show a crash report in the message that pops up. Copy and paste the first 50 lines only into your next message.


Regards

Léonie

Jul 7, 2013 10:12 AM in response to léonie

Thanks, Leoinie. Here are the results of trying out what you suggested.


1. Trying to launch Aperture using shfit-key does not work. Application window does not open. I get the same error box and message quoted in my first post.


2. Same result trying to Lauch Aperture using "option" key.


3. I was able t launch Aperture using a newly-created different user account.


A couple more things that may help:


After I posted the first message above, I was able to get to the Aperture repair menu (not sure why it didn't work the first couple of times I tried it.) But clicking "repair" seemed to have no effect. I did not get any screen message showing repair was doing anything, and when I went to the "force quit" menu to see if Aperture was running or had been running and was not responding, it was not in the list of programs. And my attempts to open Aperture this morning were after leaving the computer running all night after clicking "repair."


Also, I wish I could recreate the firsr error message I got when this problem firrst started and Aperture crashed, Buit I can't. All I remember is that it was unlike any error message I had previously seen on this Mac. The box took up nearly the ful screen, but as I recall, all it said was something like an error occured and it would have to reboot. The message may also have been in several languages.


Finally, i do use Time Machine, so I should be fully backed up. And a couple of months ago i made a duplicate copy of my entire Aperture library on an external hard drive (though I have added several projects on the Mac's hard drive since).


Thank you for all your helpl.


Rick Derevan

Jul 7, 2013 10:35 AM in response to 1rdrd

The box took up nearly the ful screen, but as I recall, all it said was something like an error occured and it would have to reboot. The message may also have been in several languages.

Rick,

That may have been a kernel panic.


OS X: About kernel panics

and

Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic


This can be caused by the disk being too full, having installed incompatible software, or a hardware problem. Since Aperture can launch in a different user account, it is probably a software problem.


Did you install some helper tools lately, or upgrade software?


Look for the panic report in the Console window (the Console window can be launched from Applications > Utilities) in the Diagnostic Reports section.

Or directly in the Library: Type this path into the Finder's "Go > Go to Folder" text field:

/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports


Regards

Léonie

Jul 7, 2013 1:10 PM in response to 1rdrd

Would it help you help me if I copied any of that into a reply?

The kernel panic reports are very long and make it hard to read a discussion. Could you upload the panic report somewhere (dropbox, ftp) and post a link to the report?


Also to the latest Aperture crash report, if there is one without a panic.


And please post the model of your MBP, the MacOS X version, the Aperture version.


What was the latest software that you installed or upgraded?


It would help to be able to see a list of the non-standard apps that could cause the system to panic. There is a freetool, EtreCheck, a script written by our fellowposter EtreSoft, you can download it here: http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck


This will simply look into all installation directories and list the potentially problematic extensions. you can copy the list to the clipboard and post it here.


Maybe this list triggers your memory, if you recently installed something.

Jul 7, 2013 1:27 PM in response to léonie

Here is the Etresoft report. The only software I can recall recently installing is Dashlane. And I did have the local Apple store recently install new memory (from 4 GB to 8) but other than that I don't recall other changes. I believe Aperture is the most current version. To check, I'll have to log on to the other account because that is now the only way I can get Aperture to open. Should I do that?


Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,5

1 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores

8 GB RAM


Video Information:

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB


System Software:

OS X 10.8.4 (12E55) - Uptime: 0 days 0:45:0


Disk Information:

FUJITSU MJA2500BH FFS G1 disk0 : (500.11 GB)

disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 499.25 GB (19.05 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB


HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS23N


USB Information:

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight


Apple Internal Memory Card Reader


Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad


Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver


Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller


FireWire Information:


Thunderbolt Information:


Kernel Extensions:


Problem System Launch Daemons:


Problem System Launch Agents:


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

[loaded] com.fitbit.galileod.plist

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist


Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.hp.devicemonitor.plist

[loaded] com.hp.messagecenter.launcher.plist

[not loaded] com.sony.ReaderDesktop.RunReaderDesktop.plist

[not loaded] com.sony.ReaderLibrary.RunReaderLibrary.plist


User Launch Agents:

[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[redacted]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist

[not loaded] jp.co.canon.Inkjet_Extended_Survey_Agent.plist


User Login Items:

iTunesHelper

Reader Library Launcher

Canon IJ Network Scanner Selector2

readerAppHelper

Dropbox

Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player

Flip4Mac WMV


Internet Plug-ins:

CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL.plugin

EPPEX Plugin.plugin

Flash Player.plugin

FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin

GarminGpsControl.plugin

googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

iPhotoPhotocast.plugin

JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin

QuickTime Plugin.plugin

SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin

Silverlight.plugin


User Internet Plug-ins:

CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin

ContentManager.plugin

Dashlane.plugin

RocketEngine.plugin

UploadManager.plugin


Bad Fonts:

None


Top Processes by CPU:

2% WindowServer

2% WebProcess

1% EtreCheck

1% HP Device Monitor

1% Safari

1% Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper

0% fontd

0% WebKitPluginHost

0% DashlaneAgent

0% Console


Top Processes by Memory:

546 MB WebProcess

139 MB WebKitPluginHost

90 MB Safari

82 MB Pages

74 MB Dropbox

66 MB mds

57 MB WindowServer

49 MB Finder

49 MB DashlaneAgent

49 MB Dashlane


Virtual Memory Statistics

5.10 GB Free RAM

1.73 GB Active RAM

281 MB Inactive RAM

661 MB Wired RAM

355 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Jul 7, 2013 1:29 PM in response to 1rdrd

I have edited my last post - could you please have a look at the other questions there?

Model: MacBookPro5,5,


Sat Jul 6 21:02:30 2013

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff8019cf7381): "hfs_makelink: error 17 from cat_rename backout 1"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-2050.24.15/bsd/hfs/hfs_link.c:242


BSD process name corresponding to current thread: backupd


That lloks like the backup has been failing.


Is your Aperture library also on an external drive? Was your TM backup active, when you tested from a different account?


I'd check the hardware next: one of your drives is failing. If you still have the install CD/DVDs run the Hardware check: OS X Mountain Lion: Use Apple Hardware Test

Jul 7, 2013 2:09 PM in response to 1rdrd

One thing I am seeing in your EtreCheck, is that you are having Flip4Mac installed. Check, if this installed the 3ivx QuickTime plug-in. That may cause Aperture to hang or crash. Aperture 3: May be unresponsive or have slower performance with third-party video codec


Look in the folder "/Library/QuickTime" and look for "3ivxVideoCodec.component". If this codec should be installed, remove it.


Most of your software add-ons are internet plug-ins. Reboot, without launching Safari and with TimeMachine temporarily disabled.


Try, if Aperture can be launched, if Safari is not running, and if TimeMachine is disabled and the TimeMachine drive disconnected, since your panic-report suggests a backup problem.



I'll have to sign off for tonight.

Jul 7, 2013 2:50 PM in response to léonie

I'll see if I can tie up the loose ends you asked about.


1. "3ivxVideoCodec.component" is not installed.


2. I disabled Time Machine and rebooted and tried to launch Aperture first (wiithout launching Safari). No dice. Same error message as in my original post. Only option was to quit. Same resutl holding down shift key while trying to launch Aperture.


3. Aperture has been accessing library from the hard drive on the Mac, not an external. A couple of months ago I did copy the Aperture library to an external drive but that was purely for backup. I don't use the external when I am using Aperture.


4. When I tested from the other account, I had not disabled Time Machine on my adminstrator account and I did not manually launch it from the other account. Don't know if it started on its own.


5. Don't think I have the DVDs; even if did, since I'm now at least two operating systems from what I had when I bought the MBP, would they work? I also tried the instructions for doing the hardware test over the internet, but couldn't get it to come up when I rebooted per the instructions.


I think that answers the loose ends. i very much appreciate you giving up a lot of your Sunday to help me.

Jul 7, 2013 3:27 PM in response to 1rdrd

Same error message as in my original post. Only option was to quit. Same resutl holding down shift key while trying to launch Aperture.


Are there now crash logs for Aperture in the Logs folder in your User Library?

/Users/your short username/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Aperture_2013-07-08-xxxxx.crash ?


In the Console window:

User uploaded file

The Kernel panics may be unrelated and just a coincidence.

But try to find your installer CDs. They are important to run the hardware test or to be able to boot your mac, if your system drive should fail.


SInce Aperture only crashes when launched from your account, and the Library Repair does not work right now, try to remove the Aperture preferences, and if that does not help, the presets.


How to do that is described in this document: Aperture 3: Troubleshooting Basics


See the paragraphs: Delete the user preferences and

Move the user created presets, keyword lists, and so on...


Your user library is hidden in Lion and Mt. Lion. To reveal it, use the Finder's "Go" menu. Select "Go" in the Finder's main menu bar and hold down the alt/option key, until you see the "Library" in the drop-down menu. Double click it to open a Finder window, so you can browse the files inside.


After removing items from the user library, log off and on again, otherwise the changes may not take.


Good Night!


Léonie

Jul 8, 2013 11:37 PM in response to léonie

Still not working:


1. I found the install disk, but could not get the hardware test to show up.


2. Deleting "com.apple.Aperture.plist" from the Preferences folder did do one thing. When I then clicked on Aperture, I got the initial screen for Aperture, but after clicking "continue" I got the same error message that started this thread, with the only option being to "quit."


3. I put the file back into preferences, then moved the Aperture folder from Application Support to my desktop as directed by the Troubleshooting Basics link. I then restarted the computer and once it booted up, tried launching Aperture again. It didn't work. I got the same error message. So I put that folder back.


What about trying the "Rebuild Database" from the repair menu? It says to first back up the Aperture library before doing so. I could copy the Aperture library from my hard disk to an external drive as back-up, but wouldn't that just copy over the same problems that are keeping Aperture from working now? I guess I am asking if it's worthwhile to back up now before trying the rebuild?


Thanks in advance.

Jul 9, 2013 2:38 AM in response to 1rdrd

What about trying the "Rebuild Database" from the repair menu? It says to first back up the Aperture library before doing so. I could copy the Aperture library from my hard disk to an external drive as back-up, but wouldn't that just copy over the same problems that are keeping Aperture from working now? I guess I am asking if it's worthwhile to back up now before trying the rebuild?

Never rebuild without backing up the library first. Only don't overwrite your last working backup of the library. usually rebuilding is aroutine fix, that should work well. Only if a library has a really bad corruption or is on a failing disk, rebuilding might make the probem worse.


You said earlier, that Aperture could not even be launched with the ⌥-key held down to create a new, empty library. But with the Preferences "com.apple.Aperture.plist" removed, you could launch Aperture, only it could not open your Library?


Then try the following:

Remove the preferences again to the Desktop. And for good measure also the mirrored files in the sandbox: ~Library/Containers/com.apple.Aperture/Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.Aperture/, log off and on again.


  • Now try to launch Aperture with the Shift ⇧-key held down to defer Preview generation.
  • If that works, you have imported a bad image. Remove your most recent imports from the Aperture library and post back.

But if that fails try the following:

  • Remove the preferences again to the Desktop.
  • Try a "Rebuild"


And if that fails:

Then try the following:

  • Remove the preferences again to the Desktop.
  • Try to create a new, empty Aperture Library and test it, if you can import images and Aperture works with that library.
  • If yes, try to import your current Library into the new ibrary.
  • And if no way to launch Aperture works, with the preferences "com.apple.Aperture.plist" removed, not even a new, empty library works, move the complete "preferences" folder to the Desktop, log off and on again, and try again with an empty library.

Jul 10, 2013 12:02 PM in response to léonie

Leoini,


I'm back up and running. Thanks so much. I backed up last night and today ran "rebuild," which seems to have worked, but with a few quirks. The manually sorted projects, for example, lost their sort order, but I can certainly live with that. Thanks again for all your help and pateience.

Aperture error opening database for library

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