HT201769: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

Learn about iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
Tetrikus
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can't rebuild the library because iPhoto is freezing before the dialog shows up

Hi all

I've got some problems with iPhoto since I formated and reinstalled Mac OS X 10.8.4. If I try to start iPhoto, it freezes each time with the beach ball animation and I can't do anything besides quit iPhoto. I tried different things to solve the issue:

 

  • Uninstall iPhoto and download it again from the App Store
  • Delete / Move the plist files within the Preferences and the Library itself
  • Repair permissions of the harddisk
  • Remove the iPhoto library and create a new one on startup

 

If I try CMD + Option while startup, the dialog for repairing / rebuilding the library don't show, instead the iPhoto window shows and the beach ball starts to animate and iPhoto is not longer responding.

 

Does anyone have an idea, what I could try further?

 

Thanks in advance,

Markus

iPhoto '11, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Aug 23, 2013 2:27 AM

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Tetrikus

Q: Can't rebuild the library because iPhoto is freezing before the dialog shows up

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 23, 2013 8:20 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (84,239 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 23, 2013 8:20 AM in response to Tetrikus

    download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild command

     

    LN

  • by Tetrikus,

    Tetrikus Tetrikus Aug 30, 2013 3:57 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 3:57 AM in response to LarryHN

    Hi Larry

    Thanks for your reply! Where can I find the so called "iPhoto Library Manager". Is it a software from Apple?

     

    But anyway, as I also have this issue without a library (or trying to create a new one), I think it won't help. It wouldn't make any sense, right?

     

    This have to be a general issue with iPhoto or the system. Meanwhile I tried some more times to uninstall/reinstall and I tried to install the latest combo update, but nothing helped..

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Aug 30, 2013 4:21 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    Aug 30, 2013 4:21 AM in response to Tetrikus

    Switch to another user account (or create one if you don't have one). Can you open iPhoto there? If you can then the iPhoto application is fine and the problem is with your Library.

  • by Tetrikus,

    Tetrikus Tetrikus Aug 30, 2013 4:46 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 4:46 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Thanks Terence

    I just tested this with a testuser and I have still the same issues.

     

    Any other hint?

     

    Thanks in advance,

    Markus

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Aug 30, 2013 4:49 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    Aug 30, 2013 4:49 AM in response to Tetrikus

    Well if the app won't launch in two user accounts then the issue is systemic and that means you either

     

    1. Reinstall the app

     

    or

     

    2. Reinstall the OS.

     

    As you have already re-installed the App then next step is to reinstall the OS.

  • by Tetrikus,

    Tetrikus Tetrikus Aug 30, 2013 5:00 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2013 5:00 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    As you see I tried number 1 several times, so I think I will wait and do number 2 as soon as Mavericks is available. Thanks anyway!

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Aug 30, 2013 11:49 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (140,928 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 30, 2013 11:49 AM in response to Tetrikus

    That's rather short sighted. Mavericks won't be available any time soon.  It's still in beta testing.  So you'll be without iPhoto for quite awhile.

     

    It's very easy to resintall Mt. Lion.  Boot while holding the Command+R keys held down into the Recovery volume. From there you can reistall Mt. Lion very easy.

     

    You can read about it here: Apple - OS X Recovery restores your Mac with a few clicks.

  • by Tetrikus,

    Tetrikus Tetrikus Sep 1, 2013 11:26 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 1, 2013 11:26 PM in response to Old Toad

    Hi Old Toad

    Thanks for your answer. Well, I expect Mavericks between the 10th and the 20th of September so it will not be too long to wait. ;-) Anyway I'm not in a hurry, because I use Aperture in General - iPhoto is only for creating Photobooks and stuff like that.

     

    And IF I reinstall Mt. Lion, I would do a CLEAN install - as I already did 3 weeks ago. And after that the problems started.

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Sep 2, 2013 2:13 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    Sep 2, 2013 2:13 AM in response to Tetrikus

    And IF I reinstall Mt. Lion, I would do a CLEAN install - as I already did 3 weeks ago. And after that the problems started.

     

    I love this. The magical power of the "CLEAN" install - whatever that is - and guess what, after doing it, the problem started! So, the next step is to... repeat it?

  • by Tetrikus,

    Tetrikus Tetrikus Sep 2, 2013 2:39 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2013 2:39 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    I'm pretty sure you know exactly, what a clean install is..

     

    Let's imagine the problems come from an installed service / software / setting. If I install OS again over the same system, all these files will be kept but If I do a clean install and iPhoto works again after it, I have the possibility to see if it is still running after every new software or service I install. Doesn't dis make any sense to you?

     

    Btw., do you really want to assert, that a system works the same and it doesn't matter if it is a clean install or a re-install over the previous version?

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Sep 2, 2013 3:00 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (139,490 points)
    iLife
    Sep 2, 2013 3:00 AM in response to Tetrikus

    I responded to your tone where you say IF you reinstall that you will do a CLEAN install. You've done a clean install. It caused the problem. What does that tell you about the efficacy of a clean install? In other words you're as likely to resolve your issue with reinstalling from the recovery partition for a lot less work, than to wipe the HD and reinstall everything from scratch. Your own experience tells you that.

     

    There's a mythology about clean installing - as though somehow it will be a better reinstall that from the recovery partition. It's like all those people who say you should repair permissions every week, clean out caches regularly and all the other hoo haa. There is no evidence anywhere that suggests a clean install is more effective than reinstalling from the recovery partition. None.

     

    So, by all means, take on the extra work for no benefit. But don't snidely assert that it's somehow better... after all...

    And IF I reinstall Mt. Lion, I would do a CLEAN install - as I already did 3 weeks ago. And after that the problems started.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Sep 2, 2013 9:59 AM in response to Tetrikus
    Level 10 (140,928 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 2, 2013 9:59 AM in response to Tetrikus

    Try the following:

     

    1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your

         User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.

     

    2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your

    User/Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder (Snow Leopard and Earlier).

     

    home.PNG

     

    or with Lion and Mt. Lion from the User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/
    Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto     folder

     

    iP11mtlioncache.png

     

    3 - try rebuilding the library's database again.

     

    NOTE 1: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto.  You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.

     

    NOTE 2:  In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.