HELP Needed. Crashed and could not recognize my library

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Level 1

4 points

HELP Needed. Crashed and could not recognize my library

Hi All,

I have upgraded to Mavericks 10.9.4 like 4 days ago and all was ok.

Turn on my computer this morning, and tried to load iPhoto. Initially i can open a slideshow that i am currently working on.

Suddenly i have been given a message indicating that there are conflicting library in my computer and i have to choose. There are no library indicated by them, and only option for me to proceed is to create new library.

Tried to restart etc - couldn't do anything. So i proceed with creating new library.

However, i can notice my old library is still there by:

File -> Switch to library -> Other library

I can see my old library (the fact that the size of the file is over 30GB, i know my file is still there - i hope). but i am not able to choose it.

I can't ask my iPhoto to use/choose/select the old library.

I tried to find the library through the normal Finder program, but could not find the old file as well.

Can anyone help me? I can't lose my pictures as i don't have any backup anymore. Any chance i can reach to the files? I am not great with computer and thus really need this help.

Regards

Posted on Jul 12, 2014 6:28 PM

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Answer 1

Teddokun Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 12, 2014 6:38 PM in response to Teddokun

Some of the screen shot to give a reference are:

The other old file that i need. However, i can't choose that file to use it.

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,338 points

Jul 12, 2014 10:58 PM in response to Teddokun

First off: Make a Back up now.

Then:

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 early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

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

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Answer 3

Teddokun Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 13, 2014 2:45 AM in response to Yer_Man

TD,

Thank you for your reply. I have tried option 1 and there were no result.

I wonder if the reason for no result simply because i have created a new iPhoto Library 2 ? Can i delete this and re try option 1?

As you can see in my earlier picture, the iPhoto Library (original one) is available when i click other Library. However, i somehow unable to trace the existence in my computer root.

Is there a way for me to delete iPhoto Library 2 - and retry option 1 above?

On Option 2 - If i can not trace where my original iPhoto Library, how would they try to replicate this? Everytime i open up iPhoto, they are directly using iPhoto Library_2, which is the one that got created as i was unable to access iPhoto Library.

Looking for your help/guidance.

Thank you

Regards

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