HT201769: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

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

Q: iPhoto Library First Aid dialog window doesn't appear when I open with Ctrl+Cmnd

I'm trying to rebuild my iPhoto library, per these instructions: iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library - Apple Support and the Library First Aid dialog window doesn't appear as iPhoto opens. Only the Menu bar shows that iPhoto is open. I've deleted & reinstalled iPhoto from disk already, and it didn't fix the problem.

iMac (24-inch Mid 2007), iOS 8.1.1

Posted on Dec 3, 2014 11:30 AM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (105,599 points)
iLife
A:

If only the menu bar is showing, you may be having a problem with the preferences files.

 

Open your user library in your Home folder and delete the following files:

  • ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.plist
  • Delete the complete folder ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto
  • Then restart the system and try again to launch iPhoto

Your user library is hidden by default. To open the hidden User Library:

 

  • Use the Finder's "Go" menu.
  • Click "Go", then hold down the options key, until you are seeing "Library" in the drop down menu appear and click it.

 

In the Finder window that will open navigate to the folders Preferences and Containers.

Posted on Dec 3, 2014 12:19 PM

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strawberrylaughter

Q: iPhoto Library First Aid dialog window doesn't appear when I open with Ctrl+Cmnd

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 3, 2014 11:49 AM in response to strawberrylaughter
    Level 10 (84,165 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 3, 2014 11:49 AM in response to strawberrylaughter

    Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - from the resulting first aid window repair permissions and if necessary rebuild your database

     

    You must hold the two keys down until the first aid window appears

     

    LN

  • by strawberrylaughter,

    strawberrylaughter strawberrylaughter Dec 3, 2014 12:02 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2014 12:02 PM in response to LarryHN

    Thank you, Larry, but I've been doing that -- holding down the command + option keys as I launch iPhoto -- and the first aid window doesn't show.

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Dec 3, 2014 12:19 PM in response to strawberrylaughter
    Level 10 (105,599 points)
    iLife
    Dec 3, 2014 12:19 PM in response to strawberrylaughter

    If only the menu bar is showing, you may be having a problem with the preferences files.

     

    Open your user library in your Home folder and delete the following files:

    • ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.plist
    • Delete the complete folder ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto
    • Then restart the system and try again to launch iPhoto

    Your user library is hidden by default. To open the hidden User Library:

     

    • Use the Finder's "Go" menu.
    • Click "Go", then hold down the options key, until you are seeing "Library" in the drop down menu appear and click it.

     

    In the Finder window that will open navigate to the folders Preferences and Containers.

  • by strawberrylaughter,

    strawberrylaughter strawberrylaughter Dec 3, 2014 12:44 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2014 12:44 PM in response to léonie

    Yes, that seems to have done it. Thank you, leonie. I hadn't been able to see the Containers folder to delete the iPhoto folder.

    Many thanks, all!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 3, 2014 12:47 PM in response to strawberrylaughter
    Level 10 (105,599 points)
    iLife
    Dec 3, 2014 12:47 PM in response to strawberrylaughter

    You're welcome

  • by bhaney,

    bhaney bhaney Mar 4, 2015 10:26 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2015 10:26 PM in response to léonie

    I've been dealing with an iPhoto library issue after attempting to access my iPhoto library on an older Mac (that at the time had OS X Mavericks installed) via my home network with a new Mac Mini that came with Yosemite.  I wasn't even able to open on the original Mac that the library was located on (the one with Mavericks installed)  It recommended I download the iPhoto library upgrader, which I did and ran, but without success.  I got stuck in a do-loop, with the upgrade telling me "You can't open your current photo library using this version of iPhoto, and iPhoto itself saying "To open your library with this version of iPhoto, it first needs to be prepared."  So next, I tried a Time Capsule restore to the previous day on the Mavericks computer, to no effect.  I deleted and reinstalled iPhoto.  I finally had to download and upgrade the Mavericks Mac to Yosemite, with the latest iPhoto version.  I tried the fix you mentioned on this post, of deleting certain user preference and containers, to no avail.  I never get the 'first aid option' - it never shows up, just the same message as above when I opened iPhoto.  I downloaded the free iPhoto Library Manager, and can now see my libraries, and am about to rebuild them from a backup I have on an external drive (this backup was made after the issues started, however).  To free up space on my hard disk, I will have to delete the original that is stored there (the one I backed up).  This is my last try, do you have any other suggestions to get iPhoto and the upgrader out of this loop?  By the way, the iPhoto manager says the library I'm trying to open is 7.1.5  Thanks.