iphoto 11 doesn't start

What is different about the problematic library? Has it been created by a different version of iPhoto? Does it contain different media kinds(videos, RAW files)? Is it stored on a different drive?

Try to rebuild the problematic iPhoto Library. But make a backup copy before you try that.

See Old Toad's post:

Re: iPhoto has crashed on a number of occasions, but on 2 occasions also seems to delete several events, including the o…

Old ToadMay 28, 2013 7:54 PM Re: iPhoto has crashed on a number of occasions, but on 2 occasions also seems to delete several events, including the one I'm editing. When I go to reimport the last event, it shows them as already there. But I can't find them.
in response to magsrs

Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.

Fix #2

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

OT

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Which version of iPhoto created the iPhoto Library? Which version of iPhoto are you using now?

And where is the iPhoto Library stored? On an external drive or in your Pictures folder? What happened between the time you could last open that library and now?

Disconnect yourself from the internet and see if you can open iPhoto that way. Report back with the results.

What version of iPhoto are you using? What version created the library?

iphoto 9.3.2

library created by IOS 10.5.6 (leopard)

You say you are running SnowLeopard (Hi. need help on iphoto 11. on macbook 10.6.8).

The iPhoto version 9.3.2 requires a new MacOS X version - it is the version for the transition from Lion OS X 10.7.4 to Mt. Lion Os X 10.8.

This iPhoto Library must have been opened on a Mac with a newer system than you are running on your MacBook with 10.6.8.

Or is it a typo your current iPhoto version is 9.2.3? That would work with Snow Leopard.

If one Library won't open and the others do, then the issue is with the Library, not iPhoto or the OS.

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.)

For a version of iPhoto this old you may need to download an older version of Library Manager - there's a link on that page.

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.

It's not going to happen. If IPLM can't get it back your only recourse is to restore from back up. If you don't have a back up, well mark it down as a lesson learned.

if all else fails and you don't have a backup with all of your photos in it try the following:

Starting over from scratch with new library

Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:

1. Open the library package like this.

2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.

3. Drag the subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.

This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.

Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.