iPhoto ate my library!

[CorvusCamenarum]

1.83 MBP, 100/1.5, 10.4.6, everything up to date.

My new camera came today (Canon a530), and I snapped a few pictures (mostly of a protesting girlfriend). When I plugged in the camera, iPhoto started up, and then proceeded to tell me I needed to update my library to be compatible with v6.0.2. I don't know what it did, but nearly all of my photos are just blank gray squares that won't load. The only exception is a few shots I took last fall. Also, whenever i try to edit one of the shots I took last night, all I get is a beachball and have to force quit. Please help.

 

[domzanghi]

Have you tried to open the files in another photo application? This will isolate the problem & see if the actual photos are still OK.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

Have you tried to open the files in another photo application? This will isolate the problem & see if the actual photos are still OK.

They're all intact; I tried opening a sampling with Preview. I didn't want to go through all 500 one by one. They're not where they're supposed to be though - they're in a folder called "Recovered Photos", even all the pictures I thought I had deleted.

 

[mad jew]

I'd maybe back everything up and then try rebuilding the library.

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

I'd maybe back everything up and then try rebuilding the library.

I just tried that. Nothing happened.

 

[Katya]

The same thing happened to me. I imported pics taken from my friend's Canon EOS350D into my iPhoto library and I can't load most of them. When I click the edit button, I just get this gray box with an exclamation point in the middle. What does this mean? Not all pics were affected though. The pics that have been rotated to landscape orientation load properly when I click Edit, but the ones that are in the portrait position don't load at all.

 

[polythene pam]

I have the same problem on my iPhoto, with the little grey box and the exclamation point. My photo library has been all messed up ever since I updated to the new iPhoto 06. Instead of having just one folder called 2005 and 2006, which were then divided into separate folders for each month, I now have three sets of 2005 & 2006, and I cant find anything anymore!!!!

P.S. Thanks for the rebuilding the library link, Mad Jew! I'll give it a shot!

 

[mad jew]

I just tried that. Nothing happened.

As in, you rebuilt the library and it didn't fix the problem or you couldn't get the library to rebuild?

 

[CorvusCamenarum]

As in, you rebuilt the library and it didn't fix the problem or you couldn't get the library to rebuild?

As in I rebuilt the library but still can't see my pictures. I did find a fix after a fashion, though:
1. Copy iPhoto library [user -> Pictures -> iPhoto Library].
2. Open iPhoto and delete all grayed out pictures.
3. In the iPhoto Library folder (not the duplicate), delete all empty folders.
4. From the copied folder, drag all pictures from "Recovered Photos" into iPhoto.

There is a downside to this solution. You will lose all your albums and any other way you have your pictures sorted in the process, so you'll have to go back and resort them. Fortunately i haven't erased my old computer (somebody please buy it) yet, so I can use the files from it as a guide. If you can think of a better way to remedy I'm all for it as this is somewhat tedious and time consuming.

 

[Katya]

I'll try to rebuild by library tonight. At least I feel somewhat better knowing that I'm not the only one going through this problem.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[chilli]

I have this problem with both users on my mac. I have deleted and than reloaded all of my photos on one account and its still happens. i am loading the pic from disks. i have reloaded the disks and still nothing. help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!