Re: iPhoto thumbnails disappered

Bill Leeper <> wrote:

> Bill Leeper wrote:
> > I searched the NG here and other relavent places and found a similar
> > problem. When I open iPhoto it says loading images and sits there with
> > the spinning progress meter going round and round. I tried the
> > shift-option method and it goes through the process of rebuilding the
> > library right to iPhoto disappearing and then a window pops up saying
> > iPhoto has unexpectedly crashed. The recreated library is there as is
> > the original and I can view the pictures in finder just fine. The
> > command-option keys brings up the find library box and I can select the
> > original library but not the one I recreated. Most likely because it
> > can't finish that process. And that brings me back to the loading images
> > spinning progress meter.
> >
> > Suggestions?
> >
> > Bill
> >
>
> Sort of solved the problem. I did a bit more reading and created a new
> library. Then imported the photos from the old library. I lost the date
> and roll structure but that is no big deal. I still have the old library
> if someone has a way to rebuild it. TIA

Is this upgrading to iPhoto 04?

If so, I too had problems opening my existing datafiles.

In the end I actually reimported all the images from fresh. I always
keep a secondary backup system of hierarchial folders, based on date
downloaded. I use this as an image library, all the images are as they
were downloaded from the camera.

When I did the initial import to iPhoto, I dragged the whole picture
folder, but iPhoto didn't create the rolls for each sub folder. When I
did the same thing in iPhoto 04, it does, so I ended up with a much
better filing of my images.

However, to answer your question, I did have some luck with this method
I found in the Apple Forums. Simply rename the old iPhoto Library folder
(just add something to it, you just need to prevent iPhoto from
recognising it).

Open iPhoto, and then locate the folder manually when the dialogue
appears. This will then rebuild the folder to the new format. I tried
this and was able to access the images again. YMMV though.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5 - BMW K100RS 8v)
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Bill Leeper <> wrote:

<Snipped Text>
> > Open iPhoto, and then locate the folder manually when the dialogue
> > appears. This will then rebuild the folder to the new format. I tried
> > this and was able to access the images again. YMMV though.
> >
>
> I have been using iPhoto 04 for awhile so that wasn't it. Remaining the
> library gave me the same symptoms when I manually selected the new name.
> I only had a 100 or so photos in the library at the time so it isn't
> that big a problem. I am just going to leave it set to the new library I
> created and then imported into. On the plus side I did learn how to
> import images from any drive or device connected to the system that has
> photos on it. :-)
>
> I guess I better get that other internal drive and do a nightly backup.
> Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

OK no problem. I actually started again with nearly 2000 photos, and it
didn't actually take too long to sort. The Magic Albums are great, and I
like the way the new version breaks the sets donw into more manageable
chunks.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5 - BMW K100RS 8v)
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Bill Leeper <> wrote:

<Snipped Text>
> > OK no problem. I actually started again with nearly 2000 photos, and it
> > didn't actually take too long to sort. The Magic Albums are great, and I
> > like the way the new version breaks the sets donw into more manageable
> > chunks.
> >
>
> Plus, I am now going to make a special effort to back up my photo album
> more often. :-) You would think that I would have learned that
> lesson from all my PC years.

<grin> yes indeed, although Apple haven't been entirely innocent over
the years, we have suffered a few bugs in their software - Claris
Emailer, and ClarisWorks were good apps, but something as simple as a
corrupt font could lose you a heap of work.

More recently, Mail has occasionally dumped mail files too. Not to
mention the FireWire bug wiping external drives on restarts.

I have to say that I've been lucky, but I do try to manage the
housekeeping to a good degree, so that data corrupting problems don't
occur in the first place.

Now I have a DVD-R though, I think a backup shouldn't be so painful
anymore.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5 - BMW K100RS 8v)
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

Bill Leeper <> wrote:

<Snipped Text>
> > Now I have a DVD-R though, I think a backup shouldn't be so painful
> > anymore.
> >
>
> I think I will get some DVD-RW disks and do a weekly backup and rotate
> through the disks. That should do the trick.

Yes, although I've found a cheap supply of DVD-R as well, probably not
much use outside the UK though, but I just bought 50 of them for £18ukp.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5 - BMW K100RS 8v)
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online