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Photos missing from iPhoto library
Some iPhoto users are experiencing an issue in which photos are missing from their libraries. Even though the library size indicates all files are there, no files are visible in the library even though albums seem to be working properly.
Apple Discussions poster vincas writes:
"I'm running the latest version of iPhoto (7.1.5) and OS 10.5.5 on a PowerPC iMac. The size of the library is about 150 gigabytes (~35K photos), and it is located on a dedicated external drive. The size of the library properly shows the 150 GB size, but when I open iPhoto, although all albums are in place, the library indicates there are 'No items.'"
Users have tried rebuilding the iPhoto library and permissions fixes on the boot drive, but have not been able to fix the problem via these methods. Unfortunately if iPhoto libraries do get corrupted, sometimes there is nothing users can do to resolve the problem, so it is always recommended to have a backup that can be restored. However, if a backup is not available there are several things users can try:
Things to Try
Use iPhoto Library Manager The popular utility iPhoto Library Manager has several scripts that can be applied to problematic libraries. Users can download the software and run the "rebuild" function on the current library.
Recreate the iPhoto Library Since this problem involves corruption in databases and other organizational files instead of the photos themselves, users can get their photos back by recreating the library from the original photos in the previous library. To do this, quit iPhoto and drag the library to a temporary location such as the desktop (or to an external drive if space is limited and the library is large). Next, right-click the library and choose "Show Package Contents" and open the "Originals" folder. Now open iPhoto and confirm the creation of a new library. Then drag the contents of the "Originals" folder in the old library to the open iPhoto window. This will copy the files to the new library, keeping them organized by event.
Unfortunately recreating the library will not preserve metadata associated with the previous library, including keywords and photo ratings. Still, if users can live with this loss then they can recover access to the photos via library recreation.
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First of all, there are no widespread problems taking place of iPhoto problems.
Secondly, all you have to do to fix most iPhoto problems is to rebuild your iPhoto Library by holding down both the option and the command keys while launching iPhoto.
This very simple -- and effective -- step was not mentioned in the article at all.
Folks that claim this sort of nonsense are rather naive to the point that this is a troubleshooting solutions site, and not a "NEWS" site though important and relevant news is posted periodically. If there were rampant problems all over the place then you would hear about them everywhere.
As it is, MacFixIt does a good job of finding problems that "COULD" be affecting other users, and provides troubleshooting tips for them. In no way does MacFixIt claim these problems are widespread (unless they actually are), and in fact in many of the articles they make a point that "some", or "a few" users have experienced these problems. To me the scope of the problems is outlined as clearly as possible, without being to concise or too general.
Many problems might have similar or repetitive solutions, but for someone with a specific issue, they'll look up in Google "iPhoto missing photos", or if they know of this site they'll search for it on the site, and hopefully get to the article outlined here. This is a good way to help the Macintosh community.
- by paf10 December 13, 2008 1:04 PM PST
- Not only do I agree with the other commenters about the stability of iPhoto and the ease of rebuilding the library if necessary, but also that the mentioned program, iPhoto Library Manager, is fraught with problems. It will irreversibly delete all "projects." Caveat emptor.
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