iphoto library problem

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4 months ago I accidentally deleted the iphoto library and it's related files while casually deleting 'TODAY' from the image list instead of checking each desired deletion. (didn't know i coudl actually delete the control files).

I tried to drag them all back from the trash but got / get unrecognized file. A few days ago I had another go but made it worse by dragging what I thought was my library images (some were) from Photosmart Studio into iphoto - I think. Lost track. Now lost images which are all indicated by names or jpeg #s but black throughout. Also when I open the library all the files are there but nothing in them save a few thumbs. Library.iphoto shows 5.8mb which would be the missing pictures. This is what I dragged out of the trash but is refused when dragged into iphoto. Maybe there's a critical file missing.

iPhoto.db
vid03.wmv
Library.iPhoto
Dir.data
AlbumData.xml

Before it all went black but after I lost all the original images as described I unloaded my cameras onto iphoto successfully. These are in fact the one that have gone black but the previous original selection in the 5.8mb missing library.

All help much appreciated.
 
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Have you attempted to reinstall the applications that are giving you the problem (you didn't state whether you did). If not attempt to do so just to see if you can fix the problem. Good Luck
 
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Thank you. I have not tried to reinstall as I was told by a techy that I had to unload and reinstall the whole OS op system. Can I just remove and reinstall iPhoto?
 
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chas_m

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No need to reinstall iPhoto -- it's not the problem.

Launch iPhoto holding down the option key. You'll be asked if you want to create a new library. You do.

There. Now you can begin again. Once you've got that built up the way you like, you can trash the old library.
 
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Thank you Chas. How to I get back to the old library where all is dark gray and only the JPEG#s or pic name show beneath the image space?

I actually loaded 4 pics successfully into the gray mass so it's accepting new material but not showing the old. Any ideas? Thus, I want to get back to library 1.
 
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chas_m

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You indicate that "library 1" is 5.8MB. That's nothing. There are no photos there anymore. That's barely even enough for a few dozen thumbnails.

I can't say without spending some time with the actual machine, but it sounds like "library 1" is a goner. As for your new library, you can add photos to it and change the preferences to have a dark grey background and the name show up below the picture.
 
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Thanks, Chas. it would appear that only thumbs still exist. How could they have been wiped?

This is what I've got:

iPhoto.db 608mb
vid03.wmv 2.1
Library.iPhoto 5.8mb
Dir.data 4kb
AlbumData.xml 644kb

When I accidentally erased the library and the above could it actually have erased the data even though I quickly dragged them out of the trash.

I just clicked on libraary and 6 shots were recovered but that's all. This has not happened before until I opened a new library.

thanks again.
 
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This is the message I original got and get after pulling the accidentally deleted library files from the trash:

Unreadable Files. The following files could not be imported (They maybe unredognized files or files that may not contain valid data)


This is what happens when I click the following. Looks like every photo in the there at one time although rising in binary. Pages of it.

album.data.xml in Safari

Application Version 5.0.4 (263) Archive Path /Users/andrew/Pictures/iPhoto Library List of Albums AlbumId 999000 AlbumName Library KeyList 3884 3882 3878 2601 2344 2342 2340 2338 2336 2334 2330 2328 2326 2324 2322 2320 2318 2316 2314 2312 2310 2308 2306 2300 2298 2296 2294 2288 2286 2284 2282 2280 2276 2274 2272 2270 2268 2266 2264 2262 2260 2205 2203 2201 2199 2197 2195 2193 2189 2180 2178 2176 2174 2172 2170 2166 2164 2162 2160 2158 2156 2154 2152 2150 2148 2146 2144 2142 2140 2138 2136 4065 2123 1911 1900 1898 1896 1894 1892 1890 1888 1886 1882 1880 1878 1876 1874 1872 1870 1868 1866 1860 1858 1856 1852 1850 1848 1846 1842 1840 1838 1836 1834 1832 1830 1828 1826 1824 1822 1820 1818 1816 1814 1812 1810 1808 1806 1804 1802 1800 1798 1796 1794 1792 1790 1786 1784 1782 1780 1778 1774 1772 1770 1768 1766 1764 1762 1760 1758 1756 1750 1748 1746 1744 1742 1740 1738 1736 1734 1732 1730 1728 1726 1724 1722 1720 1718 1716 1714 1712 1710 1708 1706 1704 1702 1700 1698 1696 1694 1684
 
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It did not solve mine. I found many misplaces old pictures and all the photos in My Pictures and Pictures folders but the lost images of the lost images of the past year or more have gone.

1. Could someone explain how they could automatically be erased.

2. Are they somewhere a Mac expert could find them if physically given the computer?

3. I followed Chas suggestion to start another library. Inn so doing do you automatically erase the original? If not can you get it back and how?

Many thanks.
 
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1. Could someone explain how they could automatically be erased.

There is nothing that can be automatically erased. From what i have read with you dragging to and fro from the Trash, going out on a limb, i would say you somehow, somewhere deleted them.
There could be instances where things cant be found, but as i said from what you went through i say you deleted them somehow.

2. Are they somewhere a Mac expert could find them if physically given the computer?
Got to Finder window and in the search box put .jpg and .jpeg and any other photo extensions you have saved photo's in. This will find ALL pictures of those sort for you.
If you want to retrieve data it can get quite expensive and then they still dont *Guarantee* finding anything, and thats IF you havnt written over the space .. And again you have

3. I followed Chas suggestion to start another library. Inn so doing do you automatically erase the original? If not can you get it back and how?
And as he stated in the same post he said to create another library. . . . You have to delete it

Launch iPhoto holding down the option key. You'll be asked if you want to create a new library. You do.

There. Now you can begin again. Once you've got that built up the way you like, you can trash the old library.

And as chas stated, and im going with him on this one. I think you have lost those photos for good ....

Is why we always tell people to backup backup backup
 
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Thank you. Depressing to think I could have wiped some real family treasures. I am a writer so I save everything but I thought the pix were safe. Shows it can happen to anyone even those who are savvy to this stuff. No idea how I could have erased nonetheless.

Stick and CD from now on. Pass it on.
 
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chas_m

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1. Could someone explain how they could automatically be erased.

They can't be. Some human being, maybe you, did something you didn't intend to do, probably involving moving files out from iPhoto's database (the king of bad ideas).

2. Are they somewhere a Mac expert could find them if physically given the computer?

Maybe. It's very expensive, and I can't recommend it until I have some understanding of what actually happened.

3. I followed Chas suggestion to start another library. Inn so doing do you automatically erase the original?

No, starting a new library will not erase an existing one. iPhoto supports multiple libraries.

If not can you get it back and how?

I think you're having some trouble with the concept of "erase." If you really ERASE something, it's not coming back.

Macs aren't this hard. They work great if you a) don't mess around with stuff that shouldn't be messed with and b) keep backups.
 

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