Expert: David Anders - 10/29/2009

Question
I have an iMac w/1.8 GHz G5; 1.25 Ghz RAM; OS 10.5.8. Just upgraded from 10.4.11. Now when I open iPhoto 6 v 6.06 several of my photos are blank or have exclamation signs in them. When I drag a blank to the desktop, the photo is there, and when I drag it back again it appears in the right folder. I'm missing about 100 ( out of over 5,000 ). Is there any way to get all of them back instead of one at a time?

Answer

These links explain the iPhoto Rebuild Process
Go to the links and read the whole thing, please.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2638
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

Important: You should back up your existing iPhoto Library folder before using the rebuild feature. A backup allows you to restore the iPhoto Library if anything unexpected happens during the rebuild that prevents the library from rebuilding correctly.

Before performing a rebuild, you should install any iPhoto updates by using Software Update. If a software update resolves your issue, then you don't need to rebuild. It's also a good idea to search Apple's Support Page for your specific iPhoto symptom before doing a rebuild, just in case there is a more specific article or relevant solution.

To rebuild the iPhoto library:
  1. Quit iPhoto if it is open.
  2. Hold down the Command and Option keys on the keyboard.
  3. Open iPhoto.
  4. Keep the keys held down until you are prompted to rebuild the library.
  5. A dialog will appear with rebuild options. Select the options you want to use.
  6. Click Rebuild to begin the rebuild process. This may take a few minutes to complete.



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http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Rebuilding_iPhotos_Thumbnail_Images/
Rebuilding iPhoto’s Thumbnail Images
August 28th, 2007 at 3:00 PM - Tips by Jeff Gamet

Just because you no longer see the correct thumbnail images, or if thumbnails are missing, for the pictures in your iPhoto Library, that doesnit mean your image collection is hosed. Those wayward previews may reappear if you rebuild iPhotois thumbnails.

Here is how:

   * If iPhoto is running quit the application.
   * Command-Option double click iPhoto to launch it. iPhoto will launch and then display the Rebuild Photo Library dialog.
   * Rebuild the photos small thumbnails should already be selected. If you canit see a photo unless it is blown up to full size, check Rebuild all of the photosi thumbnails.
   * Click the Rebuild button.


BACKUP Before doing this for safety's sake.

Good Luck
David Anders