Corrupt IPhoto application

29 May 2011 16:56:36

Peter Towersey

When trying to open my IPhone application I get the warning that the application may be damaged or incomplete.
I still have the picture files but I am not worried about these as I have them backed up elsewhere. I have repaired permissions and verified the disc and this seems ok. Researching the net I have come up with the suggestion that I trash the IPhoto application and then remove the IPhoto .pkg files from the library and then reload the application again. Does anyone have any thoughts please.

Re: Corrupt IPhoto application

30 May 2011 10:40:59

Euan Williams

Hi Peter,
it always helps if members say which version of MacOsX -- and the (iPhoto) software version -- is in use.

You will have visited Apple Discussions in search of an answer, especially
1. here. (The Terence Devlin post) note the two different ways to find .pkg receipts 2a and 2b depending on your OSX version. the ‘var’ folder is invisible, and receipts have been removed to it fromthe earlier HD > Library > Receipts in Snow Leopard (possibly in earlier versions too).
and
2. here.

If you start iPhoto with the > Command+Option < keys held down, several repair options are available. Try ‘Repair the Database’ for starters.

Troubleshooting for iPhoto (assuming you can open it) is tucked away in: Help > iPhoto help > Browse Help > Optimize iPhoto for your work style > Troubleshooting.

Note: Receipts may have an icon identical to installer .pkgs, but contain BOMs (Bills of Materials) which among other things, tell Disk Utility what the correct permissions etc. are. Generally they should be left alone.
Hope this helps.

Re: Corrupt IPhoto application

30 May 2011 18:00:15

Peter Towersey

Thank you Euan As you suggested I have left the .pkgs and BOMs alone. I took the IPhoto Application and put it in the trash. As I have two macs both running OS 10.67 I copied the Application from the good one and opened it in the faulty machine and it has worked. I will now work through the troubleshooting guide and repair permissions etc.,

Re: Corrupt IPhoto application

31 May 2011 10:01:14

Euan Williams

Ummm... yes: maybe leave the receipts alone if you are copy-dragging the application from elsewhere AND the application alone is corrupt. Otherwise ensure you copy-drag to replace them from the same backup drive. If you are installing from fresh (because these receipt files might be corrupt as well as the application) then the fresh installation would provide fresh receipt files. iPhoto installers are on your original Start-up DVD, or an iLife DVD, or from the Appstore.

The point about leaving 'receipts' -- generally -- alone is that they are necessary for Disk Utility to repair permissions and no doubt a variety of other things too. If, for a particular application they go bad, they would have to be removed either manually or by a properly set up installer.