Some users have reported an issue in which iMovie ’11 displays the message “Updating Aperture Videos Event (Scanning for new videos in your Aperture library…)” indefinitely upon first launch. This problem appears to occur only in the presence of some Aperture libraries.
Fix
- Locate your Aperture library, which is normally located in the ~/Pictures folder (the tilde [~] represents your home user folder).
- Right-click or control-click your Aperture library and click “Show Package Contents”
- Delete the files “iMovie-Thumbnails” and “iLifeShared”
- Reattempt starting iMovie ’11
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
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I ran into the same problem when starting iMovie 11 for the first time since I migrated to Aperture 3.1 from iPhoto. The removal of “iMovie-Thumbnails” and “iLifeShared” did not solve the issue.
Instead, I found a solution in the Aperture Preferences. Go to Preferences ->Previews and set “Share previews with iLife and iWork” to “Never”.
After that, iMove launches without problems.
Fixed it!
I applied the same method above for Aperture to iPhoto.
I opened the iPhoto Library package and removed the iLifeShared folder (not file in this instance) by dragging it out onto the desktop (incase I need to put it back). There isn’t an iMove-Thumbnails file in iPhoto. However, there is a Thumbnails Folder with 282.5 MB of files in sub-folders from 2001 to 2011. I left that alone.
Re-launched iMove ’11 and problem gone.
iWeb and iDVD also launch properly.
Now, in the iLifeShared folder there is an AlbumData2.xml file. Should I trash it and put back the empty iLifeshared folder? Or, will iMovie generate a new one when I use the Media browser?
Thanks for the lead to a solution.
7 Jan 2010 As response 13, my iMovie is looking for videos
in the iPhoto library and the beachball spins forever. The
following dialogue box comes up as well: Connection failed: The
server “(fe80:4:0:0:211:24ff:fe3c:244e)” may not exist or it is not
available at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check
your network connection, and then try again. This also happens in
iWeb and iDVD. I have to Force Quit to get out of it. But, iPhoto
and GarageBand work fine. I Googled this and tried every remedy
suggested including Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1843 as well as A Deep Bite
http://www.adeepbite.com/must-know-macosx-tips-and-tricks/how-to-fix-connection-failed-error-on-mac/
I have deleted and re-installed iLife several times, upgraded
iMovie to 9.0.1, repaired permissions, verified all drives,
connected all external drives one at a time, booted in Safe Mode,
added that (fe80 etc) server address to the DNS list in Network
Prefs… and everything else I could think of or find on the Net! I
also did all the Repair and Rebuilds in the iPhoto Command-Option
Launch Rebuild list. Because iMovie is looking for videos in iPhoto
library and I did’t have any there, I added an .avi, then tried
again. So far nothing has worked. I have been messing with this
every day since 29 Dec 2010. The worst part is that I installed
iLife ’11 on my wife’s iMac Duo from the same DVD, and it all works
fine including iMovie. It even archived the iMove HD in a folder in
Applications – and HD still launches and runs fine. Please, does
anyone have any more ideas. Thanks.
I am having the same problem, except it is looking for videos in iPhoto library. Do you know what files to delete for that???
Many thanks, working fine now. Why is this not on the apple site.
You are a star.
Worked an absolute treat! Thank you!
Thank you!!!! I’ve lost 15 days for nothing… Thanks for the internet and your answer 😛
I have the solution!!! empty the cache in the library on mac harddisk and on you user account. Afterwards everything is fine! Thanks to the mac user support!!!
well it works, but only for a while. I deleted the files as you said, than recreated thumbnails using imovie. the next day want to import new video and it starts again! damn thing! but deleted again, recreation takes only 8 minutes and doesn’t hung up! we need update!!
Worked fine … until next time I booted iMovie.
Do I have to delete those files every time?
I have rebuilt the Aperture library and repaired permissions – did nothing, iMovie reverts to updating Aperture Library every time at the next boot.
Worked, thanks so much 🙂
Thanx a lot, your solution works fine.
Still can’t use my Aperture library in iMovie ’11. Everytime I try to open the Aperture lib in iMovie it spinns the wheel about 2 minutes and than crashes (100% reproduceable). Already tried all the tricks like deleting the caches and the iLifeShared folder etc.
And I have to complete a project in a week. Apple please FIX THIS!
Awesome, I don’t have to reinstall the damn package. Thank goodness for the internet and your answer.
You are a freakin’ genius. This issue has been plaguing me for days!
Thank you! I had the same problem. Every time i opened imovie 11 it would hang on ‘updating aperture library’. Removed the files en problem solved!