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”
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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”.
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?
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.
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!
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.
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!