I have a friend who is using an iMac OSX 10.4.3 and has had terrible
problems with iPhoto.

He tells me in transferred a movie taken with his digital camera, not a
movie camera, into iPhoto along with his other photos on the card.

Would that be the cause of his problem?

He attempted a rebuild By holding down the option and apple  keys and ended
up with a spinning ball and all the photos unreadable.

Should we reinstall the whole iPhoto or can something be done.

Lloyd