Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Can't repair permissions

Apr 23, 2012 2:37PM PDT

Disk Utility reports over 50 errors in permissions on my main HD. The repair process steps through the, reporting that each has been repaired but they are still there the next time I verify permissions.

The vast majority are in System/Library/Core Services, the rest are in System/Library/Java.

Disk Warrior doesn't fix them, in fact, I don't think it even found them - maybe they're not really there?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Without the actual error message, this is just a shot in the
Apr 23, 2012 9:46PM PDT

dark.

- Collapse -
What a fascinating list!
Apr 24, 2012 9:33AM PDT

Well, that's an interesting list - one wonders why Apple doesn't modify Disk Utility to avoid them.

Many of my errors are indeed on the list. Those that aren't include:

Permissions differ on "System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Classes/jconsole.jar", should be lrwxr-xr-x , they are lrw-r--r-- .
User differs on "System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Home/lib", should be 0, user is 95.
Permissions differ on "System/Library/Java/Support/Deploy.bundle/Contents/Resources/JavaPluginCocoa.bundle/Contents/Resources/Java/deploy.jar", should be lrwxr-xr-x , they are lrw-r--r-- .
Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/Support/LockScreenLeopard386.app/Contents/Resources/Italian.lproj/MainMenu.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x

(there are well over a dozen that terminate in MainMenu.nib)

Permissions differ on "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Support/Remote Desktop Message.app/Contents/Resources/Japanese.lproj/UIAgent.nib", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x .

and many more

- Collapse -
The neat part about a JDK is.
Apr 24, 2012 6:29PM PDT

That we can always reinstall the Java Development Kit later. Did you consider removing this so you have one less issue?
Bob

- Collapse -
I was worried about screwing up the system
Apr 25, 2012 9:13AM PDT

I had thought of re-installing Java but I didn't know exactly what to remove or what to install and I was concerned about the consequences. There are Java files scattered all over the place. Is there a key one whose replacement will force an over-write of all?

I'd also like to re-install the OS. If I install the original Snow Leopard disc over my 10.6.8, will that wipe the HD? I have a 10.6.8 combo file on disc so I can quickly bring 10.6 up to 10.6.8 again.

- Collapse -
You would do what is known as an Archive and Install
Apr 25, 2012 10:41PM PDT

which is the default install for a "re-Install" of Snow Leopard.

All your data is archived, a new copy of the system is installed and your data is put back where it was.

Then you update back to 10.6.8

P

- Collapse -
Sounds like the solution!
Apr 26, 2012 9:09AM PDT

OK, that's what I'll try next. Thanks MrMac.

And, in reply to R. Proffitt, I'm certainly not a developer - in fact, I don't know if I actually have the JDK or not - you were the one who first raised I think. I certainly have no file or folder whose name contains "java development". But thnks for the try.

michael

- Collapse -
OS10.6.8 re-installed with interesting results
Apr 28, 2012 12:22PM PDT

I've re-installed Snow Leopard and updated to 10.6.8 with some interesting results .

Firstly, it appears that the Apple certificate for the OS10.6.8 combo update has expired and, if you have a copy which was downloaded prior to 23 March 2012, you have to download a new one. There are suggestions that you can get around this by changing the date on your computer but the jury may still be out on that.

Secondly, I've had to download another half-gig of software updates that I'd previously installed - I should have anticipated this.

Finally, it has had absolutely no effect on my permissions problem - all of my old friends are still there. I guess I just learn to live with them and hope that they do no harm.

- Collapse -
Now you have me worried.
Apr 26, 2012 4:04AM PDT

Not really. But since this is the JDK and not the usual run-time I got the impression you were a software developer.

You might be but then again I have run into software developers that don't know their tools. Why should they?
Bob

- Collapse -
"System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk
Apr 26, 2012 9:15AM PDT

That's where I thought it was the JDK. It's not part of this OS so not a big deal to remove Java and then clean up to remove this folder and try again.

Bob