Permissions won't repair

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Permissions won't repair

Hi I am having some issues with my permissions. I verified them with Disk Utility and found that there were some repairs needed. So I have gone through trying to repair them more than 10 times and still I am left with a few that will not go away...

Verify permissions for “zeppelin”
Reading permissions database.
Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.

Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .
ACL found but not expected on "Users/Shared".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
ACL found but not expected on ".".
Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
Permissions differ on "private/var/spool/cups/cache/rss", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x .

Permissions verification complete

Repairing permissions for “zeppelin”
Reading permissions database.
Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.

Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .
ACL found but not expected on "Users/Shared".
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
ACL found but not expected on ".".
Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
Permissions differ on "private/var/spool/cups/cache/rss", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x .

Permissions repair complete

This same mac crashed two days ago and would not start back up, just got the question mark folder icon, wouldn't even recognize the harddrive from the OS X Install disk. I waited till the next day, and started up and it worked just fine, aside from these permissions being bad... Anyone have any suggestions how to repair this, or if these two occurrences are related?

iBook G4 1.2 Ghz & iMac 24" 3 Ghz, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Sep 24, 2008 7:52 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Dick M

Level 3

675 points

Sep 24, 2008 8:11 PM in response to a L p

Sorry you did it 10 times. I generally have the same advisories. Ignore them as they are not harmful. As to your system crash, that is something else that should be looked at. Can you look at crash logs in console for what may have caused the episode?

RM

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Answer 2

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2008 8:20 PM in response to Dick M

I am not very familiar with the Console... I looked at the console messages, and they only go back one day. Is there somewhere specific that I can look to find possible errors?

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Answer 3

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Sep 24, 2008 8:21 PM in response to a L p

aLp --
Ignore these notations.
In the other thread, it was pointed out several times.
The permissions always end with "Repair Completed,"
which means they are FINE!!! You will keep getting
those meaningless notations no matter how many times you RP.
AND, you don't need to RP unless new major apps have been installed
or updates/upgrades of Apple OS or apps.

So the crash has nothing to do with the meaningless RP notations.

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Answer 4

Dick M

Level 3

675 points

Sep 24, 2008 8:30 PM in response to a L p

Any computer can have a moment and crash and one may never know why. Mine has done it but rarely. If you have no further problems in the next few days, then great.

In Console (utilities folder), click on system log and go back to the time of the crash. Console is quite verbose and may take time scrolling through. If you have trouble deciphering the log, post it in these forums and knowledgeable people will help you.

RM

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Answer 5

Sep 24, 2008 8:35 PM in response to a L p

Hello aLp:

Pay attention to ~Bee's post. Forget the messages.

Barry

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Answer 6

KJK555

Level 4

2,900 points

Sep 24, 2008 11:22 PM in response to a L p

Hi aLp:
Those errors are not critical and I seen some of the same errors on my machine.
the secure log file permission is no worry at all. Either permission setting will still work.
the ARDAgent is for Mac screen sharing. The file probably didn't get updated properly,
but it is doubtful that it is causing any problems. Most likely it has the wrong date on the file
causing DU to squeal about it
The ACL's are left over from a previous update package. They are probably of the generic variety
(everyone deny delete) and pose no threat.
download and install SandBox and you can see what they are and remove them if you like.
the /private/etc/cups is nothing to be concerned over unless your printer is not working.
the private/var/spool/cups/cache/rss permission error is not an issue because either permission
setting will still work.

What is causing your crashes is more than likely some program that doesn't like the 10.5.5
updated OS. Actually you may have some directory structure problems since you are having
problems starting back up.

A good third party disk utility like Disk Warrior can probably fix it.
A backup, reformat and restore will fix directory problems too.
I am assuming your hard drive is healthy. A bad hard drive could be
the culprit, but whatever it is, it is not those permission errors. Look
elsewhere for the problem.

Kj

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Answer 7

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 29, 2008 8:01 AM in response to KJK555

Thank you all for your advice... I actually ran Disk Warrior yesterday, and got a warning that the hard drive had a fatal error, that would continue getting worse and the drive could therefore not be rebuilt. I called Apple Care, and with them came to the conclusion that it is in fact a faulty hard drive. Luckily I got that one good reboot, and was able to back everything up 🙂

Kind of frustrating to have a 3 month old iMac that needs a new hard drive already.

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Answer 8

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 29, 2008 7:01 PM in response to a L p

After speaking with applecare, they mentioned that I should take my iMac into the apple store and have a genius look at it. They also mentioned that I would need to reproduce the problem while there... So the next day I started up the iMac just to see what would happen. It started right up again, as if no problem existed. So I ran disk utility and verified the hard drive. The result was the hard drive was verified and no problems came up. So now I don't want to take it in only to be sent home because there is "no problem" but it is obvious there is a problem... Can anyone please suggest some good diagnostic software I could use to find what is wrong with this machine?

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Answer 9

Sep 29, 2008 7:04 PM in response to a L p

I had the same issues and permissions problems (Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26. Permissions differ on "private/var/spool/cups/cache/rss", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x).
I downloaded and installed the latest printer driver versions (my printer is an Epson) and it corrected the problem. Hope this helps.

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Answer 10

Sep 29, 2008 10:31 PM in response to a L p

Hello alp:

If DiskWarrior produced an error report, run it again. Print the report and take it with you to the Apple store. I seriously doubt if they will argue with that documentation.

Additionally, start up from the software install DVD while holding down the "D" key. That will allow you to run the hardware checker that Apple provides.

Barry

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Answer 11

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2008 6:19 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

I ran Disk Warrior again to confirm, and it didn't find the same error this time. Though when i started back up from the drive, it immediately froze after logging in... So I then ran TechTool and received these warnings:

Directory Scan
Failed
Performs a read test of the directory area for the selected volume.

Media defects cause this test to fail. You should consider backing up the device, reformatting the media, replacing the data, and then testing again.

Surface Scan
Failed - 36 errors
The Surface Scan test will scan the disk for bad blocks.

Media defects cause this test to fail. You should consider backing up the device, reformatting the media, replacing the data, and then testing again.

I am debating reinstalling the system, if it will possibly help. Can anyone make any recommendations here? Is this a hardware or software issue?

Thanks,
Andy

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Answer 12

joshz

Level 4

3,290 points

Oct 1, 2008 6:30 PM in response to a L p

Get an external drive if you don't already have one, clone all of your data to that drive with a program like Carbon Copy Cloner, test the backup to make sure it works right, and then erase your internal disk.

Use CCC to copy the files back to your internal, and then test again.

Good luck!

P.S. Good taste in music. 😉

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Answer 13

Oct 1, 2008 9:36 PM in response to a L p

Hello Andy:

Almost assuredly hardware. Take it in with the documentation.

Barry

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Answer 14

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 2, 2008 8:20 AM in response to joshz

I did as you suggested, and afterwards ran techtool diagnostics, and finally it says drive hardware failed. I made an appointment at the apple store...

Thank you all for your help.

🙂 Andy

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Answer 15

a L p Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2008 7:16 PM in response to a L p

The apple store genius was sure that it was a bad hard drive, I should get it back in less than a week with a new one... Thank you all for your help...

🙂 Andy

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