Disk Utility: cannot Repair Permissions, even on Leopard installation disk

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Disk Utility: cannot Repair Permissions, even on Leopard installation disk

After reinstall of iLife '08 and Software Update completed, I ran Repair Disk Permissions. Got an immediate red note "error: The underlying task reported failure on exit (sic)." with a flag: "First Aid failed. Disk Utility stopped repairing permissions on 'Mac HD...' because the following error was encountered: The underlying task reported failure on exit."

I went to my Leopard Installation disk and ran "Repair Disk." No problem found. From the Installation disk, ran Repair Disk Permissions. got the same RED INK comments and flag, First Aid failed.

Restarts don't help. Also, so far I have not found an application which is NOT working despite this Disk Utility problem, happy to report ;-))

Additional background. I was reinstalling iLife to fix iPhoto after a clean reinstallation of Leopard and reincorporation of files and apps vis Time Machine. It had been several weeks and iPhoto appeared to be the only app which was not quite right.

Dual 2.3 GHz PowerPC G5, Mac OS X (10.5.5), actually 10.5.6

Posted on Oct 9, 2008 9:07 PM

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The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Oct 10, 2008 5:08 AM in response to Marcy-)__

Disk Repair can trigger "underlying task" but I've never heard or seen a Permissions Repair do so.

You should never use the DVD to repair permissions. You should be using the same OS version. And of course you can always repair permissions from your boot drive; or from backup/clone or alternate "emergency" drive. Otherwise, the DVD and older version of DU will be wrong.

I know I read that on MacFixit, but I am not sure I bookmarked it.

Don't rely on Apple First Aid, even a clean bill of health doesn't mean there aren't problems which Disk Warrior can deal with.

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