Broken Installer Permissions

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Level 1

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Broken Installer Permissions

Disk Utility assures me that there is nothing wrong with my disk permissions, but every time I try to install a .pkg it'll give me this error saying "Installer has incorrect permissions and can't read the file" or something like that. I'm therefore left unable to install most programs aside from .apps, which is a huge pain in the ***. Anyone have a solution?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jan 20, 2009 6:21 PM

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Answer 1

KJK555

Level 4

2,906 points

Jan 20, 2009 7:46 PM in response to Aifel

The installer.app is in /System/Library/CoreServices directory.

Permissions should be:
system (root): read & write
wheel: read only
everyone: read only

Kj

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Answer 2

Aifel Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2009 8:04 PM in response to KJK555

Fixed the permissions, rebooted, still getting the error.

I've been reading up on the same issue happening to other people, and it seems the only way to solve it is to reinstall Leopard, something I really don't want to do.

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Answer 3

KJK555

Level 4

2,906 points

Jan 21, 2009 9:29 AM in response to Aifel

You might try reinstalling the 10.5.6 update (from the command line) using the combo update.

After checking your boot volume with DU (using leo dvd), log in as administrator, be sure no
unnecessary programs are running. I created a bare bones admin account just for that.

1. download the 10.5.6 combo update .dmg file
2. double click to mount it, drag the MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.6.pkg out on the desktop
3. close the .dmg file and all other programs.
4. open terminal.app
5. enter the following command:
sudo installer -verboseR -pkg ~/Desktop/MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.6.pkg -target / -lang en
(press return, enter your admin password, press return again)
6. after completion, restart your computer.

Kj

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Answer 4

Aifel Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 21, 2009 7:24 PM in response to KJK555

installer: Error trying to locate volume at /

A different directory perhaps? Maybe /System?

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Answer 5

biovizier

Level 5

7,931 points

Jan 21, 2009 8:02 PM in response to Aifel

From the vague description, it is difficult to say for certain but your ' runner' has probably lost its ' setuid' settings and your permissions database is incomplete so "repair permissions" isn't picking it up - if so, then in short, all sorts of things are messed up.

It would probably be best just to reinstall - an archive and install should be sufficient, and is relatively painless. Make sure to back up all of your data just in case...

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Answer 6

KJK555

Level 4

2,906 points

Jan 21, 2009 9:43 PM in response to Aifel

Interesting, looks like you have a problem with the volume information. Your boot volume is
reporting incorrect partition boot volume information. That is what is confusing both the command
line installer and the GUI installer.

Disk Utility may or may not be able to fix the problem. Disk Warrior most likely can fix the volume
header info, but it it not freeware.

The other alternative is to first make a backup of your system (most likely there is nothing wrong
with your Leo installation, it is a partition table entry problem) using time machine or 3rd party
cloning software such as Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper!.

Second, Boot from your install DVD, open disk utility and erase (reformat) your boot volume.

Third, reinstall your Leo backup.

You may also want to check your drives S.M.A.R.T. status to be sure your hard disk isn't thinking
about "kicking the bucket".

Kj

Message was edited by: KJK555

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