Error Reading Package

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Error Reading Package

I'm having multiple problems, but I'll start with this one. When I try to install a package (like security update 2005-009), I am able to download it but when the package tries to open to install, I get the following message: "Error Reading Package. There was an error while evaluating JavaScript for the package."

Background: My computer was shut down over the Thanksgiving holiday. When I started it again on Monday, my Mail would not work properly. I kept getting messages with it and Safari saying that the program had been updated and something else about keychain access. (Sorry, I didn't write that message down.) I got Safari to work but not Mail. I used Disk First Aid and Repaired the Disk, but the only thing it fixed was a mapping error. By the way, I am not able to verify or repair permissions--don't know why, but those options are always grayed out.

In looking for info, one of the Help screens about keychain access mentioned the possibility of a virus. I didn't think that was likely, but I downloaded a trial (free) Sophos Anti-Virus and ran it. It found one virus and this is the message:
Virus: 'Troj/Openstr-B' detected in Macintosh HD:Users:Kathi:Library:Caches:Java Applets:cache:javapi:v1.0:jar:javainstaller.jar-3cc#CFE48.zip/javainstaller/Ins tallerApplet.class

Sophos Anti-Virus deleted the infected file, which I think has made the installer not work (because that file is now missing).

How can I fix this?

Thanks!

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Dec 2, 2005 1:47 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 2, 2005 3:53 PM in response to kamaha

Recommend you download and install the 10.4.3 combo updater.

Do not use Software Update for this.

The updater is a .dmg rather than a package.

If, however, you have problems with the .dmg updater, please post back and state exactly what happened when you tried it.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

kamaha Author

Level 1

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Dec 2, 2005 4:51 PM in response to Barry Fass-Holmes

Recommend you download and install the 10.4.3 combo updater.
Do not use Software Update for this.

Used your link. Downloaded it.

The updater is a .dmg rather than a package.

When it completed the download, it changed from a .dmg to a .pkg. The Installer gave me the same message as before.

If, however, you have problems with the .dmg updater,
please post back and state exactly what happened when
you tried it.

So, that's what happened. I think the problem may be with my JavaScript.

Hope this helps.

Sorry, not yet. Thanks for trying.

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 3

E.Moore

Level 3

610 points

Dec 2, 2005 7:34 PM in response to kamaha

Let's first try to repair the permissions in a different way.

From the command line:
sudo diskutil repairPermissions device

Where device is the entry that looks similar to /dev/disk1s10 and is on the same line as a lone / in the output of df, also on the command line.

If that does not work try the same command but after booting into single user mode by holding down the " S" key while booting.

Please report back with any errors and also check the system and install logs for more specific errors regarding the failed package installs.

PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, iBook G3 500, iPod, radioShark Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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Answer 4

kamaha Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2005 9:50 AM in response to E.Moore

I certainly am willing to try this, but I don't know quite how. I think you are going to have to be a little more specific (I'm not much of a techie). Do I open Disk Utilities? Where or what is the command line? Also, where do I find the system and install logs?

Sorry to be so helpless.
Thanks!

Let's first try to repair the permissions in a
different way.
From the command line:
sudo diskutil repairPermissions
device

Where device is the entry that looks
similar to /dev/disk1s10 and is on the same line as a
lone / in the output of df, also
on the command line.

If that does not work try the same command but after
booting into single user mode by holding down the
" S" key while booting.

Please report back with any errors and also check the
system and install logs for more specific errors
regarding the failed package installs.

PowerMac G4 Digital Audio, iBook G3
500, iPod, radioShark Mac OS X (10.4.3)

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 5

E.Moore

Level 3

610 points

Dec 6, 2005 9:31 AM in response to kamaha

No problem we'll take it one step at a time.

First thing is to open the Terminal application to get at the command line. Oh, you should be doing this as an Admin user (but the Terminal App. doesn't require Admin rights, just what we're doing with it does). The Terminal is located in /Application/Utilities.

The command line is a text interface the the OS, it has a higher learning curve than the GUI and there are some things that are more powerful than the GUI counterparts, but I'll warn you first if we do anything that might change the system.

Once you've got the Terminal open type "df" and hit return. Then copy and paste the results in a reply to this post. From there, I'll tell you want to do next and explain what the commands we'll use do.

The df command stands for "display free disk space" and it does just that, along with giving us some other useful info about the disks.

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Answer 6

kamaha Author

Level 1

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Dec 6, 2005 4:41 PM in response to E.Moore

I like "one step at a time"--thanks!
Here's what I got when I typed df

Filesystem 512-blocks Used Avail Capacity Mounted on
/dev/disk0s3 312319584 98901792 212905792 32% /
devfs 214 214 0 100% /dev
fdesc 2 2 0 100% /dev
<volfs> 1024 1024 0 100% /.vol
automount -nsl [135] 0 0 0 100% /Network
automount -fstab [163] 0 0 0 100% /automount/Servers
automount -static [163] 0 0 0 100% /automount/static
/dev/disk2s3 323160 219856 103304 68% /Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.3 Update
/dev/disk3s3 215472 112216 103256 52% /Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.2 Update
/dev/disk4s3 136408 33176 103232 24% /Volumes/Security Update 2005-009
/dev/disk5s3 347848 244536 103312 70% /Volumes/Mac OS X 10.4.3 Combined Update

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 7

E.Moore

Level 3

610 points

Dec 7, 2005 3:57 PM in response to kamaha

The second command is:

sudo diskutil repairPermissions /dev/disk0s3

sudo is a utility that let's the administrative user do things as the "root" user, a user that has more privileges than the standard admin user as long as they have the password. You will be asked for a password, it's admin user's password. You will be also be warned about potential risks, this is because the command will be executed as typed. You can do some bad things to yourself if you're not careful. An example of really bad is "rm -Rf /" that would delete your entire hard drive's contents.

diskutil is the command line version of DiskUtility and can generally do a lot more than the GUI, but for the most part the GUI version takes care of 95% of even power user's needs.

repairPermissions is the command we're sending to diskutil and /dev/disk0s3 is what's being repaired. You'll notice that the far right hand side of the line that /dev/disk0s3 appears on in the output of "df" there's "/"
"/" is the root of the filesystem. The output let me know that your disk is formatted as a single, large partition and as such is the only partition we need to try to repair permissions on.

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Answer 8

kamaha Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 8, 2005 7:47 PM in response to E.Moore

Thanks...
OK, but it says "Sorry, try again." when I type in my password. Isn't my admin password the same as my login password (since I am the Admin)?

I verified my admin password in Accounts in System Preferences. Then I changed my admin password and used the new one. (Do I have to restart the computer to have that change take effect?)
Anyway, I got this:

Error (-9998) "Invalid request" encountered attempting to verify/repair permissions disk0s3 Macintosh HD

Sorry this is not going smoothly. I appreciate your step by step assistance.

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

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Answer 9

E.Moore

Level 3

610 points

Dec 10, 2005 3:24 PM in response to kamaha

Once you've confirmed a password change it's set. No need to reboot for that. I don't know what would have caused the "try again" other than a mistyped password.

The -9998 error is "controllerHasFixedHeight" I'm not entirely sure what that means, or what Apple's developers mean specifically by that error, but it sounds hardware related.

Double check that the drive cables are seated properly. Also see if you get an error or are allowed to repair permissions when you boot from the install CD.

If neither of those work and you can't try a clean re-install after a backup and reformatting of the drive, you may need to take the computer in for a checkup or get some AppleCare phone support as they'd have more info on this error.

Good luck.

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Answer 10

E.Moore

Level 3

610 points

Dec 10, 2005 3:25 PM in response to E.Moore

Never mind the drive cable bit. I forgot you were using an iMac and don't have access to the cables directly.

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Answer 11

kamaha Author

Level 1

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Jan 22, 2006 10:11 AM in response to E.Moore

I did an archive & install yesterday, after doing lots of reading here & other sites to make sure I knew what & how to save to a DVD so I wouldn't lose docuements, photos, bookmarks, mail, etc. Anyway, all is well now, updated and everything works!

Thanks for your help.

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