Software Update can't check for updates (Lion)

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Software Update can't check for updates (Lion)

Just downloaded and installed OSX 10.7. Tried to run Software Update and get the following alert:

'Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem. The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “swscan.apple.com”.'

Repaired permissions, created new user account... Issue persists. I'm connected to the internet. Software Update System Preference has no entries in the "Software Installed' tab.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 12:03 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 20, 2011 12:18 PM in response to jmixer

I've had been able to get updates, but I've also had Software Update sort of get into LaLa land. As they are very busy and are adding updates, it may just be that things are overloaded and try again a bit later.

Steve

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Answer 2

Xaine05

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Jul 20, 2011 6:03 PM in response to jmixer

I have the same problem. I hope it is something to do with the Apple servers as I would have no clue how to fix this. I get the error message:

Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.

The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “matsus2.matilda.net.au”.

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Answer 3

jmixer Author

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Jul 20, 2011 7:25 PM in response to Xaine05

Ok. I got out of my corporate network and everything is fine. It might have something to do with going through a corporate LAN server that hasn't been updated.

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Answer 4

Xaine05

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Jul 20, 2011 7:28 PM in response to jmixer

Hmmm, well I'm just on a personal computer not running through a network or LAN.

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Answer 5

jmixer Author

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Jul 20, 2011 7:34 PM in response to Xaine05

Did you repair your permissions using Disk Utility? I did that (part of the troubleshooting, but it didn't seem to fix the problem. Other people with Software Update issues after install said it fixed theirs.)

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Answer 6

Xaine05

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Jul 20, 2011 7:50 PM in response to jmixer

Yes I did just try that but still not working. Have you found a list of possible troubleshoots people can try?

I have also found that apps in my itunes account that need updating just doesn't do anything either. I click to update and nothing happens.

I have no idea what that “matsus2.matilda.net.au” on the network diagnostics error means. That as far as I can tell has nothing to do with our ISP or our home network.

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Answer 7

jmixer Author

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Jul 20, 2011 7:58 PM in response to Xaine05

Well, I ended up restarting it a couple of times (once to run the Disk Utility in Recovery Mode). And restart after that to get back to regular mode. It didn't work then, but does now, with no further change than the network. I tried going to the address I got in my alert and it seemed to be some OSX Server Configuration page. There is an option to reinstall in Recovery Mode (if you decide to go that route and have a backup system.)

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Answer 8

jmixer Author

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Jul 20, 2011 8:05 PM in response to Xaine05

Xaine05 wrote:

I have also found that apps in my itunes account that need updating just doesn't do anything either. I click to update and nothing happens.

Have you tried getting the updates individually?

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Answer 9

Xaine05

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Jul 21, 2011 2:53 AM in response to jmixer

No I haven't tried to get the individually. I will just wait because I am not the only one in our household who's iTunes won't download app updates.

The Software Update error has also now changed to:

Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.

A network error has occurred. Check your Internet connection, and then try again.

as opposed to earlier when it read:

Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem.

The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “matsus2.matilda.net.au”.

So something has changed in the last few hours. Maybe it's not my computer and just something to do with the apple servers. The matsus2.matilda.net.au is the interesting thing as it has no relevance to our internet or home network.

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Answer 10

jmixer Author

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Jul 21, 2011 7:40 AM in response to Xaine05

I checked out the web site, and it seems to be a OS X Server configuration page. I think that the software update catalog has to be updated on the server that you feed into for Software Update to function. Give it a little time and it will probably resolve itself, since it seems to be a non-local issue.

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Answer 11

Xaine05

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Jul 21, 2011 6:15 PM in response to jmixer

Was obviously a temporary glitch and non-local as you said. Hit the "Software Update" option today and all is working as it should. Maybe their servers were being upgraded or simply at maximum capacity due to a lot of people doing 4GB downloads for Lion.

Other than the glitch I am very happy with Lion, they have made lots and lots of subtle changes. Things you probably won't notice until you come to it.

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Answer 12

mcecilsd

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Jul 25, 2011 5:31 AM in response to jmixer

Not temporary. Was able to update iWork, then software update stopped working. Every time I try, I get this error:

The file “index-lion-snowleopard-leopard.merged-1.sucatalog” couldn’t be found on the server “swscan.apple.com”.

Dumped software update prefs. No change. Restarted repeatedly. No change. Has anybody who gets that error figured out how to make it go away? I'm regretting the Lion upgrade.

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Answer 13

jmixer Author

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Jul 25, 2011 10:32 AM in response to mcecilsd

Probably a non-local server issue that will resolve itself with a server update. At least that's that conclusion we've reached on this thread.

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Answer 14

RCDNZ

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Aug 2, 2011 12:19 PM in response to jmixer

Only fix I've found is by creating a new user with admin rights, seems to be an issue with the old account being corrupted during the upgrade process. Not sure why Apple can't suggest what the source of the issue is rather than having to creat a new account and migrate across to it..

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Answer 15

Aug 14, 2011 8:56 AM in response to jmixer

I'm having this issue too and I made a new Admin user and I still get,

"Software Update can't check for updates because of a network problem. A network error has occurred. Check your Internet connection, and then try again."

I also did what other suggested and deleted the .plist and for some reason the Mac App Store can't connect either. I'm thinking about doing a fresh Lion install using the Recovery Disk Assisstant, Apple posted in the downloads.

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