10.7 - unable to directly update app in Applications folder

It has been that way for versions before Lion as well, it just depends on what the permissions are for items in the application bundle. If you don't own a file in the bundle, say for example a code signature file, you will not be able to modify it (overwriting a file is modifying it) - you can still delete the application because you have permissions for the enclosing folder.

I have exactly the same problem.

Eg. installing Firefox 8.0.1. Firefox is a placeholder for each application, I tried to update by copy/paste.

Let's assume, that no Firefox is installed.

I drag-drop Firefox into "Applications"

I am asked for an administrator's name and password.

I give it, Firefox is copied into "Applications"

When I look into "Get Info", (me) has Read & Write, admin group and everyone has Read only.

Let's assume, that I change the rights of "admin" to Read & Write for each object in the Package.

When I open a terminal and look at Firefox.app, it has drwxrwxr-x@ with user=(me) and group=admin.

All files in the package have the same user/group, except the file "precomplete", which has -rw-r--r--@ with user=(me) and group=staff

Let's assume, that I change it to -rw-rw-r--@ with user=(me) and group=admin.

So each file file in the folder has now user=(me) and group=admin and minimum rw for user and group.

Let's try again to copy Firefox into "Applications"

I've been told that FireFox cant be moved, because "Applications" can't be modified. I need to authenticate.

I'm asked if I want to keep both files or if I want to replace it. I chose "Replace".

I am asked for an administrator's name and password. I give it.

I get the error:

The operation can’t be completed because some items had to be skipped. For each item, choose File > Get Info, make sure “Locked” is deselected, and then check the Sharing & Permissions section. When you are sure the items are unlocked and not designated as Read Only or No Access, try again.

Now, Firefox has the no" symbol (circle-backslash) on it. It is a folder with zero bytes. The package is empty. No files or folders inside.

When I look into "Get Info", (me) and admin grop has Read & Write, and everyone has Read only.

When I open a terminal and look at Firefox.app, it has drwxrwxr-x@ with user=(me) and group=admin

Let's try a third time to copy Firefox into "Applications"

After entering admin name and password, I still get the error:

The operation can’t be completed because some items had to be skipped. For each item, choose File > Get Info, make sure “Locked” is deselected, and then check the Sharing & Permissions section. When you are sure the items are unlocked and not designated as Read Only or No Access, try again.

First, there are no items in the folder, that kan be skipped, because it is empty.

Second, (me) and the admin group have read and write access on Firefox.app.

Third, the folder is not Locked.

So where is the problem? Why does Finder is not able to copy the Firefox to Applications?

I know, that I can delete Firefox first before re-installing it, but this is not the question.

The question is: Why is Finder not able to copy the application, if an old version already exists.

Obviously there are more of us with the same problem: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3395700

I'm going to "me too" this problem.

The only way I can get around it, as @red_menace suggests, is to delete the app, *then* copy it over.

It is frustrating.

Cheers,

Droz

I have the same problem. I find it frustrating too.

Only the Finder seems to be affected. I have not encountered this problem when I use the "check for updates" option that some applications provide. Path Finder.app does not have this problem either.

Nothing new in 10.7.3. Problem not solved.

+1. Having the same problem on both my Macs, ever since upgrading to Lion.

add me to this list as well. i have the same problem on my older MBP and my new imac running 10.7.3, the only work around i found was to change the permissions on my applications folder so that everyone has read & write access. I am not happy about that. I usually run in a standard account.

Another 'me too' here. Have thrashed around with permissions etc. and nothing seems to resolve it. Annoying bug.

Thrashing the permissions is only going to make things worse. If it is an application that your user is not the owner on, you'll have to delete the old app first. Until they address it, the simplest workaround is to delete the old app first.

Barney,

My user is the owner on the application. However that user does not have admin rights, so installing an app requests admin rights, zeros the existing application and then somehow fails to copy over the new one.

It's still the same issue. Trash the app first, and then replace it with the new one.

It should allow you to authenticate to trash the app.

There's a problem with the two parts of the process that will hopefully be addressed in the future, but until then, trying to mangle the permissions to allow you to do it is going to cause other problems down the line.

Barney,

Yup- agree. I just don't see any sign of what the root cause is. I already reverted the changes I made in permissions to try and fix it as they didn't improve the situation.

Thanks.

The only way for us to "fix" it is to remove the security on the Applications folder. Until Apple addresses the issue, it will remain. Something isn't passing on the authentication on in the two step process to remove, and then replace. There is nothing you can do short of removing all of the security they built into the Applications folder with the posix permissions and the ACLs.

One "fix" is to use "Path Finder" instead of Apple's Finder. I hope Apple fixes this soon though.

Nothing new in 10.7.4. Problem not solved.