software update server is not responding

Question

software update server is not responding

about a month ago my mac book pro 13 inch crashed from updating to osx lion ( so im told ) i brought it in for repairs and because of my warranty it was free ( which i was so very happy about ) but when i got home i tried to update my garage band app to get some new beat packs. i get the error message The Software Update Server (10.0.1.5) is not responding. so at first i didnt think anything of it. but then i plugged in my iphone which was stuck in a boot mode . it says i need to update my o.s for the iphone to 4.2.1 or something or other. i didnt think anything of that either because the top button of the iphone was broken but when i tried to update via the software update button i got the same message (The Software Update Server (10.0.1.5) is not responding. Check to make sure your network connection is operating normally. If there are no issues with your connection, contact your network administrator for assistance.) so i tried a wired connection and still nothing. i called apple only to be told( after several hours of over the phone trouble shooting) that they would need to reinstall my os but i dont have a back up which may be a problem. so to avoid losing information i decided to check online. someone had a similar problem and it was fixed by removing a plist file but i have not had such luck. if anyone at all can help me i would very much appreciate it . oh and my internet does work so i can browse just not update

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Dec 20, 2011 9:01 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Dec 21, 2011 2:52 PM in response to damianfromonset

The Software Update Server (10.0.1.5) is not responding.

Software Update can be directed to get its updates from a local Server, which is what is done at the Apple Store. If they forget to reset it, you are left trying to get your updates off the Server in the store, which is not visible on the Internet.

You can reset it to the default by Cutting and Pasting the following Terminal command ALL ON ONE LINE:

sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL

... then enter your User password, which will not be echoed.

Then quit Terminal and try Software Update again.

Source:

Mac OS X Server v10.4.11: Software Update Server stops providing updates to clients

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 21, 2011 2:54 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

i very much appricate your help but when i follow those directions i get this message "damian-fernandess-MacBook-Pro:~ fernandesdamian$ sudo defaults delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CatalogURL 2011-12-21 17:52:21.495 defaults[6886:d07] There is no (CatalogURL) default for the (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate) domain. Defaults have not been changed." i dont know much about terminal on mac books so if you could possibly tell me what that means i would be so grateful

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 21, 2011 3:15 PM in response to damianfromonset

That says the field is already deleted. So there is a different problem or the mechaism has changed.

I will do some more research, and it is possible another reader knows a more up-to-date answer.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 21, 2011 3:18 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

thank you so much. i appricate it

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 21, 2011 3:19 PM in response to damianfromonset

never mind your terminal idea must have worked! you saved me alot of time =)

Reply

Answer 6

Dec 21, 2011 4:33 PM in response to damianfromonset

I wasn't able to come up with an updated mechanism.

If it gets weird again, you could try deleting the preference file:

/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate

10.7 seems to have added some lock files, and it appears there are also some additional parameters that are not easily changeable.

Reply

Answer 7

Apr 29, 2012 12:28 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

EDIT: You may have to do a Restart after you run this sudo defaults delete ...

Reply

Answer 8

Jun 6, 2012 4:15 AM in response to damianfromonset

HazyRigby

Re: Software Update can’t find the update server

Sep 8, 2008 12:49 AM (in response to blue.blar)

This just worked for me. Hi blue,

Assuming that your Internet connectivity is working fine otherwise—

Try moving (if you'd like to replace it if this doesn't fix the problem) or deleting the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist.

If that doesn't work, I'd go to Apple's downloads page and get the 10.5.4 combo updater and install that. That might fix it.

Hope that helps!

—Hazy

iBook, iMac (early Intel), MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

File must go in trash though!

Reply

Answer 9

jesikag

Level 1

0 points

Apr 15, 2014 12:26 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

i am going through this right now with my macbook 10.6.3 what the **** is my password. which one are they requesting?

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 15, 2014 10:30 AM in response to jesikag

logged in as your own account, invoking the sudo command, it is looking for your regular account password.

The password you type will not be echoed.

You will be given permission to exectute commands as if you were the Super-User for a few minutes, and then that permission will expire.

Reply