Can I delete a load of disk permissions?

Question

Can I delete a load of disk permissions?

I would like to delete a load of disk permissions. They are continually needing to be repaired and I don't recognize any of the names of the apps, and if I do, I would prefer to uninstall them.

Is this crazy? The main reason is that I am using drive genius 3 which continually monitors the health of the drive using 'drive pulse'. It comes up with 'critical' repairs needed each day and they are the same ones so I would prefer to just ditch them if possible?

Also, what I would really like to know is how I can use the command line to 'batch' delete these suckers.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Regards,

Felix

Intel Dual Quad Core Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 12 GB RAM, Motu 828 Audio interface FW 400, Logic Mackie Control

Posted on Mar 29, 2012 8:30 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

John Galt

Level 10

141,126 points

Mar 29, 2012 8:37 PM in response to composerguy78

You do not need Drive Genius 3 and it is probably informing you of a lot of detail that is either inaccurate, worthless, or needlessly worrisome. You already wasted your money on it and now it is wasting your time.

You do not delete disk permissions. They are required and a normal part of the file system.

The only utility required to maintain OS X system disks and permissions is Disk Utility. It will report many permissions-related warnings that you may safely ignore. Here is a list of some of them: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

411,193 points

Mar 29, 2012 8:56 PM in response to composerguy78

Permissions are not somethng you can delete. It's like giving a child permission to go outside. You don't delete the child. Permissions are instructions to the computer who/which applications can do what with a file.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 29, 2012 9:06 PM in response to Limnos

Like: You have my permission to delete the child. 😝

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Answer 4

Mar 29, 2012 9:07 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks very much to the two of you. I will switch off the drive pulse thingy and just repair permissions weekly. I know you are right about this.

I am most interested to learn that about permissions - a great analogy! thankyou!

Much appreciated.

Felix

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Answer 5

Limnos

Level 10

411,193 points

Mar 29, 2012 9:11 PM in response to composerguy78

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_permissions read about Unix ones in particular

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Mar 29, 2012 9:12 PM in response to composerguy78

You do not have to repair permissions weekly. In fact you shouldn't have to repair them at all. The messages you are seeing are in reference to certain software that has been installed for the system. The installation is not known to Disk Utility which in turn reports the messages you see. They are innocuous and may be ignored.

Mac OS X- Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions messages that you can safely ignore.

The messages will recur every time you repair permissions.

The only times you should repair permissions is if you receive a system generated error about permissions or prior to installing new system updates or upgrades.

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Answer 7

Dr. Dave

Level 2

159 points

Mar 29, 2012 10:31 PM in response to Kappy

I find that I have to repair permissions when the machine or apps act goofy or in a way they haven't before. Perhaps I note a lot longer than usual to render a short clip in Final Cut Express. Repairing permissions usually clears up the goofiness.

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Answer 8

fane_j

Level 4

3,697 points

Mar 30, 2012 12:07 AM in response to Dr. Dave

I suggest to anyone who believes that repairing permissions 'clears up the goofiness' the following article

<http://www.macworld.com/article/1052220/repairpermissions.html>

(mutatis mutandis—this was published in 2008), as well as

Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X

<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2963>

About Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature

<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1452>

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