Beware 10.7.4 update on case-sensitive systems

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Beware 10.7.4 update on case-sensitive systems

The new /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.flashupdater.plist wants to run /usr/libexec/flashupdater, but there is no such file. There *is* a /usr/libexec/FlashUpdater but that's not the same name.

I only found that after the update went broadly bad on a machine running Server and sent me diving into logs, but after looking I also see it on my laptop (a pretty simple machine NOT running Server) This seems like a sign that someone was asleep at the switch in Apple QC for this update. I have not yet figured out the Server problems, which are baroquely wierd.

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on May 14, 2012 7:26 PM

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Answer 1

May 15, 2012 9:11 PM in response to billcole

As a quick fix until the next update, I modified the plist file to change the path of the executable to match that found in tthe filesystem. I suppose you could also create a softlink in the file system from the misnamed file to the real file, but that would break any backup of the files to a non-case-sensitive filesystem.

After the change, the module should be re-loaded. I just rebooted.

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Answer 2

Jun 14, 2012 12:48 AM in response to billcole

To help someone searching to fix log entries, my console log was filled with these messages every 10 seconds:

com.apple.launchd[1]	(com.apple.flashupdater[19032]) posix_spawn("/usr/libexec/Flashupdater", ...): No such file or directory
com.apple.launchd[1]	(com.apple.flashupdater[19032]) Exited with exit code: 1
com.apple.launchd[1]	(com.apple.flashupdater) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

This isn't just a 10.7.4 issue. I had exactly the same problem on my Snow Leopard 10.6.8 system. I did as George suggested - edit the .plist file ( I used TextWranger which used dialog boxes to change the permissions rather than having to remember and run Unix commands).

Only gotch was I forgot about CamelCase and didn't remember to Upcase the "U"pdater - silly me.

After reboot, ofending files were gone and no more annoying messages in my console log.

Thanks George.

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Answer 3

renOC

Level 1

0 points

Jul 6, 2012 12:24 PM in response to billcole

Beware it on Server V 10.5.8 as well, I just learned.

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Answer 4

Jul 14, 2012 7:54 AM in response to renOC

There is a much more simple solution:

open your terminal and link the file to the other, lower case name:

cd /usr/libexec

sudo ln Flashudater flashupdater

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Answer 5

Jul 14, 2012 3:54 PM in response to Wolfgang Voelker

I did suggest that alternate case softlink. That could be a problem if you backup to a non-case sensitive file system.

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Answer 6

Jul 14, 2012 11:42 PM in response to Wolfgang Voelker

Also, lInks are permanent. Someone at apple might decide to fix the problem in a way that's incompatible with the new link. Editing the plist is "run and done" -- as part of the install the newly edited plist gets deleted after its done it's job. Nothing's left around to cause problems later.

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Answer 7

Jul 30, 2012 6:20 AM in response to renOC

The here described problem isn't coming from the 10.7.4 update but from:

    Security Update 2012-002, 1.0

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