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A question about permission repair

Hi folks.


I have researched this, so don't think I'm posting this without doing my homework. I just haven't found the answer.


I've verified and repaired permissions using both my HD startup disk and a USB startup disk. Both times, a handful of permissions are listed as wrong. Both times I've selected repair and one by one they say they are repaired. I clear the history and verify permissions again. They all come up again.


Now...I understand that the "wrong" permissions might not be anything technically wrong. Here's my issue: Why is the utility telling me they repaired each one when in fact it hasn't?


Again, this isn't an issue of how "bad" these incorrect permissions are; it's an issue of Apple telling me their utility changed something when it clearly hasn't.


Any comments or corrections in my understanding of this process are appreciated.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 22, 2012 9:25 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 22, 2012 9:29 AM

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448

6 replies

Sep 22, 2012 10:14 AM in response to Burke102

This has been true since 10.2x.

There will always be a list. They will always be adjusted.

Running Rep Perms over and over is a tremendous waste of time.

The only time to be concerned is if it ends with

"Repair Pernissions cannot be completed."


Read these, as well.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3041221?start=0&tstart=0


-- From Michael Conniff, a great volunteer here.)

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2160

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-1858

Sep 22, 2012 8:31 PM in response to Burke102

Burke --


Thanks so much for posting back. Actually, I wish they had never named it "Permissions Repair." I'm pretty much a non-geek (LOL), but it's been my understanding helping here over the years, that the "List" is not of "Errors." As I understand it, they're more notations for the engineers. They change with the cron thingies, or the full moon.


Anyway, 10 years ago, repairing permissions were the be-all end-all of what one had to do to maintain a healthy Mac. I think for the past 5 years or so, it's not so much. Regardless, I think it's a good idea to do this after a major OS upgrade. Then forget about it til after the next one.


Just my two cents. Glad you're here, and welcome aboard!

A question about permission repair

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