Administrator Privileges not working since 10.11 update

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Level 1

46 points

Administrator Privileges not working since 10.11 update

Since upgrading to OS X 10.11 yesterday, I've had requests from several applications to update - Adobe Creative Cloud being the most important but whenever I try to update all nothing happens. When I try to update an individual app I get the error: Update Failed: Administrator privileges are required to update your product." I am the administrator of this computer and have not any any problem until upgrading yesterday. Now any update that uses Apple Installer doesn't work. I've tried to check my status in Users & Groups. Still says I'm an Admin but when I Click the lock to make changes and enter my password nothing happens. the icon doesn't change, no error, nothing...

FWIW, I'm not using iCloud Password to login and unlock.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 1, 2015 8:53 AM

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Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,056 points

Oct 1, 2015 9:02 AM in response to You

I suspect this has to do with the new System Integrity Protection (SIP)

http://www.macworld.com/article/2986118/security/how-to-modify-system-integrity- protection-in-el-capitan.html

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Answer 2

You Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 1, 2015 10:02 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks for the suggestion, I considered it once I realized repair permissions was no longer part of Disk Futility. I Disabled SIP as instructed but no luck. Still the same problems with the additional quirk that whenever I'm prompted to enter my username/password, authentication take dozens of agonizing seconds with no feedback about whether successful or not. Still can't upgrade any Adobe CC apps or any .pkg using the Apple Version 6.2.0 (853). I just loop between hitting the Install button, authenticating, hitting he Install button, authenticating, hitting he Install button, authenticating, etc… 😠

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Answer 3

drastick

Level 1

19 points

Oct 14, 2015 11:40 AM in response to You

I'm having this exact same problem. Did you ever figure out what was causing it?

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Answer 4

You Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 14, 2015 11:48 AM in response to drastick

I did not figure it out. I ended up backing up my files, doing a fresh install of OS X 10.11then reinstalling apps. Just had to locate installers and in many cases updaters for everything. I've had no trouble since.

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Answer 5

drastick

Level 1

19 points

Oct 15, 2015 5:49 AM in response to You

Bummer. I don't really have the option of doing a complete reinstall.

Does anyone else have any ideas on how to resolve this issue? I have tried disabling SIP and that did not work.

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Answer 6

drastick

Level 1

19 points

Oct 19, 2015 5:54 AM in response to drastick

Bump

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Answer 7

drastick

Level 1

19 points

Oct 21, 2015 6:46 AM in response to You

I finally figured this out thanks to this answer. https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/17150

let the system rebuild the authentication database:

sudo mv /var/db/auth.db /var/db/auth.db.old

And then restart.

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Answer 8

You Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 21, 2015 6:47 AM in response to drastick

There are times when I wish I did that myself but I couldn't wait. Good to know! Thanks for the update.

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