This is great! I love these "Repair Permissions" blowhards who suggest every
problem can be solved by the answer "Well, did you Repair Permission
? Try
that!"
Nobody wrote that it is *the* answer or *the* solution or that it will
*solve* the problem... In fact, the last para of my post stipulates exactly
that.
Ever notice this is always followed by the response:
"Nope, that didn't do anything"
"Always"? Absolutely not, because ‹ as above ‹ it isn't typically mentioned
as anything more than one part of the process.
Guess what? I worked at Apple Computer for 11 years. So I know what I am
talking about and since I worked on Mac OS X Updates I am very familiar with
the "repair permissions" crowd, the new "zapping the PRAM" for our generation!
Then one would also expect that you'd be familiar with the aspects of
Frameworks in OS X and the fact that supporting applications need proper
permissions in order to execute properly.
Here's something from June, 2008 from MacWorld.
<
http://www.macworld.com/article/133684/2008/06/maintenance_intro.html>
Myth #1: ³You should repair permissions regularly.²
"But contrary to popular belief, repairing permissions‹a procedure which
simply resets permissions to a known state‹works only on a particular subset
of OS X system files. It doesn¹t affect user files, nor does it affect
third-party files or programs. "
The very next paragraph from that same Macworld article:
"If you ever do have a problem with system-level permissions, your Mac will
likely behave oddly, and you¹ll usually be able to use the Repair Disk
Permissions function then to fix the problem without any data loss or
long-term effects. So I recommend repairing permissions as a troubleshooting
tool rather than a maintenance task. For a comprehensive look at this topic,
see Repairing Permissions: What you need to know."
That's all that was expressed here.
Also, from the Disk Utility Program itself:
"If you have a problem with a file installed by the Mac OS installer, click
Repair Permissions"
Yeah... that pretty much sums up part of that was offered ‹ just worded
differently.
These KB articles you list are in fact out-of-date and have the same
information that was there years ago. There was a discussion at Apple while I
was there about removing the functionality because it seemed to mislead
customers. It was decided to leave it in because a minority of users might
become very upset.
Sorry, but "Last Modified" June 2008 & August 2008, respectively, still
seems a good deal more current than April 2006. I don't dispute that such
discussions took place, but if Apple finds it better to deceive millions in
order to avoid disappointing a few by not publishing factual, valid
information perhaps it is Apple who should bear the brunt of your ire rather
than the fellow users who offer suggestions based on their experience.
Perhaps I'm a bit naïve & misguided, but I generally find it more advisable
to follow the recommendations of those who design the hardware & develop the
software than the advice of every self-proclaimed "expert" who's figured out
how to blog. BTW: I mean no disrespect for Mr. Gruber ‹ as previously stated
there is no dispute whatsoever with his position on repairing permissions as
a matter of routine or preventive maintenance, but that isn't the context in
which the procedure was suggested.
So, yes, I am dismissing the suggestion.
Which is your right ‹ but that right doesn't encompass being dismissive of
or rude to those who reply to your request for assistance.
Expect this utility to go away in the future. The Mac OS will probably
maintain permission it cares about on its own.
Disk Utility has nothing to do with Microsoft's installation. Nothing.
Nor was it stated that it does ‹ Disk Utility has nothing to do with the
installation any program.
Anyway, if anyone has a real suggestion that will work on a non-admin account
please post it.
Thanks
You're most certainly welcome ‹ and any time you feel the need to denigrate
& misquote others along with a bit more sophomoric name-calling please don't
hesitate to drop by.
Good Luck |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
