9997 error, "no valid packages" help

hi to all...has anyone run into the error code "-9997, no valid packages"?
I've lost my startup disk, and running Disk Utility to repair or verify permissions gives me the above code.
Dish Warrior and TechTool Pro both pass the suspect disk ok, but it will not startup nonetheless.
What do I do about "no valid packages"...I've used the Install disk as I've said and Disk Utility doesn't get past the error code mentioned above. The disk is visible when starting up from another disk.
I'm thinking a re-install of the system?? Any advice is appreciated.
G4 Cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)
G4 Cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)
G4 Cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)

If you don't have another copy of the receipts for your computer's exact software configuration, you will need to do an Archive & Install of Mac OS X to get them back. This may also fix your startup issue depending on what the cause is; more information is required to know for certain.
(18917)

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No Hard Drive Or Volume Icon In Powerbook G4 Firewire (aluminium) Disk Utilities: Reads Error: No Valid Packages (-9997)

Whilst performing a zero/erase install on my Powerbook G4 Firewire (aluminium) with an OSX Tiger install disk (Tiger was the OSX i had erased), I had to force quite the installer as it appeared to be stuck on the Chinese script install section. I crashed the Powerbook down using the power button method. Now, when i power up the computer, it stays on the grey screen and just beeps at me. If i insert the install disks (both OSX Tiger or the original Powerbook Panther ones) there is no volume found during the install process. In disk utilities no hard drive icon or volumes appear in the left hand list, just 2 headings regarding the OSX install disk. I have clicked 'Verify Disk Permissions' on these headings and receive this message in the action box: Error: No Valid Packages (-9997). All other options in disk utilities are not available to use (partitions section etc), as there is no hard drive recognized to perform anything on. I presume my erase install has wiped out my previous OSX Tiger without installing some essential on the Powerbook (receipts perhaps?). My Powerbook was working 100% before this install attempt. It's a very lightly used machine with no noises/whirrs coming from the hard drive that would suggest failure of some kind. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks for your advice old comm guy.
I have run the Hardware Test as supplied with the Powerbooks install disks and everything has passed. I presume i can put my mind at rest about it being a problem in any of those departments. I have been browsing for a couple of weeks now and think my problem could be a loss in receipts/permissions somewhere. I remember looking for a lost file awhile back using a hard drive search programme through Terminal. It filled my hard drive almost to the maximum with unwanted retrieved files, it took me hours to erase all this again (never found the document i was looking for either). Perhaps a receipt was erased/trashed at this time?. Sometime later (prob weeks) i performed a fresh OSX install to give me an uncluttered faster running machine (I do this once a year). I zero erased the hard drive (including free space) and it was during this install that i had to force quit. It seemed to be stuck loading the Chinese Script so i had no option. After this the problem as described above has been persistent. Is there a way to restore receipts/permissions through Terminal or something like that?. Or maybe a procedure that one has to do when installing a new hard drive?. A step by step guide from someone would be a real help as i am not really confident using these advanced procedures.

"Error: No valid packages (-9997)" Tiger installation disc

When attempting to install tiger on my imac g4, it gets to about 65% on the essentials bar then errors, something like BomFatal error some files are not written properly. My harddrive repairs fine but the Mac OSX disc, when i run permission verification first aid returns "Error: No valid packages (-9997)". The support page was not paticularly helpful in this respect, and the folks here tend to be more helpful anyway.
Thanks in advance.

Here's a post with replies that cover your issue.
Posting in the Airport for Windows forum will not get the help you need. I found this post by accident.
Perhaps, (if this is what you have) the iMac Flat Panel forum would help you more.
DALE

Disk Utility Error "no valid packages"

Hi,
I have a PowerBook G4 with 1GB RAM.
I've noticed a significant system slowdown lately. Programs take longer to open and respond, and it's rather annoying. I came to the forums to seek some remedy, and tried to run a Disk Utility to check that everything there is at least okay. But when I click on verify permissions, I get an error that says "no valid packages." Does anyone know what this means and how to fix it (if it needs fixing; I'm assuming this isn't a good thing, whatever it is!).
Thanks.
Lori

Hi librarygirl and Welcome to the Discussions!
Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4: Disk Utility shows a "No Valid Packages" alert
Disk Utility can't verify or repair permissions on the Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4 volume if the "BaseSystem.pkg" file is not in /Library/Receipts.
This alert appears when you try to repair permissions with Disk Utility:
"First Aid failed
"Disk Utility stopped repairing permissions on '(volume name)' because the following error was encountered: No valid packages"
In the Disk Utility text window, this message appears in red text:
"Error: No valid packages (-9997)"
This happens when the BaseSystem.pkg file is not in /Library/Receipts.
Solution
If you've moved this file, move it back to /Library/Receipts. You shouldn't normally remove any files from /Library/Receipts.
If the file has been deleted, replace it by copying it from a different computer that uses Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4, or by reinstalling Mac OS X 10.3/10.4 from an installation disc.
"Reinstall" means you can install 10.3 or 10.4 from a disc, if it's the same version of 10.3/10.4 (such as 10.3.3 on both the installation disc and computer). If the version of 10.3/10.4 on the computer is newer than what's on the install disc, then use the install disc to perform an Archive and Install installation instead, then update to a later version of Mac OS X.
Joe

Error No Valid Packages

Ok so this is the story. Backed up my iMac with a new 1 TB drive using Time Machine. All fine. Took about an hour but seems fine simple as anything. Firewire 800 very rapid.
Decided to do the same with my Macbook this cant be difficult Im telling myself... good one.
Ok so using a USB external drive I started backing up the Macbook. (I must say here that the drive wasnt empty it had some stuff on it already) I figured this was ok but now Im beginning to think otherwise. After about 45GB the backup starts to freeze. I left it an hour but then it just wouldnt do anything. In hindsight me deciding to stop the backup was probably a bad thing at this point but after I stopped it the macbook froze.
I had to reboot... wont reboot... just sits there spinning and the apple icon.
Rebooted from the disc and disc utility and ran permissions I get the message Error No Valid Packages.
At this point Im seeing just over 100 GB in use, and 200 free.. so I know my stuffs there but I just cant get it to boot OSX.
For reference its Snow Leopard. Please help!!!

Try running Disk Repair from the Install DVD. Sounds like you may have some HD corruption. Alternately, you could try booting while holding Shift. This will put you in SafeBoot. If you can boot here, backup your important files!
For more info on what SafeBoot does:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564

Error: No valid packages (-9997) on IMAC G5

I got the above message when I tried to run the utility disk. It also said: Disk utility stopped verifying permissions on "Mac OS X install Disc 1" because the following error was encountered: No valid packages. Does that mean my hard drive is toast? Can I replace it and if so, how much would it cost?
I also tried to run the Mac OX install disc 1 but when I get to the select destination part, there's no hard drive that appears. UGH! Help please!
My disk utility screen only shows my 4.2 GB Pioneer DVD-R and the Mac OS X Install Disc 1 that i put in.
Thanks,

Here's a post with replies that cover your issue.
Posting in the Airport for Windows forum will not get the help you need. I found this post by accident.
Perhaps, (if this is what you have) the iMac Flat Panel forum would help you more.
DALE

Repairing permissions - ERROR: NO VALID PACKAGES

I think I may have deleted something important!
I had a bit of a tidy up the other day, mainly deleting printers & fonts that I don't use. But it looks like I may have removed a few important things.
In disk utility, I can no longer repair disk permissions. When I try, I get a box saying;
FIRST AID FAILED
DISK UTILITY STOPPED REPAIRING PERMISSIONS ON "MACINTOSH HD" BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING ERROR WAS ENCOUNTERED:
NO VALID PACKAGES
Is there an easy way of fixing this? Or am I looking at a reinstall of Tiger?

Glad that sorted your immediate problem.
On the face of it I would have thought that none were necessary, as the name of the folder and the fact that they're installer packages for things that have already been installed would seem to indicate that they are not needed. BUT the fact that the loss of one of those files caused a problem with something that can be as important as the ability to repair permissions is pretty clear evidence that the files in there are used for something!
So, I would recommend leaving alone the packages for apps/etc. that are still on your machine, or files that you do not recognize. On the other hand, there are some items (very few, actually) in my receipts folder that I would feel comfortable deleting, e.g. a virus defs package for Norton, which I installed right when I got my MBP, but it utterly failed for reasons I won't go into here, and I actually ran the uninstaller to get rid of it, but clearly it left this little gift for me. And poof, it's gone.
But the majority I would recommend leaving alone. On my HDD the Receipts folder is ~170 MB, so it's not a huge chunk, but of course every little bit adds up!
Hope this helps...

Repairing permissions - Error: No valid packages(?!) Wha?

Computer's been doing strange things lately. Not recognizing my airport signal (none of my neighbor's wireless signals either); not recognizing any printers when time to print; no quicktime playback; some sent and received emails lost in space, etc. So I'm getting ready for an archive and install when I think I'll try repairing permissions first. Verifying disk says volume is fine. But i get an immediate error of no valid packages for repairing permissions. Anyone know what this means and how to rectify it?

First "Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Verify & Repair if needed, then use Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751
Where are we now after a reboot?

Error message: Validating package signature ... error

Hi All
When I try to do CUE upgrade, I got below message.
CUE> $64.200/cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg username cisco password cico1234
WARNING:: This command will install the necessary software to
WARNING:: complete a clean install. It is recommended that a backup be done
WARNING:: before installing software.
Would you like to continue? [n] y
Downloading cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg
Download error
Can not download cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg error code 530 error type 'the username and/or the password are incorrect'
[15252 refs]
CUE> $4.200/cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg username cisco password cisco1234
WARNING:: This command will install the necessary software to
WARNING:: complete a clean install. It is recommended that a backup be done
WARNING:: before installing software.
Would you like to continue? [n] y
Downloading cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg
Bytes downloaded : 182396
Validating package signature ... error
Package signature validation failed for pkg cue-vm-k9.nme.7.0.3.pkg
So anyone have solution for this?
I can not do anymore cause of this error.

Dear Jorge,
How did you resolve this issue?
I encounter same error during EHP4 ECC IDES upgrade in phase SHADOW_IMPORT_INC
I repeated the step, currently still running.
Best Regards,
Jacco Raymakers

Disk permissions - "Error: No Valid Packages (-9997)"

Should I worry about this error? It shows up when I try to "verify permissions" via Disk Utility (booted from disk) and I also ran Tinker Tool System and it gave the same error.
Thanks for the help!
Ken

You've either removed the /Library/Receipts/ folder or deleted its contents. Disk Utility will no longer work nor will Software Update.
Download a shareware utility called Pacifist 2.0. Use it to extract a fresh copy of the BaseSystem.pkg from the file archives on your Tiger DVD. Extract the new copy of BaseSystem.pkg to the /Library/Receipts/ folder. If you've deleted the folder simply make a new folder with that name. In the future do not delete the folder or its contents. They are needed for permissions repair and updating software with Software Update.
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Verify permissions for "...HD" Error: No valid packages (-9997)

Anybody knows, what happend ? Can't start the computer from this volume. DiskWarrior says something about not linked or pointed link files. 50 of them.
Repairable ?
This is my second hard drive, I'm using mainly for storage. Could it be that it happened after the last security update ? I didn't update this one but the main one. Trying to find an explanation here..
Thanks
bafomet

bafomet,
"This is my second hard drive...'
Is this an internal or external HD?
++++++>internal, both in the tower.
"...I didn't update this one but the main one..."
"Had to install the system new."
Which HD did you do the reinstall on?
++++>the broken one, the one I just use for storage. This is the one indicating the broken link files. After the reinstallation BaseSystem.pkg schows 772 KB (like on the main HD). Still DiskWarrior indicates those 50 link files no longer pointing to the original files.
"...the BaseSystem.pkg was really 0 bits..."
On which HD?
+>on the broken one as above.
What type of discs are you using to install?
I used the Panther discs with 10.3 version. Have now extrem problems in configuring this system to the internet. Also Safari doesn't seem right, would come up with no window and can't get any functions to even show up. Wondering if this is because I can't connect to the internet (from this system - the other one does) and do all the updates to 10.3.9..
Thanks for help ali
bafomet

Error: No valid packages (-9997)

Does anyone know where I can download a copy of the BaseSystem.pkg file for 10.3.9? I accidentally deleted mine.

That isn't available for download, as it's created on the computer when Panther was installed. If you acquired the computer without Panther installer disks, you need to buy some now. Check eBay for a retail/universal installer CD set, which includes the 3 Panther disks + the Xcode Tools CD (which you may not need/use). For the purpose of identification, the correct Panther disks look like those shown in this eBay listing. I wouldn't recommend purchasing the grey Panther Restore disks that shipped with specific Macs, because their software build is tailored for the hardware indicated on the disk. Once you have the installer CD, you can perform an Archive and Install, as mentioned in this Knowledge Base article. Depending on the release of the Panther installer disks (OS 10.3.0, 10.3.2, 10.3.5, etc.), you'll need to run the downloadable OS 10.3.9 Combo Update again.

Replacing .pkg files to fix "Error: No valid packages"

Hi all -
I've just learned the hard way that I'm not supposed to delete files from the Receipts folder.
I've done my due diligence, so I know that I need to replace at least "BaseSystem.pkg", but I have questions;
Is it ok, if I'm running 10.4.9, to copy it from my other mac running 10.3.9?
Should I try to replace the other .pkg files I deleted?
Should I just copy the whole Receipts folder?
What'll happen if I get packages I didn't have before, or that don't match the versions of the apps they're supposed to be associated with?
Sorry for all the questions, just want to be certain so I don't have to learn any more lessons the hard way.
Thanks!
OBTW: I've also finally learned - after 10+ years as a Mac user - to back up my hard drive.
PowerBook G4 Ti 550 (10.4.8), PowerMac G4 466 (10.3.9) 3rd gen iPod 30gig, 2nd gen Nano 8gig

Hi Dennis
my basesystem.pkg is specific to the 10.4 Tiger that was originally installed on my iMac G5 - numerous updates have not altered it.
I'll happily let you have a copy of my Tiger basesystem.pkg file - just email me.
What issues came up for you after deleting the files?
here's a list of the pkg files in my receipts folder....
BSD.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksCH.pkg
BrazilianPortuguese.pkg
BaseSystem.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksS.pkg
AppleAppSupport.pkg
BroadbandTunerUninstaller.pkg
Flip4Mac Web Plugins.pkg
Flip4Mac WMV Player Installer.pkg
French.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksZ.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksE.pkg
AppleMouse_PPC.pkg
Automator.pkg
GarageBand20Loops.pkg
GarageBand_202.pkg
2005 World Book Installer.pkg
Dutch.pkg
DVDPlayerUpdate.pkg
iChat.pkg
iDVD.pkg
iDVD5Themes.pkg
iDVDThemes.pkg
iMovie.pkg
iMovieHD502.pkg
iPhoto.pkg
iPhoto504.pkg
iPhotoContent.pkg
Italian.pkg
iTunesX.pkg
iWork Fonts.pkg
J2SE50Release3.pkg
J2SE50Release4.pkg
Japanese.pkg
MacOSXUpd10.4.7PPC.pkg
Java.pkg
Java131and142Release2.pkg
Keynote 2.pkg
Korean.pkg
MacOSX-File-0.66.pkg
MacOSXUpd10.4.5PPC.pkg
MacOSXUpd10.4.6PPC.pkg
MacOSXUpd10.4.9PPC.pkg
MacOSXUpdate10.4.4.pkg
MacOSXUpdateCombo10.4.3.pkg
MacOSXUpdCombo10.4.8PPC.pkg
QuickTime716.pkg
Mail.pkg
MediaFiles.pkg
MigrationAssistant.pkg
Norwegian.pkg
OnyX.pkg
OxfordDictionaries.pkg
Pages.pkg
psync.pkg
Safari.pkg
SecUpd2005-009Ti.pkg
SecUpd2006-002Ti.pkg
SecUpd2006-004Ti.pkg
SimplifiedChinese.pkg
SecUpd2006-007Ti.pkg
Spanish.pkg
Swedish.pkg
TraditionalChinese.pkg
X11User.pkg
CPU_RegionalBoot.pkg
CPU_MarbleBlast.pkg
CPU_Nanosaur.pkg
CPU_WorldBook.pkg
Danish.pkg
GarageBand10Loops.pkg
Finnish.pkg
Flip4Mac QuickTime Components.pkg
AdditionalEssentials.pkg
Essentials.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksT.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksJ.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksK.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksTA.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksUS.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksF.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksH.pkg
German.pkg
iCal.pkg
iWork Extras.pkg
GarageBandApp20.pkg
GarageBandDemoSongs.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksDK.pkg
AsianLanguagesSupport.pkg
AppleMouseBluetoothPPC.pkg
iTunes.pkg
iTunesPhoneDriver.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksD.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksKH.pkg
CPU_AppleWorksN.pkg
AdditionalSpeechVoices.pkg
CPU_Help.pkg
CPU_Manual.pkg
AddressBook.pkg
DVDPlayerUpdate200506.pkg
AirPortTi2005-001.pkg
AppleIntermediateCodec.pkg

Getting Error Message: "No valid packages (-9997) in Disk Utility

I am having some permission issues with my iBook G4 12". But when I run Disk Utility and select the HD and tell it to Repair Disk Permissions, I am prompted for an administration password (I AM the administrator) and then, once entered, in the Disk Utility status window I get:
Verify permissions for "[hard disk name]"
Error: No valid packages (-9997) -- in Red Lettering
Permissions verification complete
Can anybody inform me what is going on and what I need to do?
Tom
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2GHz MacBook, 1GB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive

Tom --
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but apparently files have been deleted from your Receipts folders.
See this article for more info:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25704
I hope your BaseSystem.pkg file has just been moved, and not deleted.
But if it's gone, there are instructions in that article to fix the problem.

No valid packages error in Disk Utility

I have been experiencing some problems with my eMac so I thought I would get Disk Utility to check my HD over. First I started by checking Permissions to which I get the following error.
Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Error: No valid packages (-9997)
I restarted using my install disk. When I ran Disk Utitlity it reported no problem with the HD. I did a repair run anyway, just in case. Then tried to repair permissions once more. Still the above error.
I had about 10mb of free space left on my HD a couple of weeks ago. After some clearance work however it is now back to just under 10GB free space.

There are Four Basic ways to use Pacifist..download from....
www.charlessoft.com
A. Drag a .pkg icon onto the Pacifist window .....proceed to step 7.
B. Click on “Open Package ....” and navigate to package desired and click “Open” in the open/save window.....proceed to step 7.
C. Insert Mac OS X installer CD and when it mounts, navigate to ....
Menu/Go/Go to Folder, and in the window, type....
/Volumes/disc name/System/Installation/Packages (where disc name is the name of the CD/DVD that you inserted.
• Click "Go".....
• Drag .pkg to Pacifist..... proceed to step 7.
D. Insert your Mac OS X install disk 1 .... and open Pacifist.
1. In Pacifist, select "Open Mac OS X Install Packages" ... dialog may appear asking for disk 2, then disk 3 and finally disk 1 again....{if CDVD is not used)...If “Stop Loading” is selected...the procedure will stop!!!
2a. When loading is complete, a new window appears, click the triangle to display contents of each package...Select item and proceed to step 7.
3b. or click the “Find” icon in the Pacifist window and type the name of the software you need.
3. In the list that comes back, click the top most entry for the item that you want. ..... that is the one for the English language.
4. On the top of the Pacifist window, click “verify” .... you will probably be prompted for your password.
5. Enter checks for.... “verify permissions” and “verify file contents.” and click “verify” ....enter password when prompted.... you will get back output which may
look like this:
20 files were scanned.
20 of 20 files were present on the hard disk.
0 of 20 files had file permissions that did not match those specified in the package.
0 of 20 files had checksums that did not match those specified in the package.
6. Click “close”. Go to step 7.
Extract or Install........
7. In the Toolbar (upper left), you now have the option to extract or install. Click a file in the lower list and those two icons will be enabled.
8. If “Extract to...” is selected.... navigate to the location where the file will be placed, select “choose”, select “extract” in new dialog that appears,authenicate , if prompted, click “OK”.
9. In the next dialog, click “Extract”.
10. If “Install” is selected... dialog will appear with the location/path of the installed software. Click “Install”
11. Type in your password, click “OK”
• Pacifist will begin to extract files.
12. In steps 8/10ß.... you also have the choice to “cancel”å
Notes.....
• Pacifist may find that a file it is installing already exists on the hard disk. Pacifist will present you with an alert panel....
Stop
Leave original alone
Update ..... Default selection
Replace .... Replace option should only be used on full install packages
george

9997 error, "no valid packages" help

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