Apple SoftwareUpdater crashing

Question

I did make an attempt at reading other logs on this subject - and I tried the delete the .plist files as well as recommended on another post. The crash log says the following.
Command: Software Update
Path: /System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app/Contents/MacOS/ Software Update
Parent: WindowServer [70]
Version: 2.08. (2.0.8)
PID 1481
Thread: Unknown
Link (dyld) error:
Library not loaded: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskManagement.framework/Versions/A/DiskManag ement
Referenced from /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Install.framework/Versions/A/Install
reason: image not found
We have had this issue for sometime - I tried Disk Utilities (it only works from the install disk now) to fix the disk and it still came up with similar errors. DU indicated there were some thread counts that it could not fix. I finally got a copy of Disk Warrior - thinking it would help and it ran and fixed more stuff - but this was not one of them. I can download software manually - like the updates for OS - but they will not install - prehaps due to this issue. I am at the point of wiping and starting over - but I am getting the feeling it is just the Software Updater program messing up. Is there a way to resolve this? Symptom is that we select the Software Updater from the pull down menu and it bounces to the task bar - and then goes away - leaving the above in the crash log. Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

I think your best bet, given that you're not sure what else might be missing, would be to do a reinstall rather than messing around trying to figure out what to reinstall with Pacifist. That is, use the Tiger install disks to reinstall the system. This may seem like more work but once you've done it you'll know you can trust the system and it may be less work in the end than attempting to replace things on a piecemeal basis.
There is no obvious need to erase the system, so I think if I were you, I'd try an "archive & install" option assuming you have enough free space, and opt to preserve users, settings etc. so that people's home directories are carried into the new install. This should mean nobody loses any of their personal settings and files. However, it is always wise to back a system up before making these sorts of changes.
Here is an explanation of and instructions for using the archive & install feature.
If you (collectively) are prone to crazy behaviour with regard to the system files, you might wish to consider making your accounts standard user accounts rather than admin accounts. This would limit your ability to damage the system. Get the system in shape first, though, and then, if you want to do this, create a fourth account on the machine with admin privileges before making the other accounts into standard accounts.
I hope this is helpful.
- cfr