Applications not working, permission errors.

Question

Hi,
I have read various threads on here which are asking similar things but I cant seem so find a solution. So heres my situation:
I went travelling last year. I have an Imac and before I went I backed it up and transferred the itunes library over to a new Macbook Pro. I then set up the Imac at my brothers house with a separate user account for him. He hardly used the computer while I was away. I got the Imac back from him yesterday. I deleted his user account, installed various software updates that came up and everything seemed fine. Whilst away id added new music to the Macbook Pro so yesterday I tried to transfer the newer itunes library on to my Imac. It didn't seem to work so I had to individually add the music back into itunes. It all seemed fine. Then today randomly whilst using Itunes the wheel of death appeared so I force quit. Then after that I can't open Itunes I just get this message : The Itunes Library file is locked, on a locked disc, or you do not have write permission for this file'
Then I noticed that I can't open Chrome or Skype either. Some things like Photoshop, Skype, Dropbox, Textedit open but then can't be properly used. Dropbox says a message about permissions. I went in to Disc Utility and verified the permissions then repaired permission. It said the disc was fine. Nothing changed. I followed some advice on a forum which said to Get Info on Macintosh HD, click the cog and select 'Apply to enclosed items'. The problems still havent gone away. I also followed another forum with advice from Linc Davies. I tried logging in as a guest and then I could open itunes and things. I logged in in Safe mode and the problems were back again. I typed in to Terminal 5 steps of script that Linc Davies had posted, the results are here:
Step 1: Nothing happened
Step 2:
edu.mit.Kerberos.krb5kdc
edu.mit.Kerberos.kadmind
PPPMonitord.plist
com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd
com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon
com.google.keystone.daemon
com.adobe.SwitchBoard
Step 3:
edu.mit.Kerberos.KerberosAgent
Swapper.plist
com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd
com.intego.backupassistant.agent
com.google.keystone.system.agent
com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager
com.akamai.single-user-client
com.adobe.AAM.Scheduler-1.0
edu.mit.Kerberos.CCacheServer
Step 4:
/Library/Components:
/Library/Extensions:
/Library/Frameworks:
Adobe AIR.framework
ArcCon.framework
MacFUSE.framework
NyxAudioAnalysis.framework
OSXFUSE.framework
PluginManager.framework
iLifeFaceRecognition.framework
iLifeKit.framework
iLifePageLayout.framework
iLifeSQLAccess.framework
iLifeSlideshow.framework
iTunesLibrary.framework
/Library/Input Methods:
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749.plugin
Flash Player.plugin
Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
Quartz Composer.webplugin
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
Silverlight.plugin
flashplayer.xpt
iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
npContributeMac.bundle
nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt
/Library/Keyboard Layouts:
/Library/LaunchAgents:
Swapper.plist
com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist
com.google.keystone.agent.plist
com.intego.backupassistant.agent.plist
com.trusteer.rapport.rapportd.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons:
PPPMonitord.plist
com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
com.apple.third_party_32b_kext_logger.plist
com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
com.intego.BackupAssistant.daemon.plist
com.trusteer.rooks.rooksd.plist
/Library/PreferencePanes:
Flash Player.prefPane
Growl.prefPane
OSXFUSE.prefPane
RapportPreferences.prefPane
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:
Google Drive Icon Helper
/Library/QuickLook:
GBQLGenerator.qlgenerator
iWork.qlgenerator
/Library/QuickTime:
AppleIntermediateCodec.component
AppleMPEG2Codec.component
SoundboothScoreCodec.component
/Library/ScriptingAdditions:
Adobe Unit Types.osax
/Library/Spotlight:
AppleWorks.mdimporter
GBSpotlightImporter.mdimporter
LogicPro.mdimporter
Microsoft Office.mdimporter
iWork.mdimporter
/Library/StartupItems:
Intego Backup Assistant
/etc/mach_init.d:
dashboardadvisoryd.plist
/etc/mach_init_per_login_session.d:
/etc/mach_init_per_user.d:
com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist
Library/Address Book Plug-Ins:
SkypeABDialer.bundle
SkypeABSMS.bundle
Library/Fonts:
BACKSTAG.TTF
BADABB__.TTF
BECKBLN_.TTF
BoogieNightsNF.ttf
CREAMPUF.TTF
CarbonBlock.ttf
Chi-TownNF.ttf
DELTA.TTF
DENDRITI.TTF
DEPT.TTF
DIENASTY.TTF
DROID___.ttf
Diskoteque.ttf
Drive-ThruNF.ttf
DubbaDubbaNF.ttf
ETHNOCEN.TTF
FABIAN__.TTF
FROZEN.TTF
GrenadierNF.ttf
Grendelv2.ttf
Grendelv2e.ttf
Grendelv2ee.ttf
Grendelv2eei.ttf
Grendelv2ei.ttf
Grendelv2i.ttf
Grendelv2s.ttf
Grendelv2si.ttf
Grouser.ttf
GulfstreamNF.ttf
HUSKYSTA.TTF
HeraldSquareNF.ttf
HyperSonic.ttf
IndochineNF.ttf
Ink Highlight.ttf
InsaneHours2.ttf
JohnDoe.ttf
KerfuffleNF.ttf
LOSTWAGE.TTF
LabyrinthNF.ttf
LakeshoreDriveNF.ttf
MASTERF.TTF
MadisonSquareNF.ttf
Master.ttf
Masterb.ttf
Masterbi.ttf
Masterc.ttf
Mastercb.ttf
Mastercbi.ttf
Masterci.ttf
Mastere.ttf
Mastereb.ttf
Masterebi.ttf
Masterei.ttf
Masteri.ttf
Masters.ttf
MinstrelPosterNF.ttf
Misirlou.ttf
ModernTypographyNF.ttf
MontereyPopsicleNF.ttf
Overload.ttf
PinballWhizNF.ttf
Quadrangle.ttf
RaskalnikovNF.ttf
RitzyRemixNF.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy AltOutline Italic.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy AltOutline.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Alternate Italic.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Alternate.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Italic.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Outline Italic.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Outline.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Symbols Italic.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy Symbols.ttf
SF Distant Galaxy.ttf
SF Groove Machine Bold.ttf
SF Groove Machine ExtUpright Bold.ttf
SF Groove Machine ExtUpright.ttf
SF Groove Machine Extended Bold.ttf
SF Groove Machine Extended.ttf
SF Groove Machine Upright Bold.ttf
SF Groove Machine Upright.ttf
SF Groove Machine.ttf
SF Sports Night AltUpright.ttf
SF Sports Night Alternate.ttf
SF Sports Night NS AltUpright.ttf
SF Sports Night NS Alternate.ttf
SF Sports Night NS Upright.ttf
SF Sports Night NS.ttf
SF Sports Night Upright.ttf
SF Sports Night.ttf
SPONN___.TTF
Sardonyx (MacTT)
Sardonyx.otf
Sardonyx.ttf
Simulata.otf
Solov2.ttf
SortaDeco.ttf
UppenArmsNF.ttf
WHOOPASS.TTF
ZipperBlues.ttf
ZipperbluesOutline.ttf
automati.ttf
ddorkv2.ttf
ddorkv2i.ttf
ddorkv2o.ttf
detectivesinc.ttf
guardian.ttf
guardianc.ttf
guardianci.ttf
guardiane.ttf
guardianei.ttf
guardiani.ttf
guardianl.ttf
guardianla.ttf
guardianlai.ttf
guardianp.ttf
guardianpi.ttf
guardians.ttf
guardiansi.ttf
highrisebb_ital.ttf
highrisebb_reg.ttf
junegull.ttf
knuckled.ttf
kubrick.ttf
kubrickc.ttf
kubrickce.ttf
kubrickcl.ttf
kubrickcli.ttf
kubrickcs.ttf
kubrickl.ttf
kubrickli.ttf
kubrickp.ttf
kubrickpc.ttf
kubricks.ttf
lionv2.ttf
lionv2b.ttf
lionv2c.ttf
lionv2e.ttf
lionv2i.ttf
lionv2s.ttf
lobotommy.ttf
lobotommy3d.ttf
lobotommy3di.ttf
lobotommyc.ttf
lobotommyci.ttf
lobotommye.ttf
lobotommyei.ttf
lobotommyg.ttf
lobotommygi.ttf
lobotommyi.ttf
lobotommyp.ttf
lobotommypi.ttf
lobotommyr.ttf
lobotommyrou.ttf
marspolice.ttf
marspolice_i.ttf
noclocks.ttf
oberonv2.ttf
oberonv2c.ttf
oberonv2ci.ttf
oberonv2i.ttf
oberonv2l.ttf
oberonv2li.ttf
oberonv2s.ttf
oberonv2si.ttf
persuasi.ttf
powdwrk5.ttf
quantfh.ttf
quantflt.ttf
quantrh.ttf
quantrnd.ttf
quanttap.ttf
staravenue.ttf
techniqo.ttf
techniqu.ttf
whatever.ttf
whiterabbit.ttf
youngtechs.ttf
youngtechs3d.ttf
youngtechs3di.ttf
youngtechsa.ttf
youngtechsai.ttf
youngtechscondensed.ttf
youngtechscondensedi.ttf
youngtechsex.ttf
youngtechsexi.ttf
youngtechsi.ttf
youngtechslaser.ttf
youngtechslaseri.ttf
Library/Input Methods:
.localized
Library/Internet Plug-Ins:
Library/Keyboard Layouts:
Library/LaunchAgents:
com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
com.akamai.single-user-client.plist
[email protected].Agent.plist
com.apple.FolderActions.enabled.plist
com.apple.FolderActions.folders.plist
Library/PreferencePanes:
AkamaiNetSession.prefPane
Step 5:
iTunesHelper, Google Drive, Dropbox, ConnectService
I am currently backing up using time machine to an external hard drive. Thinking I might erase the disc and re install from the back up that I did before I went travelling. But really Im not sure what Im doing or if this is the best course of action. Can anybody help with all this? I would much appreciate any help or advice any one can give before I bite the bullet and ring apple. Thanks!

Answer 1

First, repair the permissions of the startup volume in Disk Utility. That will undo some of the damage. Then see below.
Back up all data before proceeding.
This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership, permissions, and access controls to the default. If you've intentionally set special values for those attributes on any of your files, they will be reverted. In that case, either stop here, or be prepared to recreate the settings if necessary. Do so only after verifying that those settings didn't cause the problem. If none of this is meaningful to you, you don't need to worry about it, but you do need to follow the instructions below.
Step 1
If you have more than one user, and the one in question is not an administrator, then go to Step 2.
Triple-click anywhere in the following line on this page to select it:
sudo find ~ $TMPDIR.. -exec chflags -h nouchg,nouappnd,noschg,nosappnd {} + -exec chown -h $UID {} + -exec chmod +rw {} + -exec chmod -h -N {} + -type d -exec chmod -h +x {} + 2>&-
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window by pressing command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.
You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
The command may take several minutes to run, depending on how many files you have. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear, then quit Terminal.
Step 2 (optional)
Take this step only if you have trouble with Step 1, if you prefer not to take it, or if it doesn't solve the problem.
Start up in Recovery mode. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select
          Utilities ▹ Terminal
from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open. In that window, type this:
res
Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:
resetpassword
Press return. A Reset Password window will open. You’re not going to reset a password.
Select your startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.
Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.
Under Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs, click the Reset button.
Select
           ▹ Restart
from the menu bar.