Messed up permissions - can no longer bootup

Question

I will start by acknowledging that I got myself into this mess. After months of being annoyed that my user account permissions seemed to be off a little on my Mac, I changed my permissions from the root (using command+I, then adding my account to permissions and giving me read/write, then applying it to all enclosed items). After processing this for a while, things seemed normal.
Then I went to run a program, and got an error about permissions. I didn't write it down at the time. I tried Disk Utility, and got the same error. Nothing new would run. I then rebooted the computer, grabbing the install DVD and preparing to repair disk permissions from the booted DVD.
Then....all I could get was the gray screen with the logo and spinning cursor. The system would just periodically reboot. I tried booting from the DVD by holding down the "C" button as it booted, but it never booted from the DVD. I was able to boot into verbose mode, and single-user mode, so I have tried investigating what to do from there.
When watching verbose mode, it seemed to hang for a moment on the appleintelcpupowermanagement item. After sitting at that for about 30-45 seconds, it would quickly pass by and indicate a kill to all processes, and a reboot. I couldn't catch anything else that was happening.
Booting into single-user mode, I ran the usual fsck and mount, then proceeded to follow instructions on other forum posts for changing permissions on the root using chmod. I've also looked at the system.log, and the last entries are from about 2 hours ago (maybe right before I rebooted) and indicate dubious permissions on items in /Library, and /StartupItems failing a sanity check.
Long story short, it seems that I've hosed my permissions in /Library or /System, and I can't seem to get them straight again to get the system to boot up again. Are there any shortcuts to addressing permissions here, and/or fixing the fact that I changed permissions from root on down to include read/write permissions for a user account?
Thank you for any help you have.
-Joel

Answer 1

joelhames wrote:
I will start by acknowledging that I got myself into this mess. After months of being annoyed that my user account permissions seemed to be off a little on my Mac, I changed my permissions from the root (using command+I, then adding my account to permissions and giving me read/write, then applying it to all enclosed items).
By doing this you completely hosed your system. now you should do an archive and install
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1710?viewlocale=en_US
In general, NEVER use "apply to enclosed items" on ANY system created folders and the startup drive. that includes your home folder, your desktop folder etc. only use it on folders you made yourself.
After processing this for a while, things seemed normal.
Then I went to run a program, and got an error about permissions. I didn't write it down at the time. I tried Disk Utility, and got the same error. Nothing new would run. I then rebooted the computer, grabbing the install DVD and preparing to repair disk permissions from the booted DVD.
Then....all I could get was the gray screen with the logo and spinning cursor. The system would just periodically reboot. I tried booting from the DVD by holding down the "C" button as it booted, but it never booted from the DVD. I was able to boot into verbose mode, and single-user mode, so I have tried investigating what to do from there.
When watching verbose mode, it seemed to hang for a moment on the appleintelcpupowermanagement item. After sitting at that for about 30-45 seconds, it would quickly pass by and indicate a kill to all processes, and a reboot. I couldn't catch anything else that was happening.
Booting into single-user mode, I ran the usual fsck and mount, then proceeded to follow instructions on other forum posts for changing permissions on the root using chmod. I've also looked at the system.log, and the last entries are from about 2 hours ago (maybe right before I rebooted) and indicate dubious permissions on items in /Library, and /StartupItems failing a sanity check.
Long story short, it seems that I've hosed my permissions in /Library or /System, and I can't seem to get them straight again to get the system to boot up again. Are there any shortcuts to addressing permissions here, and/or fixing the fact that I changed permissions from root on down to include read/write permissions for a user account?
Thank you for any help you have.
-Joel