Software Update log

Question

We have 2 G4s & a G5 and I am admin on all.
On one of the G4s the software update log has recorded all the security updates on the other G4 & the G5 the log hasn't updated since June and August of 2006!
1 - I am pretty sure that the updates have been applied.
2 - I tried signing in as admin & installing the updates.
3 - I tried enabling "root" & installing the updates.
How do I fix this? Our network security people are concerned.
TIA
cvt

Answer 1

cvt,
"...a representative of Apple? Are you an Apple employee? Is that gospel according to Apple?"
As a rule, this is a User-To-User forum. As such, I am merely a user, like yourself, and not affiliated with Apple. So my posts are not gospel according to anyone!
I consider suggestions dispensed in Discussions, as the take it or leave it variety.
Usually if erroneous or incomplete advice is posted, it will be corrected or elaborated on, by another user. It's a community effort.
If the "IT Security folks" need official Apple Employee verification, you could call AppleCare at 1-800-275-2273.
"I tried signing in as admin & installing the updates."
What was the result?
"...I could not make it work. Software update will not allow me to choose "Download and Install from the menu bar""
When the Receipts were removed, did Software Update find the updates again to install?
If updates are selected with a checkmark, you have the options to click on Install x Items, in the lower right corner of the window, or from the Menubar Update contextual menu to:
Ignore Update
Download Only
Install
Install And Keep Package
You can certainly reinstall them, after removing the Receipts, but I don't think it is necessary, if the files below can be located.
HD > Library > Logs: Software Update.log Open this file by double clicking.
You can also view this log in System Preferences > Software Update > Installed Updates > Open as Log File.
If the updates were installed using Software Update, they will be listed there.
As well as having a Receipt in HD > Library > Receipts.
The absence of the updates in the Installed Updates list, in the Software Update function, does not necessarily mean that the updates were not installed.
There was a problem with that log file in the past, and I can't verify with absolute certainty, that this information is still valid, but check the Ownership & Permissions on HD > Library > Logs This folder.
They should be:
Owner: system
Owner Access: Read & Write
Group: admin
Group Access: Read & Write
Others: Read only
If they are different, that would explain why the Installed Updates list, does not show the installed updates.
No guarantees, but if the Ownership & Permissions needed to be changed on that folder, once done, you could then remove a Receipt for one of the Security Updates, run Software Update to see if it will locate it, install it, and see if it now appears in the Installed Updates list of Software Update.
These are take it or leave suggestions ,
ali b