Verify & Repair Disk Permissions never get completed

I tried so many times on Verify Disk Permission, and Repair as well, however, both never get to complete the whole scanning process. I don't know what to do with it... Please help!!!
G4 Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Hi KM, et al,
   I have a silly suggestion. Maybe if you corrected permissions by hand, it would fix the problem. Try the following commands:
sudo chmod 644 /usr/share/man/man1/more.1
sudo chown root:wheel /usr/share/man/man1/more.1
You must execute the command as a system administrator and when prompted for a password, give the admin's password. I'm not sure what effect that will have though. /usr/share/man/man1/more.1 and /usr/share/man/man1/less.1 are actually hard links to the same file. On my system, changing one changes the other, which I don't believe is POSIX compliant. (but I haven't looked that up) Maybe that's one of the anomalies of linked files on HFS+ filesystems. However, I'm able to make the change on my system so it's certainly worth trying.
   I don't really know what's happened to your systems but it's certainly not something that should cause you to reinstall. At the very worst, you should be able to get a single copy of the file and recreate the links. The first step is to figure out what state your systems are in. What do you get when you execute the following command:
ls -l /usr/share/man/man1/more.1 /usr/share/man/man1/less.1
It would be most useful if you post the output you get before you try the fix in my previous paragraph.
Gary
~~~~
   We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something
   at once.
         -- Calvin Coolidge

Similar Messages

When I repair disk permissions I get the following:Repairing permissions for "MacIntosh HD" Determining correct file permissions. Permissions differ on ./Library/Widgets, should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x Owner and group corrected on ./Library/W

Repairing permissions for “MacIntosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
Permissions differ on ./Library/Widgets, should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./Library/Widgets
Permissions corrected on ./Library/Widgets
Permissions differ on ./System/Library/User Template, should be drwx------ , they are drwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./System/Library/User Template
Permissions corrected on ./System/Library/User Template
Group differs on ./usr/bin/fetchmail, should be 0, group is 6
Permissions differ on ./usr/bin/fetchmail, should be -rwxr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-sr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/bin/fetchmail
Permissions corrected on ./usr/bin/fetchmail
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/php/build/Makefile.global, should be -r--r--r-- , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/Makefile.global
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/Makefile.global
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/php/build/acinclude.m4, should be -r--r--r-- , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/acinclude.m4
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/acinclude.m4
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/php/build/mkdep.awk, should be -r--r--r-- , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/mkdep.awk
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/mkdep.awk
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/php/build/phpize.m4, should be -r--r--r-- , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/phpize.m4
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/phpize.m4
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/php/build/scan_makefile_in.awk, should be -r--r--r-- , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/scan_makefile_in.awk
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/php/build/scan_makefile_in.awk
Permissions differ on ./usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib, should be -r-xr-xr-x , they are -rwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib
Permissions corrected on ./usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib
Permissions differ on ./usr/libexec/dumpemacs, should be -r-sr-xr-x , they are -r-xr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./usr/libexec/dumpemacs
Permissions corrected on ./usr/libexec/dumpemacs
Permissions repair complete
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Then I sometimes get the brown screen that states,You must re-start your computer.
I have already zeroed out the hard drive and re-installed Panther and the upgrade Tiger disc.
I repair permissions using the Tiger disc upgrade.
Can anyone help me with this??

> I repair permissions using the Tiger disc upgrade.
One thing to note... When running Repair Disk Permissions, it is best to run it while started up normally, from your normal startup disk, not from a Mac OS X installation disc. The only time you should run it while started up from an installation disc is if some problem is preventing you from starting up normally. OTOH, Repair Disk can only be used when starting up from a different disk (such as an installation disc).
So, I would start up normally, run Disk Utility, and use Repair Disk Permissions on your normal startup disk.
NOTE: Repair Disk Permissions often gives alerts messages that can be ignored. They are more "informational," not serious errors.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448
You should still run it periodically. When you run it, what needs to be repaired has been repaired; consider the rest of it an FYI. I've never experience a problem, where a Repair Disk Permissions message actually caused a problem. But, if you ever get an error while running Repair Disk (or Verify Disk), that is usually a serious problem.

Verifying/Repairing Disk Permissions

I have read in the Forum that one should run Disk Permissions before and after updates, and it doesn't hurt to run it once in a while anyway. But it isn't clear to me when one should verify and when one should repair. After verification, we get the message "Permissions verification complete. Privileges have been verified OR REPAIRED" (capitalization mine). If the verification takes care of repairs, when should one click on the "Repair Disk Permissions"? Thanks.

There's no point in verifying. Always repair. However, repairing permissions need only be done before installing new system updates or after installing third-party software that uses a proprietary installer.
Before installing system updates I recommend doing this:
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger and Leopard.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart normally.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (4.0 for Tiger, and 4.1 for Leopard) and/or TechTool Pro (4.6.1 for Leopard) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

Verify & Repair Disk Permissions VS. Verify and Repair Disk

Is there a document that explains the differences in these two actions?
Thanks.

Hi Trevor,
Repair Permissions and Verify or Repair disk are two separate processes.
Repair Permissions is explained here.
Verify/Repair Disk is explained here.
-mj
[email protected]

Verify/Repair disk permissions

I heard that it's a good idea to verify and repair disk permissions. What does that do? And, when should I do it?
-Eric

Hi, again, Eric.
My, we're curious today, aren't we?
See:
• My "The Repair functions in Disk Utility: what's it all about?" FAQ.
• My "Maintaining Mac OS X" FAQ. It covers my advice on "regular maintenance" and dispels some common "maintenance myths."
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Verify/Repair disk permissions hangs

Hello,
Since yesterday my SL became kind of unstable and I have to reboot it because of a hang with a spinning wheel quite often.
I want to verify/repair the disk permissions but the tasks never completes. When I run it via the GUI in the Disk Utility, it goes to around 5% then nothing happens even if I wait several hours. I can cancel the repair.
I also tried to run it via the command line but the progress stays at 0% :
~ $ sudo diskutil verifyPermissions /
Started verify/repair permissions on disk0s2 Macintosh HD
0% ...............................................
~ $ sudo diskutil repairPermissions /
Started verify/repair permissions on disk0s2 Macintosh HD
0% ...............................................
Any ideas ?
Thanks,
Tex

From your description it sounds like the internal HD is failing. It should be under 1 year old so you are covered by the warranty, make an appointment ASAP with your local Apple Store or AASP to bring it in. In addition if you have not purchased AppleCare now is the time to get it, AppleCare will extend your warranty to 3 years. However you must buy it buy it within the first year of ownership!
Here is a link you can use to make an appointment.
Regards,
Roger

Verify / Repair Disk Permissions Inquiry

I recently had to do a full wipe of my system due to a massive permissions isssue. After cleaning the drive and reinstalling from "time machine" i became a lil paranoid and started checking the permissions every once in awhile.
today i had an odd one pop up and i really don't know what to do.
detail reads as follows:
Warning: SUID file "System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent" has been modified and will not be repaired.
any input would be greatly appreciated.
thank you.

Most on here probably know more than me, but? I get the same message and also other suspicious events and each time i've ask for someone to advise why get message (or for that matter any time i question security on my mac) i receive same brush off response as you get. Don't worry about it? I'm worried about it and i think others should be worried also. I found the problem last night and when i tried to address it? my admin password (which i'd used each time i needed to do admin item) suddenly was changed. trying to change pw using mac osx install disc (freezes up) and ended up erasing hd and starting over.

Why can't I verify or repair disk permissions?

In recent weeks, when I have tried to verify or repair disk permissions, I get messages that say (whatever file) has been altered and will not be repaired.

bubbapao wrote:
I just wondered why I could suddenly no longer verify or repair anything.
That is not what you said in an earlier post. you said you got some errors that certain files could not be repaired. That is Not the same as I Can't Repair Anything. Certain files not having the permissions repaired is Normal. It happens on every Mac.

Repair Disk Permissions: is it a safe operation ?

Hello,
I'm preparing for the 101 course and, reading about the Verify/Repair disk permissions utility, I wanted to test it on my mac.
I launched the verification on it and I see "lot" of unexpected entries (see below):
Verifying permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Permissions differ on “System/Library/User Template/ar.lproj”; should be drwxr-xr-x ; they are drwx------ .
User differs on “usr/share/collabd/coreclient/public/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 94; user is 0.
Group differs on “usr/share/collabd/coreclient/public/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 94; group is 0.
User differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd”; should be 94; user is 221.
Group differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd”; should be 94; group is 221.
User differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd/locales”; should be 94; user is 221.
Group differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd/locales”; should be 94; group is 221.
User differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 221; user is 0.
Group differs on “usr/share/collabd/webauthd/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 221; group is 0.
Group differs on “Library/Java”; should be 0; group is 80.
Permissions differ on “Library/Java”; should be drwxr-xr-x ; they are drwxrwxr-x .
Permissions differ on “System/Library/User Template/cs.lproj/Pictures/iChat Icons”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “System/Library/User Template/hu.lproj/Pictures/iChat Icons”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “System/Library/User Template/tr.lproj/Pictures/iChat Icons”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
User differs on “usr/share/collabd/coreclient/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 94; user is 0.
Group differs on “usr/share/collabd/coreclient/locales/zh_CN.lproj”; should be 94; group is 0.
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/zh_TW.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/zh_CN.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/ru.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/ko.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/nl.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/it.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/es.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/fr.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/de.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Permissions differ on “usr/share/devicemgr/frontend/admin/ja.lproj/app/javascript.js”; should be lrwxrwxrwx ; they are lrwxr-xr-x .
Group differs on “Library/Documentation/Applications/iTunes/Acknowledgements.rtf”; should be 0; group is 80.
Permissions differ on “Library/Documentation/Applications/iTunes/Acknowledgements.rtf”; should be -rw-r--r-- ; they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Group differs on “Library/Documentation/iPod/Acknowledgements.rtf”; should be 0; group is 80.
Permissions differ on “Library/Documentation/iPod/Acknowledgements.rtf”; should be -rw-r--r-- ; they are -rw-rw-r-- .
Group differs on “.DS_Store”; should be 80; group is 0.
Permissions differ on “.DS_Store”; should be -rw-rw-r-- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .
User differs on “Applications/.DS_Store”; should be 0; user is 501.
Permissions differ on “Applications/.DS_Store”; should be -rw-rw-r-- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .
Group differs on “Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.
ACL found but not expected on “private/var/root”
ACL found but not expected on “private/var/root/Library”
ACL found but not expected on “private/var/root/Library/Preferences”
Permissions verification complete
It seems to me that these are all related to system files, things that weren't changed by third-party applications or by me.
The question are:
- why an untouched system would have errors in the permissions ?
- is it safe, since I haven't got until now problems with permissions on that os, to repair these errors or it's better to leave everything as it is now ?
Ciao,
Nicola

Hello Nicola,
You raise a touchy area for discussion...some users on here are very opposed to repairing permissions, others are strongly in favor of repairing permissions before and after software installation.
The permission statements you see do not generally adversely affect the system but they are not the permissions disk utility has been told to expect. Those may be artifacts from the installation process and why we have been told in the past to always repair permissions after installing/updating the operating system.
Since you ran verification, if you run repair you will end up cleaning up a lot of this "discrepancies" with what disk utility wants to see.
Repair permissions is safe, and I tend to use it every time I upgrade or install software.
Ralph

Repair Disk Permissions with Lion

Installed Lion two days ago and thought I would "Verify/Repair Disk Permissions" for the first time with Lion. But I'm getting the warning message:
Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent” has been modified and will not be repaired.
I tried "Repair" twice and got the exact same message both times. I'm not sure if this is serious or not, and can't say for certain if it wouldn't have happened a week ago or few weeks ago (it's been nearly two months since last "Verfiy/Repair"). Any lessons, tips, instructions will be appreciated.

Installed Lion on my 27" iMac (mid 2010) and everyday since it shuts down after start up.
Called Apple they said repair permissions, after safe boot. Thats works but only for the next restart.
When I shutdown and start up the next day I have to go thru the same process.
Anybody else have this problem?

Repair Disk Permissions Unavailable in Disk Utility

I just went to repair the Disk Permissions on one of my 4 internal hard drive and the tabs for Verify & Repair Disk Permissions were grayed out. I checked the other internal hard drives as well as my external drives connected via SATA and Firewire and the tabs are all the same. The only drive that the tabs are available is my internal startup drive. I have a memory that these tabs to verify and repair have always been available on all drives - am I remembering incorrectly? Any ideas? Thanks.

roam:
Repair Permissions is only available to do, on the drive that you are booted into.
I wondered about that, and before my previous post I tested it by launching DU while booted from my internal HDD and connected to an external FW HDD with two partitions, as well as to a USB HDD with my Time Machine backup. If I selected the FW HDD (Manufacturer ID) or either volume on it I could Verify or Repair Disk Permissions, as well as Verify or Repair Disk. It will Repair the TM backup, but not do anything with Disk Permissions. Of course, I am booted from Snow Leopard and did not test this while booted from an earlier OS, but, if I recall correctly, it worked the same way in Tiger and Panther.
cornelius

When I run Verify Disk Permissions I get something that can not be repaired.

When I run Verify Disk Permissions I get something that can not be repaired. The message I get is
Permissions differ on “Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Resources/Safari.help/Contents/Resources/inde x.html”; should be lrwxr-xr-x ; they are -rwxr-xr-x .
When I run a repair disk permissions it does not get rid of this.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

aquilafisher --
I would recommend that you don't waste your time with "Verify." Go straight to "Repair Permissions."
The chances are excellent that you will get that one advisory, and at the end it will say "Repair Permissions Completed."
There are lots of those notations that will seem to us everyday users as an "error." But it's just noted changes.
If after running "Repair" it says "Repair Permissions Could Not be Completed," that's the only time you ned to worry.
And, I totally agree with what Niel said. Sorry, did not see his reply when I poster.

When I repair disk permissions using Disk Utility and it says it's completed the task, I click on it again and it repairs more. This has been going on for hours now. Could there be that many wrong permissions? Should it get to "all repaired" eventually?

When I repair disk permissions using Disk Utility and it says it's completed the task, I click on it again and it repairs more. This has been going on for hours now. Could there be that many wrong permissions? Should it get to "all repaired" eventually?

It's normal behavior. You don't have to worry about. Most of what's listed is just a report of what the utility finds., not necessarily that there is omething wrong.
If you want to find out more, read the link below, or see the More Like This links on this page.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1448?viewlocale=en_US

Disk Utility can't Verify Disk Permissions" and "Repair Disk Permissions"

I tried to run "Verify Disk Permissions" and "Repair Disk Permissions" on an external partition, but they all grayed out! "Verify Disk" and "Repair Disk" were fine! The "Owners Enabled" is "Yes". Why they were grayed out ?!
Get Info on this volume showed:
Ownership & Permissions:
You can "Read & Write"
Details:
Owner: admin
Access: "Read & Write"
Ignore ownership on this volume: checked or unchecked STILL grayed out!
Other partitions on the SAME drive are able to do "Very Disk Permissions" and
"Repair Disk Permissions" (as they are NOT grayed out !) The ONLY difference
between the one (CAN'T) and the rest partitions is that one (CAN'T) has
owner by "admin", and the rest partitions (OK to veryify pewrmissions) are owner
by "system". ANY CLUE ?
-DC

The options to verify or repair permissions are only available on a disk with Mac OS X 10.2 or newer installed, and all Mac OS X versions set the owner of the partition containing them to system when installed.
(24684)

Is anyone else having problems with Verifying and Repairing Disk permissions?

Hey folks, every time I try to verify and repair disk permissions lately, this is all I get...
Verifying permissions for “Macintosh HD”Group differs on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be 80; group is 0.Permissions differ on “Library/Printers/InstalledPrinters.plist”; should be -rw-rw-rw- ; they are -rw-r--r-- .Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAg ent” has been modified and will not be repaired.
I usually get a long list, then repair it, and it seems to keep things clean.
I'm having trouble with my address book.
When I move the mouse down the bottom of the page my dock doesn't come up right away, sometimes it won't - I have to command tab to go to another program.
So I'm wondering if these are related. Thanks for any help!

Not specifically Sky & Yahoo, but there seem to be quite a few threads with password problems and Yahoo. Is that what you are experiencing. Long thread here:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3804431
And a thread here where Gtj56 came up with a fix that worked for him:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3800540?start=15&tstart=0

Verify & Repair Disk Permissions never get completed

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