what is repair permissions?

[iBOOKnewbie]

hi, a new ibooknewbie here.........what is repair permissions? and how do I use it with my updates......seeing how it is always mention with software updates...............

[emw]

One of our more illustrious members put together this thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=89736). Check it out.

[blodwyn]

Run the Disk Utility application (in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder). Select your hard disk in the left pane and click on the Repair Permissions button.

I run Macaroni which repairs permissions automatically according to a schedule, and have never had a problem. I believe that conventional wisdom suggests that you should repair permissions before and after applying Apple software updates, and after installing any application that requires the entry of the admin password.