can't even repair premissions

[bennetsaysargh]

i cant fix permissions. whenever i go to either fix or verify permissions, it says Error: No valid packages (-9997)
anyone know how to fix this?
please don't say "try fixing permissions" :p

[Dont Hurt Me]

sorry man no help here, hate to tell you but i never have to fix permissions and still wonder why so many swear by it. why are you trying to fix permissions?

[HexMonkey]

From http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25704, hope it helps. :)


Symptom

This alert appears when you try to repair permissions with Disk Utility:

"First Aid failed
"Disk Utility stopped repairing permissions on '(volume name)' because the following error was encountered: No valid packages"

In the Disk Utility text window, this message appears in red text:

"Error: No valid packages (-9997)"

This happens when the BaseSystem.pkg file is not in /Library/Receipts.

Products affected

Mac OS X 10.3
Disk Utility

Solution

If you've moved this file, move it back to /Library/Receipts. For best performance, don't remove any files from /Library/Receipts.

If the file has been deleted, replace it by copying it from a different computer that uses Mac OS X Panther, or by reinstalling Mac OS X 10.3 from an installation disc.

[markjones05]

what does repairing permissions do?

[Dont Hurt Me]

Cleans up all your access to different programs. I think its a bigger deal if you have multiple users> If thats not right please correct me someone.

[bennetsaysargh]

thanks. im trying to repair permissions because no one else besides me on my computer can open iTunes. i guess i'll reinstall panther.

thanks for the help :)

[bennetsaysargh]

well it worked. i actually copied the files from the old imac.
thanks again:)

[Rower_CPU]

Cleans up all your access to different programs. I think its a bigger deal if you have multiple users> If thats not right please correct me someone.

It's not just for multiple users. Installer programs can sometimes write files with incorrect permissions, causing the apps or the system to act flaky.

I repair permissions after an OS update or software install to make sure nothing got messed up.

[Dont Hurt Me]

Thanks and how you doing this evening Rower? Glad to hear Bennetsaysargh got it fixed. I do the same thing, keep xtra's on the wife's Imac just in case. I have to say I dont have Multi users and i guess hence never mess with permissions on Good old Quicksilver :) "Edit" Rev C machine? could it be?

[Rower_CPU]

Thanks and how you doing this evening Rower? Glad to hear Bennetsaysargh got it fixed. I do the same thing, keep xtra's on the wife's Imac just in case. I have to say I dont have Multi users and i guess hence never mess with permissions on Good old Quicksilver :) "Edit" Rev C machine? could it be?

No problem and I'm doing fine. Yourself? :)

You should run it and see if it fixes anything. You'd be surprised to see what it can catch on a system that hasn't had permissions repaired in a while.