Permissions

[BoxerBoy]

Progressively over the past week or so my MBP developed all sorts of niggles and eventually major problems, rendering it virtually unusable.

I remembered something a techie told me about repairing permissions, so I thought I would risk doing this, even though I wasn't sure of what I was doing.

I am pleased to say that everything now seems fine, even iPhoto which had long behaved erratically, now works really well.

My question is, what are "permissions" and why do they occur and affect my Mac so severely. What happens when they are repaired

 

[GGJstudios]

Some people repair, or recommend repairing permissions for situations where it isn't appropriate. Repairing permissions only addresses very specific issues. It is not a "cure all" or a general performance enhancer, and doesn't need to be done on a regular basis. It also doesn't address permissions problems with your files or 3rd party apps.

Five Mac maintenance myths
About Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature​

Disk Utility repairs the permissions for files installed by the Mac OS X Installer, Software Update, or an Apple software installer. It doesn’t repair permissions for your documents, your home folder, and third-party applications.

You can verify or repair permissions only on a disk with Mac OS X installed.

Does Disk Utility check permissions on all files?

Files that aren't installed as part of an Apple-originated installer package are not listed in a receipt and therefore are not checked. For example, if you install an application using a non-Apple installer application, or by copying it from a disk image, network volume, or other disk instead of installing it via Installer, a receipt file isn't created. This is expected. Some applications are designed to be installed in one of those ways.

Also, certain files whose permissions can be changed during normal usage without affecting their function are intentionally not checked.

Troubleshooting permissions issues in Mac OS X​

If repairing permissions results in error messages, some of these messages can be ignored and should be no cause for concern.

Mac OS X: Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions messages that you can safely ignore​

 

[BoxerBoy]

Thanks for the information GGJstudios, I note that much is said about repairing permissions not being of benefit.

All I can say is, my Mac was a mess last night, with a growing list of all sorts of problems, all my photos vanished, the apps in the dock wouldn't respond, continual spinning beach balls appeared regularly, plus all sorts of other problems.

I repaired the permissions and now my mac is as good as new. A touch of beginners luck maybe.

 

[GGJstudios]

I repaired the permissions and now my mac is as good as new. A touch of beginners luck maybe.

Not luck. There are times when repairing permissions is certainly called for, as appears to be the case with your situation. My post wasn't to suggest you shouldn't have repaired permissions, but rather, to give you more information about what it does and doesn't do, and when it is and isn't appropriate.

 

[BoxerBoy]

Not luck. There are times when repairing permissions is certainly called for, as appears to be the case with your situation. My post wasn't to suggest you shouldn't have repaired permissions, but rather, to give you more information about what it does and doesn't do, and when it is and isn't appropriate.

I appreciate that, many thanks for your help.