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Software Update

M

mgall08

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 26, 2010
8
0
I am new to Mac.

When I open my laptop occasionally it has obviously recognized updates and gives me the option to install, I click yes or ok can't remember. When I do it asks me to restart, which I do.
When I restart it appears as if it never installed the updates?? When I go to system preferences and check to see installed updates it does not appear to be there?
Any ideas??
Thanks
 
After you install an update, it no longer appears on the list in Software Update. That's normal.
 
Cg

Thanks, when you say it no longer appears in the list in software update, do you mean on installed software list in systems preferences? I shows a batch update that was done a few weeks ago?:confused:
 
The software update window :)apple:--> Software Update) only shows the items available to install, not those you have already installed.

To see what updates you've already installed, go to System Preferences, and then Software Update (under the "System" category). Then, choose the "Installed Updates" tab.
 
Gata said:
To see what updates you've already installed, go to System Preferences, and then Software Update (under the "System" category). Then, choose the "Installed Updates" tab.
Click to expand...

That seems to be what is described in the initial post.

How about this . . .
Find the application you just updated, and use Get Info. Does it say the new version number?

As far as fixing the Installed Updates list, you could give this a shot:

Close System Preferences. Find the plist file for SU:
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
Move that to your Desktop.
Go back into System Preferences. This will create a new default plist file in Preferences.
Is the list showing recent updates? If not, next time you do an update, you'll have to check if it's now showing them.
As I've never tested this, I'm not sure it will work, but it won't hurt anything. You can always put the original file back and overwrite the new one if you want to.

I've been told you can open plist files to see what they might influence, but I've not been able to do that.
 
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Gregg2 said:
Gata said:
To see what updates you've already installed, go to System Preferences, and then Software Update (under the "System" category). Then, choose the "Installed Updates" tab.
Click to expand...

That seems to be what is described in the initial post.

How about this . . .
Find the application you just updated, and use Get Info. Does it say the new version number?

As far as fixing the Installed Updates list, you could give this a shot:

Close System Preferences. Find the plist file for SU:
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist
Move that to your Desktop.
Go back into System Preferences. This will create a new default plist file in Preferences.
Is the list showing recent updates? If not, next time you do an update, you'll have to check if it's now showing them.
As I've never tested this, I'm not sure it will work, but it won't hurt anything. You can always put the original file back and overwrite the new one if you want to.

I've been told you can open plist files to see what they might influence, but I've not been able to do that.
Click to expand...

You can open plist files with textedit but it will be an XML mess you don't want to deal with. The other option is to install developper tools, in order to get the plist editor app.
 
lewis82 said:
You can open plist files with textedit but it will be an XML mess you don't want to deal with. The other option is to install developper tools, in order to get the plist editor app.
Click to expand...
Most .plist files are plain text and quite easy to edit with TextEdit.
 
Update

Ok I tried a few more things.

When I do software update there is a big list of updates

Safari
Itunes
Security
about 10 more they are all checked off to install,

when I select install it immediately asks me to restart which I do. After putting my mac user name and password in, it begins to restart, it flashes to a screen showing the MAC HD icon almost like it is going to install but it immediately goes right by it to restart.

After restart is complete (doesn't show any updates installing, just normal start up) I go to Itunes for example and check the version, it said it was going to install ver 10, however ver 9 is still installed.

Bottom line i do not think the updates are being installed? Please help. I am a newbie to Mac
 
mgall08 said:
Ok I tried a few more things.
Click to expand...
A few more? Then tell us what the other two were.

When I do software update there is a big list of updates

Safari
Itunes
Security
about 10 more they are all checked off to install,

when I select install it immediately asks me to restart
Click to expand...
It shouldn't do that. No, it's not even downloading anything from the sound of it.

My other suggestion, post #5, might be worth a try.

Do you have Snow Leopard? (OS 10.6.4 or 10.6.x)

If you haven't already, try downloading an update from the Apple download site, not using Software Update. What happens then?

GGJstudios said:
Most .plist files are plain text and quite easy to edit with TextEdit.
Click to expand...
When I double-click on one, TextEdit opens, but the window is black. If there's text, I can't see it. No, I don't have that issue for anything else. It's not a Display setting.
 
Gregg2 said:
When I double-click on one, TextEdit opens, but the window is black. If there's text, I can't see it. No, I don't have that issue for anything else. It's not a Display setting.
Click to expand...
Yes, I've discussed this issue before: TextEdit default background for .plist files. You can easily change the background to white (Format > Font > Show Fonts or Command-T), but I haven't found a way to change the default.
 
I am using 10.6

I am heading to the Genius Bar today to see if they can help.

I would have tried post #5 but like I said I am an newbie, don't know much about plist

Thanks
 
mgall08 said:
I would have tried post #5 but like I said I am an newbie, don't know much about plist
Click to expand...
It's perfectly safe to try what Gregg2 suggested. When you delete a .plist file, the application or Mac OS X automatically re-creates one. It's a good way to resolve problems associated with corrupt plists.
 
mgall08 said:
I am using 10.6

I am heading to the Genius Bar today to see if they can help.

I would have tried post #5 but like I said I am an newbie, don't know much about plist

Thanks
Click to expand...

Just for ***** and giggles did you have your machine plugged into an ethernet cable when you were trying this? Any way you can try running software update while plugged in?
 
gameface said:
Just for ***** and giggles did you have your machine plugged into an ethernet cable when you were trying this? Any way you can try running software update while plugged in?
Click to expand...
In what way do you think that would make a difference?
 
GGJstudios said:
In what way do you think that would make a difference?
Click to expand...

It downloads the updates after starting up. If there is no connection it can't download the update. Maybe it is a problem with logging into their secure wireless network or another wi-fi issue. I could be stupid as well :p but trying all logical things before bringing it into the genius couldn't hurt.
 
GGJstudios said:
No, it downloads the updates before restarting. It applies the already-downloaded update upon restart.
Click to expand...

Woah, you're right. What have I been smoking? Could have swore that this changed in SL... nevermind, go to the genius because I am obviously not one.

*you can see how often I use software update.
 
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