[h2obruce]

I've been trying to install OS 10.5.2 for the past couple of days, without success. I am using a MacBook Pro, 2.33 g Intel Core Duo w/ 2G of ram, running OS 10.5.1. In the processing of performing the installation, I get as far as the dialogue box which asks if I want to install for one or all users. Regardless of which one I select, I receive the following message:

"You have failed to enter the administrator password; this installer requires Administrator privileges to install the software you have selected. Please try again."

This occurs, because for some reason, I’m not being presented with a dialogue box asking for my admin password.

I’ve also recently discovered that this problem is unfortunately not confined to the installation of OS 10.5.2. I’ve tried to install upgrades for several applications during the past few days, and have received the same message each time I try to complete an upgrade installation.

I’ve found one more oddity, which may or may not be related: When checking the permissions of several applications, including AppleWorks, FileMaker Pro, PathFinder, and at least a few other applications, in the privileges area of the Get Info box, I find my name listed as the Admin, with read and write privileges, and in addition to "Everyone", which has read only privileges, the name "Unknown" appears, with read & write privileges. I am unable to unlock the lock in the Get Info box, which would ordinarily allow me to delete a particular user.

When checking "Accounts" in System Preferences, I find only my name listed as admin, along with one other account which I use for troubleshooting purposes. "Unknown" is not listed. In addition, when I click the lock in "Accounts", to add another account, for example, I am unable to do so. I’ll click the lock and the word "authenticating" appears for a moment, and then disappears, leaving the lock in the locked position.

I have rebuilt permissions several times, using Disk Utility. I have run Disk Warrior 4.0, (because I was unable to upgrade to the newest version: 4.1), as well as the latest version of Drive Genius 2, and still no luck. My computer appears to be running just fine otherwise, but for how long is anyone's guess.

If anyone out there might be willing to lend a hand,I’d sure appreciate it.

Thanks very much for your help.

Bruce McCombs

[albloom]

It sounds like you have a slightly munged system, Bruce.

Try this first: Download AppleJack (free from versiontracker.com) and
install it. Then restart in single-user mode (command-S) and do what
applejack tells you. Yes, you're in unix, but it's pre-digested unix. AJ
cures a lot of ills.

If that doesn't help, change your admin password. Your OSX install
disc can do that for you. Start from the disc, choose Installer -->
Reset Password. It can even be the same password you've been
using.

If that doesn't do it, reinstall your OS from the installer.

[h2obruce]

Thanks very much for your help.
First, I tried to install AppleJack, but my system wouldn't allow me to install the app. Each time I press install, the button grays out for a moment and then returns, but nothing happens. In thepast,I would see a dialogue box, asking me for my admin password, but apparently I’m not being recognized as the admin, for some reason.

Next, I changed my admin password, but unfortunatel, that didn't improve the situation.


Lastly, I attempted to reinstall OS 10.5.0 from the install disk, but I’m unable to do that, because I’ve already upgraded to 10.5.1, which I downloaded from apple's website.


I’m sorry to be such a pain, and if you have any other suggestions, on what I might be able to do, I’d sure appreciate it.


Thanks very much for your help.


Bruce McCombs

[Tom_Diola]

I don't believe you have much choice other than to re-format (erase) your Hard Drive and try a clean install. Of Course you need to back up your data and make SURE it's backed up.
Some things for you to answer:
Are you sure you have the OS DVD that came with the machine?
What has changed over the course of this happening i.e. Did you install new RAM etc.
We know there are no viruses (so you don't have to worry about that)
Did you do anything like defragment the HDD recently?

The devil is in the details.
Make a list of things that have changed . . .

[h2obruce]

Hi Tom,

Thanks very much for getting back to me so quickly.I do have the originalinstall disk that came with my machine, however, it's Tiger, rather than Leopard, which I ugraded to several months ago. I upgraded to 10.5.1 approximately a month or so ago. Was I supposed to use my original disk that came with my machine to try and correct the problem?

No new ram has been installed since I first purchased the machine a year or so ago.

As for defraggmenting my hard drive, I did run disk warrior 4.0 in order to try and correct the problem, but that didn't seem to work. I also ran Drive Genius 2 yesterday, and that seemed to give my machine a bit more zip, but didn't resolve the problem either.

If I’m forced to do a reformat, I’ll lose most if not all of my settings, correct?

Thanks very much for your help, Tom.

Bruce McCombs