software update broken???

[loony888]

g,day everyone,
if i try to get software update to check it says there is a network problem, diagnostics tells me my connection is working properly. curiously, if i log into my wifes user account and access software update it works fine after i type my admin name/password.
So it's definitely a setting on my admin account and the only thing i have changed is adding start page and making it my home page and default browser.
I've had a bit of a look but i'm not that savvy, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
paul.

[NaOH]

First thing to try is deleting the Software Update cache. For whatever reason, it occasionally can get messed up and what you're experiencing can be an effect. In the Finder, use the Go menu to open Library (you'll need to hold the Option if you're running 10.7). In Library, open the Caches folder, then move com.apple.SoftwareUpdate to the Trash.

[loony888]

thanks for that, just tried it, no luck. still doing the same thing.

[agentx]

Ok next thing to do is to remove these files/folders

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Softwareupdate (folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate
you can also remove the .lockfile as well.

Log out/or reboot and see if software update works.

[agentx]

Also ~ is your User folder if you are unaware of that symbol ;-)

[loony888]

thanks! without post 5 i would have been lost.
after i tried the suggestion in post 2 with no luck i tried deleting the files in post 4, didn't fix it, even after a reboot, today i rebooted it again and voila! it works now, go figure?????

thanks for the help guys

[agentx]

Thought that would help ;-)

[loony888]

hmmm, still doing it, now i'm confused???

[loony888]

Using Onyx i have checked the disk, repaired permissions, cleaned out the caches etc and rebuilt launch services, i have deleted the files suggested by agentx and NaOH in post 2 and 4 and i have both logged out and rebooted several times. the software update is still accessible on my wifes account with my admin user name and password.
I am very much a novice with little experience other than day to day usage and basic maintenance, i have limited familiarity with the "terminal" but have used it under instruction.
Thanks for looking and thanks for your time.

paul.

[hayne]

Maybe you have some utility-type software running under your account that affects the network. Check what you have in "Login Items" in your Accounts preferences.
And check Network preferences to see if you have some proxies set up - but I would have thought that would be user-independent.

[NaOH]

If what Hayne suggested doesn't resolve this, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall. If the firewall is enabled, click the lock to allow changes, disable the firewall, then try running Software Update. This will let us know if the issue is because of a setting there, and we can then try to clear that up while retaining use of the built-in firewall.

[loony888]

in my user account login items i have
ituneshelper
Tom Tom HOMERunner
both with an exclamation mark framed in a yellow triangle and "unknown" beside them and
Air Port Base Station Agent
as an application.

in network pref. the automatic proxies was ticked.

i have deleted the tom tom helper using app zapper yet it still renews in the login items window, how do i delete them?

I turned off the firewall and ran software update with no change.

again, thanks for the help

[NaOH]

You can remove the Tom Tom item simply by selecting it then pressing the button below the list of Login Items that looks like a minus sign. The exclamation-mark icon is just the system indicating the item could not be found. That's not something that would cause any issues. The other items shouldn't be a problem, though Airport Base Station Agent should only be there if you have a USB disk connected to an Airport router.

And in case you didn't already do this, go back and re-enable the firewall.

[loony888]

i've re-enabled the firewall, and removed the tom tom homerunner as you described but when i log back in it re-appears, even though i have now removed all the tom tom software i can find on my system.
I'm using a basic modem connected by a cable to my airport express which is also connected to my stereo for iTunes streaming.
I have now unplugged and reset my airport express as well.

[agentx]

Time to delete those files again and /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate and reboot.

[agentx]

It could be that you have a DNS issue.
What is exact error when you run software update ?
Anything in Console logs ?

[loony888]

Quote: Originally Posted by agentx Time to delete those files again and /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate and reboot.

there's no file there now to delete..........

[loony888]

Quote: Originally Posted by agentx It could be that you have a DNS issue. What is exact error when you run software update ? Anything in Console logs ?

says it "can't check because of a network problem."
"software update can't connect to the update server"

where would i find the console logs?

thanks,
paul.

[loony888]

console log

9/06/12 4:44:41.202 PM com.apple.SecurityServer: Failed to authorize right 'system.install.app-store-software' by client '/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PackageKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/installd' [243] for authorization created by '/System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app' [240]

and

9/06/12 7:25:03.494 PM com.apple.SecurityServer: Failed to authorize right 'system.install.software' by client '/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PackageKit.framework/Versions/A/Resources/installd' [2311] for authorization created by '/System/Library/CoreServices/Software Update.app' [2308]

[agentx]

Ok you have done things like repair permissions etc.
I would probably reach for 10.6.8 combo update and run that and see if it correct problems.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399