Problem with Software Update and Tiger

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token's picture
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Problem with Software Update and Tiger

I've had a problem ever since I updated my Powerbook G4 12" 1.33 ghz from Panther to Tiger. I can download updates just fine, but I always get this error: "Software Update could not expand the package correctly." I've repaired permissions a half dozen times with no joy. I've looked over the Apple Support forums and found a few people with the same issue as myself, but unfortunately, no solutions have presented themselves. Also no hits from a google search of this error.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

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10.4.2

the update fixes it. You may have to download the update from apple's update site, but you should be ok after that.

token's picture
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No it didn't. I updated to 1

No it didn't. I updated to 10.4.2 the day it came out with no chance in Software Update's behavior.

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applejack

I installed applejack recently, it helped all sorts of problems with my ibook. I think i got it from version tracker. It runs in single user mode and is pretty freaking powerful. That might help

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Unfortunately, I had already

Unfortunately, I had already tried this as well. AppleJack is a great tool, but it actually screwed something else up for me the last time I ran it. My bluetooth module can't seem to be turned off now.

rjz
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Cannot expand package

Here are a couple solutions that might work.

A. Check that you have a current version of the "Installer" program that expands the packages. Also confirm that there isn't some confusion with an older version being used.
  1. Pull up a Spotlight window (press option-apple-space)
  2. Type in "Installer"
  3. Look at the Application results, exoanding the "# more" by clicking on it if there are initially too many to see.
  4. There is probably only one that is named "Installer" or "Installer.app". Click on the circled "i" at the far right of the listing to get the details.
  5. Do the same for the others if there are any.
  6. Check the version. Hopefully you have at least have one that is version 2.
  7. Consider deleting older versions, if you are sure you do not need them, such as you might if you preserved an older version of OS X.
  8. If you do not have any newer version you can find it on your Tiger Install disk. Look in "Mac OS X Install DVD"/Applications/Utilities/. Copy this file to your Applications/Utilities/ folder.
  9. Open this file, then choose "About..." from the Installer menu to confirm it is up to date.

B. Reset the preferences.
  1. Go to the Preferences folder in you Library folder and find "com.apple.installer.plist"
  2. Throw it in the trash; empty the trash.

  If this is difficult to find:
    1. Go to the finder press apple-shift-g
    2. Type in ~/Library/Preferences/
    OR
    Do a file search for com.apple.installer.plist

C. Download the installation directly. Maybe it isn't the installer program that is the problem, but "Software Update" is putting the package in the wrong place or something.
  1. Go to http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxupdate1042combo.html
  2. Download the installation to a place where you can find it.
  3. Launch it and proceed.

  This may also fix the problems you've encountered, as it does include a new version 2.0.2 of the Installer application.

D. If you could not get anything to work from "C." above, then your v.2.0 installer program might be the problem. There is a 3rd party utility that might help.
  1. Download Pacifist from the developer's site or form versiontracker:
    http://www.charlessoft.com/
    http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/12743
  2. Use this program to open the 10.4.2 combo-update downloaded in part C above.
  3. This will let you see the contents of the package. Navigate to the Applications/Utilities/Installer.app and tell it to install.
  4. CAUTION: Make sure to choose "Update" instead of "Replace" if it prompts you asking about the bundle already existing. **
  5. Launch your new Installer, choose "About..." from the Installer menu, and confirm that it is version 2.0.2. (for some reason Get Info in the Finder may still report it as version 2.0) ***
  6. Now you should be able to run the combo update without any problems.

** Choosing "replace" may break it. To fix: trash the file, and re-copy the application from the install DVD, then try Padifist again, making sure to choose "update" this time.

*** This is an interesting bug that I think I caused by trying out "replace" myself. The version.plist in the Installer.app package contents states that it is 2.0.2, but this doesn't update the metadata entry "kMDItemVersion" that is accessed by "mdls ~/Applications/Utilities/Installer.app" in the Terminal. I do not think it matters at all, but does someone out there know how to rebuild this metadata component?

I think that covers all the potential problems I can think of. If there are new error messages someone can report, then I might know of some other possible solutions.

I hope this helps,
Randall

rjz
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Re: Cannot expand package

*** This is an interesting bug that I think I caused by trying out "replace" myself. The version.plist in the Installer.app package contents states that it is 2.0.2, but this doesn't update the metadata entry "kMDItemVersion" that is accessed by "mdls ~/Applications/Utilities/Installer.app" in the Terminal. I do not think it matters at all, but does someone out there know how to rebuild this metadata component?

I found out how to update the metadata in the above in case case anyone cares:
mdimport /Applications/Utilities/Installer.app

-Randall

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Randall, Thank you for you

Randall,

Thank you for your reply. I had already tried everything you mentioned except for "C." Unfortunately that didn't solve my issue either. I tried Pacifist about 2 weeks ago thinking that it would defiantely solve my problem, but to no avail. I really don't want to have to reinstall Tiger just for this. It is pretty annoying though.

rjz
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more specific

So you downloaded the 10.4.2 combo update. Launched it, and it didn't seem to work.
Is the updating process the only thing that is registering errors?

What I mean is: Did you double-click on the Combo update? And afterwards what did happen? Did it seem promising up until a certain point?

Also, how about the Apple>"About this Mac.."
What version OS does it say you are running?

I agree with you completely that this is no reason to re-install your entire system. The updating process only involves two or three processes or applicatons, so one of them must be the culprit -- de-necessitating re-installing the entire OS.

-Randall

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No. I installed 10.4.2 succe

No. I installed 10.4.2 succesfully on the day of its release by downloding the update from Apple's site. My problem is that I cannot succesfully use the Software Update service in Mac OS X since I originally upgraded my Panther install to Tiger.

yz
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doesnt work neither

I've tried your fourth solutions and none's worked...........

however you are pretty nice to post all these solutions..... (that didnt work for me)

as "thing" said...... [quote]it really gets me angry to reinstall tiger for this problem..... :@[quote]

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