Installers that "break" the OS?

bbloke

bbloke

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I have recently become alarmed that certain well known software installers might actually damage the operating system and wondered if anyone else knew anything about this.

When using OS 10.2.x, I noticed some strange behavior, where the filename extension hiding (toggle) did not work. It seemed it somehow became impossible to hide the filename extensions, which I always had as being visible anyway. I had no idea what caused this and how to fix it, but figured a complete erase and install of 10.3, when I got it, would sort things out.

I recently got 10.3, installed it, and, sure enough, everything worked fine again. I started installing all my apps again, but then found the strange behavior started again. I started over again, erasing and installing, and monitored the ability to toggle the display of filename extensions after each third party installation. Everything worked fine this time and the only thing I had not installed this time round was the Value Pack installer that comes with Microsoft Office, as that required authentication to run the installer and made me suspicious. Anyway, I "manually" installed bits and pieces from the Value Pack that I wanted, like the Equation Editor, and everything continued to work well. I could be premature in formulating my conclusions, but I suspect it was Microsoft's installer that broke things the first time round.

So, things have been working as they should be for days. However, now I have just installed various Adobe apps and suddenly I have found the strange behavior with the filename extension toggle is back!!! :mad:

Has anyone else noticed anything like this? Can it be linked to particular application installations? And... most importantly... is there any way to fix this without yet ANOTHER reinstallation? :(
 
There is an option in Finder Preferences for "Always show file extensions". Try switching this off.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but I as already aware of that option and tried switching it off and it had no effect.

To test whether or not the filename extension toggle was working, I'd use the Finder Preferences to deactivate always showing the extensions, then select a document such as a PDF with an extension in its name, then select Get Info, and try toggling the filename extension on/off from there.

Before my installations (with both 10.2 and 10.3, actually): this worked. After the installations: it no longer works.
 
Ooooh, update...

Using Fast User Switching, I checked to see if this odd behavior affected other users and I'm very glad to say (in a strange sort of way... ) that it does not, it only affects me (the administrator). I was worried, as some installers run as root...

Anyone know what could be broken in my account then???
 
Didn't even realize how annoying the extensions suffix was 'till I read your post. Same thing happenned to me upon a fresh install of Panther and attendant third party updates. Here's a standard fix. First make sure that whatever file you are playing with is not locked. If you still can't change an unlocked file, run Repair Disk Permissions from Disk Utilities (quite time consuming) and try again, making sure that the file has not become locked in the interum and presto, change-o. Well it worked for me, any way...

Happy new year folks.
 
I have a weird one. If you remember the same time Panther came out, Windows media Player upgraded. I got that version. Whenever I click on a file .wmv, the installer program starts and proceeds to install--prompting me for my admin password. This is annoying not sure how to correct to it?
 
Click on the .wmv file, then go to the File menu>Get Info>Open with. Point it to the already installed Media Player and then click on change all.
 
AFAIK, you need an administrative password to install anything (to keep restricted users from installing stuff willy-nilly). So every installer should ask you for your password, every time. I'd be worried if one didn't, actually, since they're supposed to.

It figures that a Microsoft installer is giving you problems... ;)
 
Just to update you all in case it happens to someone else...

I searched through all the changed files in my home directory, after finding that the problem did not affect other users, but nothing seemed to stand out except the Finder plist. I had trashed the Finder plist under 10.2.x and this had not solved the problem, so I didn't consider it to be the solution, but eventually I decided to try it again as I was out of ideas!

This time, it worked! The problem came back after running the Virex 7.2.1 installer. I immediately trashed the Finder plist (i.e. moved the file to the Trash, but did not empty it) to generate a new one, but this did not solve the problem. I tried emptying the Trash too, but that did not fix it either. As I was sure it was Finder plist related, I trashed the newly generated Finder plist, did not change any Finder preferences, emptied the Trash, and restarted. This seemed to fix it!

I don't know whether a Finder relaunch, a restart, an emptying of the Trash, or something else fixed the matter. But hey, if anyone else encounters this, at least you don't need to reinstall! ;) :)
 
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