Unable to update OsX

A

aantiix

Registered
I recently got a Mac from someone else I work with. I normall use Linux and Windows but am pretty familiar with Macs. Anyways, I was attempting to update the OS as when I go to check the version it says it is 10.4.1 (and no it does not say .10 as I know they are different). Also, it is an Intel build. When I attempt to do the update from the Apple / Software Update it tells me that there are no updates available. I downloaded the 10.4.10 combo update for Intel (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx10410comboupdatev11intel.html) and when trying to run it the Macintosh HD icon has the red exclamation mark on it. The error message below it states "You cannot install Mac OS X Update on this volume. This volume does not meet the requirements for this update."

So I thought I would step back to the beginning and then tried the 10.4.2 update (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosxupdate1042.html) although there is no specific download for Intel vs PPC, just the on so I grabbed that and tried it, maybe its the wrong version I dont know but when I attempt to run that it tells me "Your computer does not need this update". I am in the process of downloading the 10.4.6 combo update for Intel right now but am not hopeful that will work any better than the others so far. Any thoughts on what could be the problem? I have plenty of space on my drive and have tried several tips already such as first repairing permissions, Delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist, removing /Library/Receipts.

I am trying to do the update as I am having problems with some 3rd party apps I installed and I had red that there is quite a bit of increased support for 3rd party apps beginning with 10.4.6 I believe was the version. Is it possible the "About this computer" is improperly reporting the version, is there another file somewhere that holds this version info?
 
It is curious that you do not mention the computer model whose OS update is giving you so much trouble. I gather that your computer is Intel-based, at least you appear to believe that your computer is Intel-based.

You claim to have MacOS X 10.4.1 installed. Please be advised that Apple's first Intel-based Macs shipped with MacOS X 10.4.4 installed. Later Intel-based Macs with MacOS X 10.4.6 were introduced. No Intel-compatible retail version of MacOS X 10.4 was ever released. The first Intel-compatible retail version of MacOS X was MacOS X 10.5.

It would appear that you troublesome computer is a Hackintosh--a Wintel PC running a hacked version of MacOS X 10.4. If my inference is incorrect, then feel free to correct it. If it is correct, then please be advised that it is a violation of Apple's MacOS X EULA to install MacOS X on non-Apple hardware. It is also a violation of the rules of this forum to discuss doing so.
 
The no mention on hardware was an oversight. This machine is a MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo/2 GHz, 1024 MB of RAM. Since nothing before 10.4.4 was intel based then that would explain why I didnt see any mention of Intel updates prior to 10.4.6. I am confused though on how this is showing 10.4.1 though if it was never released. Possible cfg file error displaying improperly? I read something online about some custom builds being done earlier, was that person referring to hackintosh or does Mac work like windows PC in that resellers sometimes use custom builds? I am fairly familiar with the OS but not with how sales work (resellers, mfg direct, etc).

EDIT: I also should mention that as I got this machine from work, I do work for a larger company that closely monitors workstation usage and license requirements so I can't image anyone would have installed a hacked version on it.
 
Last edited:
There's several places to look for the version of OS X that you have installed. One is the About This Mac at the top of your Apple menu. You may notice that is shows Version 10.4.11, which is current. Then, click on the More Info button on that About this Mac window. That will take you to your System Profiler, then click on Software. You should again see the OS X version number, and the Build number. What do you see there? A build number starting with 8Gxxxx would be around 10.4.4 or 10.4.5.
The last intel version (10.4.11) should be build number 8S2167. If you see that build number, then you have 10.4.11
You CAN download and install the combo updater for 10.4.11, which will update ANY version of 10.4 on your intel Mac. Here's a good link for that: http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_4_11_Combo_Update__Intel_
 
aantiix said:
... Since nothing before 10.4.4 was intel based then that would explain why I didnt see any mention of Intel updates prior to 10.4.6. ...
Click to expand...
You misunderstood. There has been an Intel port of every version of MacOS X. Versions older than MacOS X 10.4.4 were not released to the public. A public version of MacOS X 10.4.1 cannot run on a Hackintosh. Conceivably, a pirated copy of Apple's internal Intel port of MacOS X 10.4.1 could.

If your OS is really MacOS X 10.4.11, then this explains why you can't update it. You already have the most recent version of MacOS X 10.4. I have no idea why your computer states your OS installation as MacOS X 10.4.1. However, some third-party apps improperly read the version of double-digit second point releases like MacOS X 10.4.10 or MacOS X 10.4.11. I have one that mistakenly lists MacOS X 10.4.11 as MacOS X 10.4.9.
 
Thanks for the last couple posts...

When I got to About this Mac is where I see the 10.4.1 and then I click the More Info and go to Software and I see 10.4.1 8Bxxxx so looks still like thats the version. Not sure why I can't update it and I cant see how we could have a bootleg version internally. I work in the IT Dept as a software beta tester. I got in touch with the graphics dept which is who handles the Mac licensing and inventory in our company and reported this issue to them that this install was suspected to be not a valid licensed install. They are going to send me a DVD for 10.5.x that I can install as I we have some open licenses for those. I guess at least I get a software upgrade out of the deal :)

Thanks for your help with this. Hopefully there wont be any hardware compatibility issues with the OS upgrade. The reason I was trying to do the update in the first place is that I was having problems getting VPN to work. I had read some posts that there were some issues with the native client on the earlier versions of 10.4.x and I really prefer Cisco VPN better anyways but I couldnt get the Cisco VPN client to run after install. I had read one of the updates actually specifically mentioned a fix for that so figured doing the update would resolve that issue... didnt realize the problems I would.

I am still wondering how we could have had a bootleg version, my only thought is that if 10.4.1 was not a public release, was it releaseed to certain trusted dev partners like Microsoft does things. If so then that would make sense since we are a dev shop for both Microsoft and Mac software and I know at least on the MS side we do get things like that as "pre-release" candidates.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top