OSXFAQ Mac OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

If you encounter odd problems with system functions or applications not behaving correctly, 'Verify and Repair Permissions'.

Launch Disk Utility in Applications:Utilities. Select the system disc and you will see buttons to 'Verify Disk Permissions' and 'Repair Disk Permissions'.

What does this mean?

OS X will not work if certain system files, and critical applications, have incorrect file permissions. Disk Utility allows you to check for and fix any possible problems.

How do permissions break?

Normally, permissions will not break. For most system files it takes root privileges to alter permissions. Sometimes a rogue package (installer) may corrupt permissions for directories it writes to - if you have to authenticate then you are giving the installer root permissions. If you find you have to repair permissions regularly, you should look at what packages you are installing, and what third party system applications are running. Permissions should not be corrupted on a regular basis.

You may find a few permissions that regularly break in '/private/var'. This happens when system scripts re-write log and temporary files and does not affect the smooth running of OS X.

Verify permissions for ÒOSX-sarumanÓ
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory
./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util.
New permissions are 33261
Permissions differ on ./private/var/log/install.log, should be
-rw-r--r-- , they are -rw-r-----
Permissions differ on ./private/var/log/wtmp, should be -rw-r--r-- ,
they are -rw-r-----
...

How does verify/repair work?

When OS X itself, and additional packages, are installed, they leave behind instructions on what files go where, and what the permissions should be. Have a look in Library:Receipts on the system disc.

Enjoy !! :-)

Panther 10.3.4

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