Trouble Installing Firefox 3.5

June 30, 2009 1:50 PM

Trouble installing Firefox 3.5. After I tell the installer to replace the old version, I get this message: "The operation cannot be completed because you do not have sufficient privileges for some of the items." But, I'm the sole user and admin on a MacBook 10.5.7. What's with this? Does anyone know how I can finish the install?
posted by partner to computers & internet (7 comments total)

I've had occasional auth issues like this. Best thing to do is trash Firefox first, then run the installer.
posted by mkultra at 1:55 PM on June 30

If what mkultra suggested doesn't work (although it should work to fix your particular situation), this post has a set of instructions on how to reset the permissions on your Applications folder that will most likely take care of the problem. Look for the post by V.K. that has a green star halfway down the page.
posted by vall at 2:03 PM on June 30

mkultra How do I trash the old Firefox and not lose my bookmarks, etc?
posted by partner at 2:22 PM on June 30

Firefox keeps your bookmarks and your personal settings separate from the application itself. You should be able to open up your Applications folder using the Finder, and drag the Firefox application to the Trash. Your bookmarks will remain safe inside your home folder.
posted by vall at 2:28 PM on June 30

Did you install the previous version from the same account? I use the "master account" - the account I created during the OS install (but not "root"), for all software installs and other system heavy lifting and not much else. I made a separate account for my everyday driver. Despite both having admin privileges, some software installed from the master account won't update from my everyday account. Apple software updates seem sensitive to this among others.
Could your situation be similar?
posted by TruncatedTiller at 2:38 PM on June 30

...made a separate account to use as my everyday...
posted by TruncatedTiller at 2:39 PM on June 30

I'm not sure what's wrong but I would probably fire up Disk Utility and run Repair Permissions before anything else. If that fails I'd go with blowing it all away.

And start backing up your bookmarks since this kind of thing happens. Use xmarks if you are too lazy (like me) to do it every day.
posted by chairface at 3:26 PM on June 30