Google, please believe me when I say this is my password.

October 13, 2009 7:44 PM

After getting a new logicboard installed on my MacBook Pro this past week, why does GoogleUpdateInstaller constantly ask for my password every few minutes? I'm only using GMail notifier and it is making me insane.

Sooo, after a new logicboard (thank you cat vomiting all over computer) install this past week, I have been getting a log-in prompt every twenty or so minutes saying, "Type your password to allow GoogleUpdateInstaller to make changes" and has my computer name and blank password, but no option for "remember password" or the ability to add it to my password chain. After I type in my password and hit "OK" it brings up the Google Notifier, but there are no software updates available. I have uninstalled and reinstalled GMail notifier about five times now, and I'm still getting this error and it is driving me insane. How can I get this to disappear? As an added note, no other program has exhibited any of these problems, or even asked for my password. My Google-fu is completely busted.

posted by banannafish to computers & internet (8 comments total)

What's a logicboard?
posted by mhuckaba at 9:33 PM on October 13

Logicboard is Applespeak for a motherboard.

Turf the Google thing completely and install it again from scratch. It's probably not related to your repair. Sounds like a coincidence.
posted by rokusan at 9:38 PM on October 13

I've done that five times now. I've never had a logicboard replacement, but I just now tried to sync my iPhone and I had to reauthorize my iPhone for iTunes, which makes me believe that the logicboard completely screwed up my password chain? Maybeeee? But why would it persist through multiple uninstalls/reinstalls of GMail notifier?
posted by banannafish at 9:46 PM on October 13

Try verifying / repairing your keychain:

1. Log in as Administrator / root
2. Run '/Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access'
3. Under the Keychain Access menu, choose "Keychain First Aid"
4. Do a verify, then repair if anything comes up

The basic problem is that the master 'password' for the Keychain is paired to the logic board. Change the board, and it changes. Bet you can't access https:// sites in Safari either, right?
posted by Pinback at 10:19 PM on October 13

Another thought: you may need to do that under your normal user login as well - I can't remember…
posted by Pinback at 10:23 PM on October 13

Possibly these all use the MAC address to identify your machine, it's part of the ethernet hardware, which would be on the logic board.
posted by doctor_negative at 10:32 PM on October 13

My hero! Pinback! Thank you - it immediately fixed the problem. And, yes, I hadn't attempted to access any https:// sites until you mentioned it, and yup, couldn't access them until I completed your suggestion!
posted by banannafish at 10:33 PM on October 13

Aww, shucks ;-)

AFAIA, they normally do this as a matter of course when they do logic board swaps. Guess they forgot…

doctor_negative: In this case, I think it's actually the logic board's embedded serial number that's used. Which reminds me, banannafish - if you're using Time Machine, those backups are tied to the MAC address. To fix the problems this may cause (e.g. not being able to do new backups), have a look here.
posted by Pinback at 11:00 PM on October 13