Mac OSX Updates fail with file permission issues

If your Mac update keeps failing because of permission issues give yourself root user permission. Apple has a nice write up here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1528

Then open a terminal window and  type the following lines. You should put in the folders you are having issues with instead of “/private…” folders.

> su (type root password)
 > chmod g+x /private
 > chmod g+x /private/etc
 > exit

Try to run Mac update again and keep typing the chmod g+x (for group add execute access) command on each folder that updates say they can’t write/read/execute to. You can also use chmod g+r (for group add read access) or chmod g+w (for group add write access)

When you are done please go back and take disable root access on your account so that you’re less susceptible to having you computer hacked.

Apple has more info at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2963.