Installer not working while attempting FCP4 install at DVinfo.net

Charles Papert · July 7th, 2003, 02:14 AM

OK, I apologize here because this turns out to be not just a FCP4 issue, I also tried unsuccessfully to install a Quicktime upgrade. I double click on the little "package" icon, the Installer opens, and nothing happens. I try opening through the Installer menu, nothing. I tried another Installer app on a different drive, nothing. Any thoughts, anyone? Dying to check out FCP4, very frustrating!

Bud Kuenzli · July 7th, 2003, 02:31 PM

I don' t know if your problem is big or not but the solution isn't obvious. Try creating another user and then log in as that user and try to install. If you can, then the problem is within your user folder, if you can't then the problem is within your system. From there I'd call Apple and talk with an OSX expert or search at www.macfixit or go to Apple discussion forum and see if you can find other complaints of a similar nature. You may have to archive and reinstall OSX if you can't find the particular problem. Before that (and right away..) fix permissions just to see if it's related to that whole issue.

Jeff Donald · July 8th, 2003, 04:49 PM

Charles, are you still having trouble? Have you tried fixing permissions as Bud suggested? Use the Disk Utility and select the system drive and fix permissions. If that doesn't do it, we can try installing under Root and I can talk you through it. Let me know.

Charles Papert · July 8th, 2003, 10:18 PM

Thank you Bud and Jeff. I tried fixing permissions (hope I did right, there wasn't any confirmation at the end of the process such as "permissions are fixed!") but the problem persists.

Jeff, I'd love to take you up on your offer...how/when?

Jeff Donald · July 9th, 2003, 09:06 PM

I'll write the process out, with disclaimer for the weak hearted), and post it tomorrow.

Jeff Donald · July 10th, 2003, 12:59 PM

This is an easy way to create a Root account. Root accounts allow you access to all parts of your system and delete files that should not be deleted. Day to day operation of your computer under a root account is not wise. However, it has privileges that regular users do not have. Use with Caution

Go to Apple Menu>System Preferences>Accounts. Click on New User (on the right).

Under Name>root (lower case)
short name>root (lower case)
New password>type in secret password
verify>retype password

Check both boxes at bottom.

Go to Apple menu>log out

Computer will close finder etc.

New log in window appears>enter name and password.

Computer will now startup with root privileges for the user. Attempt to install FCP4 or other software as a test.

If software doesn't install. I would download the latest OS X update 10.2.6 combo (from Apple site) and install combo update then Fix permissions again and try to install programs.

Chris Korrow · July 10th, 2003, 07:26 PM

It needs OS 10.2.5 or higher. ???
Chris

Jeff Donald · July 10th, 2003, 08:18 PM

Yes, these are the requirements per Apple's FCP page

System Requirements:

Macintosh computer with 350MHz PowerPC G4 processor and AGP graphics card
— RT Extreme requires a single 500MHz or faster PowerPC G4 (550MHz for PowerBook G4) or any dual PowerPC G4.
— Soundtrack requires a single 500MHz or dual 450MHz or faster PowerPC G4.

Mac OS X 10.2.5 or later

QuickTime 6.1 or later

384 MB of RAM (512MB required for RT Extreme and recommended for Soundtrack)

1GB of disk space required for application installation

5GB of disk space required for Soundtrack content

9GB of disk space required for LiveType content

DVD drive required for installation

Charles Papert · July 10th, 2003, 11:16 PM

sigh...

Following that setup (root user) hitting save, it tells me that I already have a user named "root", but it doesn't show up in the user list, and I never set that up myself.

I am running 10.2.6, recently upgraded.

Waaah!

Jeff Donald · July 11th, 2003, 04:32 AM

Go to System Preferences>Accounts>Login Options>Click on List Users and Show Password Hint>Save Changes (quit system Preferences. Now log out via Apple Menu, at login a space for other should appear. Choose other and for name use root (lower case). Now the fun part, any idea on your root password? If your not sure try your system password. It is probably your (Charles' password).

If that doesn't work and the system actually chose the password, you may be able to change it by changing your (Charles') password in System Preference>Accounts>Select user>Edit User>now change password, quit System preferences and try to log out and log in using root and new password.

Another option if this fails is to try to install under System 9 if it is installed on you computer. You will need to install in the proper Applications folder for System OS X, assuming you get that far.

I would also call Apple. They should have some ideas on possible causes or solutions. The help is free for 90 days after purchase, I think. Post back if none of this works. The ultimate way to reset root is to do a clean install of 10.2.6. It's not as bad as it sounds and should take less than a couple of hours, total time.

Charles Papert · July 13th, 2003, 01:59 PM

Thanks again, Jeff. I have tried all that and successfully logged in as "root", but the Installers just won't do anything on a variety of software disk images. I'll have to look deeper, I guess. At least everything else is working. This is my first issue with OSX, so I guess I've done well overall.

John Locke · July 13th, 2003, 02:12 PM

Charles,

FWIW...I've never been able to capture footage with FCP 3.0. Tried everything to figure out what the glitch was after upgrading, including posting here, at the Cow, and at Apple...but no solution. So, I've just worked around it by capturing with iMovie...which is inconvenient, but not so terribly much. I've gotten used to it.

Not helpful info except to say that OSX and FCP do have some problems...and it's just that magic combination of elements that decides who out of thousands or millions will be the unlucky ones.

If upgrading to FCP 4.0 doesn't rectify the problem sometime in the near future, I'll do what Jeff suggests and perform a clean system install. Then, add apps and fonts in small groups, testing FCP after each, to see if I can narrow down what the conflict is. You might be better off just going ahead and doing that now.

July 7th, 2003, 02:14 AM	#1
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Installer not working while attempting FCP4 install OK, I apologize here because this turns out to be not just a FCP4 issue, I also tried unsuccessfully to install a Quicktime upgrade. I double click on the little "package" icon, the Installer opens, and nothing happens. I try opening through the Installer menu, nothing. I tried another Installer app on a different drive, nothing. Any thoughts, anyone? Dying to check out FCP4, very frustrating! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 7th, 2003, 02:31 PM	#2
Bud Kuenzli Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 197	big problem I don' t know if your problem is big or not but the solution isn't obvious. Try creating another user and then log in as that user and try to install. If you can, then the problem is within your user folder, if you can't then the problem is within your system. From there I'd call Apple and talk with an OSX expert or search at www.macfixit or go to Apple discussion forum and see if you can find other complaints of a similar nature. You may have to archive and reinstall OSX if you can't find the particular problem. Before that (and right away..) fix permissions just to see if it's related to that whole issue. __________________ on the Internet, when you get where you're going you still don't know where you are

July 8th, 2003, 04:49 PM	#3
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Charles, are you still having trouble? Have you tried fixing permissions as Bud suggested? Use the Disk Utility and select the system drive and fix permissions. If that doesn't do it, we can try installing under Root and I can talk you through it. Let me know. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 8th, 2003, 10:18 PM	#4
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Thank you Bud and Jeff. I tried fixing permissions (hope I did right, there wasn't any confirmation at the end of the process such as "permissions are fixed!") but the problem persists. Jeff, I'd love to take you up on your offer...how/when? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 9th, 2003, 09:06 PM	#5
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	I'll write the process out, with disclaimer for the weak hearted), and post it tomorrow. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 10th, 2003, 12:59 PM	#6
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	This is an easy way to create a Root account. Root accounts allow you access to all parts of your system and delete files that should not be deleted. Day to day operation of your computer under a root account is not wise. However, it has privileges that regular users do not have. Use with Caution Go to Apple Menu>System Preferences>Accounts. Click on New User (on the right). Under Name>root (lower case) short name>root (lower case) New password>type in secret password verify>retype password Check both boxes at bottom. Go to Apple menu>log out Computer will close finder etc. New log in window appears>enter name and password. Computer will now startup with root privileges for the user. Attempt to install FCP4 or other software as a test. If software doesn't install. I would download the latest OS X update 10.2.6 combo (from Apple site) and install combo update then Fix permissions again and try to install programs. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 10th, 2003, 07:26 PM	#7
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	It needs OS 10.2.5 or higher. ??? Chris

July 10th, 2003, 08:18 PM	#8
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, these are the requirements per Apple's FCP page System Requirements: Macintosh computer with 350MHz PowerPC G4 processor and AGP graphics card — RT Extreme requires a single 500MHz or faster PowerPC G4 (550MHz for PowerBook G4) or any dual PowerPC G4. — Soundtrack requires a single 500MHz or dual 450MHz or faster PowerPC G4. Mac OS X 10.2.5 or later QuickTime 6.1 or later 384 MB of RAM (512MB required for RT Extreme and recommended for Soundtrack) 1GB of disk space required for application installation 5GB of disk space required for Soundtrack content 9GB of disk space required for LiveType content DVD drive required for installation __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 10th, 2003, 11:16 PM	#9
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	sigh... Following that setup (root user) hitting save, it tells me that I already have a user named "root", but it doesn't show up in the user list, and I never set that up myself. I am running 10.2.6, recently upgraded. Waaah! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 11th, 2003, 04:32 AM	#10
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Go to System Preferences>Accounts>Login Options>Click on List Users and Show Password Hint>Save Changes (quit system Preferences. Now log out via Apple Menu, at login a space for other should appear. Choose other and for name use root (lower case). Now the fun part, any idea on your root password? If your not sure try your system password. It is probably your (Charles' password). If that doesn't work and the system actually chose the password, you may be able to change it by changing your (Charles') password in System Preference>Accounts>Select user>Edit User>now change password, quit System preferences and try to log out and log in using root and new password. Another option if this fails is to try to install under System 9 if it is installed on you computer. You will need to install in the proper Applications folder for System OS X, assuming you get that far. I would also call Apple. They should have some ideas on possible causes or solutions. The help is free for 90 days after purchase, I think. Post back if none of this works. The ultimate way to reset root is to do a clean install of 10.2.6. It's not as bad as it sounds and should take less than a couple of hours, total time. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

July 13th, 2003, 01:59 PM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Thanks again, Jeff. I have tried all that and successfully logged in as "root", but the Installers just won't do anything on a variety of software disk images. I'll have to look deeper, I guess. At least everything else is working. This is my first issue with OSX, so I guess I've done well overall. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

July 13th, 2003, 02:12 PM	#12
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Charles, FWIW...I've never been able to capture footage with FCP 3.0. Tried everything to figure out what the glitch was after upgrading, including posting here, at the Cow, and at Apple...but no solution. So, I've just worked around it by capturing with iMovie...which is inconvenient, but not so terribly much. I've gotten used to it. Not helpful info except to say that OSX and FCP do have some problems...and it's just that magic combination of elements that decides who out of thousands or millions will be the unlucky ones. If upgrading to FCP 4.0 doesn't rectify the problem sometime in the near future, I'll do what Jeff suggests and perform a clean system install. Then, add apps and fonts in small groups, testing FCP after each, to see if I can narrow down what the conflict is. You might be better off just going ahead and doing that now. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com