1255462 - Unable To Update Due To File Permission Errors

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 394984

(Toolkit :: Application Update, enhancement)

Description

[Gregg Lind (Fx Strategy and Insights - Shield - Heartbeat )]

Attachment: Screen Shot of Update Failue screen

The dreaded "an update is available but you don't have permissions" update error.

I think we can do better with this, about suggestion fixes.  

## Incidence in the wild.

Unknown.  I claim it's probably small. 

## Impact

Lethal.  Claim:  these users don't / won't upgrade AND they get the nasty message during auto-upgrade attempts.

## Cause:

For *me*, it was due to migration assistant (OSX) losing track of my GUID.  Mine was fixable via:  

- solution 1, re-guid:  https://derflounder.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/fixing-permissions-after-changing-directory-services/
- solution 2: uninstall / reinstall firefox

## Proposed solution ideas:

- change dialogue text to be more helpful.  Link to a canonical SUMO article?

## Code Archaeology:

- Message: https://dxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/locales/en-US/chrome/mozapps/update/updates.dtd#20
- Caller: https://dxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/mozapps/update/content/updates.xul#73
- Caller: getCanApplyUpdates https://dxr.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/source/toolkit/mozapps/update/nsUpdateService.js#340

Comment 1

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

This should be handled by bug 394984. Going to add dependency but this could just as easily be a dupe.

Comment 2

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

spohl, can you confirm whether this is handled by bug 394984? Thanks!

Comment 3

[Stephen A Pohl [:spohl]]

Yes. Please reopen if this is still an issue.