Software Update: Installed updates list is blank

Symptom

The Installed Updates list in the Software Update preference pane is blank after a successful installation.

This list normally contains the contents of the file /Library/Logs/Software Update.log.

Solution

To resolve this issue, you need to correct the permissions on the folder /Library/Logs/. The steps for doing so are found in technical document 107039, "Mac OS X 10.2: How to Change Ownership & Permissions Using the Finder".

You should then set them as follows:

• Owner: system
• Owner Access: Read & Write
• Group: admin
• Group Access: Read & Write
• Others: Read only

Notes

1. If you upgraded from Mac OS X 10.1, the Group Access permissions may be "Read only" instead of "Read Write".

2. To verify whether a software update was installed successfully, look for its receipt in the folder /Library/Receipts/.

3. This issue will occur if a non-Admin user is allowed to install via Software Updates. Do not allow non-Admin users to install via Software Update if this issue is undesirable.