Programs suddenly give "requires newer OS" on OS X 10.4/won't update

I have a PowerBook G4 that suddenly (today) is having problems. Most applications, ie Photoshop and basically everything else tells me to update my OS to 10.3.x and later (they have always worked fine). My computer is only a couple months old and came with Tiger 10.4 so what the heck??

Examples:



(Adobe Photoshop
Mac OS X version 10.3.4 or later is recommended for maximum performance and correct operation of Adobe Photoshop CS2. An earlier version of Mac OS X was detected.)



(Warning
Linotype FontExplorer X requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later.)

If I look under About This Mac, It doesn't tell me my OS (see image) which I thought it was supposed to?



When I try updating, it says there are no updates. I tried to go on to apple.com and manually download the update but I got this error when I tried to run it:



What the heck is going on??

I would say.. don't format and erase, but reinstall tiger over your operating system. seams like there is a file out of place which makes the operating sytem look like a lower version number when a application trys to check what os you are using.

I have never seen this happen. That is strange your Serial Number is showing up there. I have never seen that. Try an Archive and Install from the OSX Tiger CD. Hold c and boot from the CD, before you install go to options and select Archive and Install. It will keep all your settings but reinstall the OS.

If you want to see your OS version number. Click on the serial number. As you continue to click on it you should be able to get the build number, serial number and the OS version number.

rman said:

If you want to see your OS version number. Click on the serial number. As you continue to click on it you should be able to get the build number, serial number and the OS version number.

Click to expand...

Thanks RMan, never tried clicking on that area! Shows the serial and Build! Thanks for that info!!

rman said:

If you want to see your OS version number. Click on the serial number. As you continue to click on it you should be able to get the build number, serial number and the OS version number.

Click to expand...

Hmmm, does nothing for me

Create a new admin user and login as them. See if the problems follow the user.

Also do the basics,..repair permissions, redownload the 10.4.5 combo updater and reapply it.

Did a Archive & Install but the computer would hang on the grey apple bootup screen forever. Tried resetting everything but no luck. After booting in Verbose mode I found a whole screen full of errors followed by "Still waiting for root device" over and over.

Called apple care today and I asked the guy if he wanted to know what the errors mean, he said "Don't bother, I dont know what Verbose errors mean." He gave me 2 options, erase & install or send in for repair. I did the Erase and now it works but of course I have to reinstall all my programs.

So I never really got a real answer of what happened and how to avoid this in the future... but at least i have a running machine now.

Good thing you got it working ..

hopefully it won't happen again.