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AppleJack
AppleJack
4.5
0.0
AppleJack free download for Mac

AppleJack

Version 1.6

Troubleshooting/repair utility.

4.5
Based on 96 user ratesRead reviews & comments
Free
Absolutely Free
Application is not under development & not supported.

AppleJack overview

Developer's note: AppleJack is no longer supported and has not been developed or supported for years and years. I would not recommend it being used on any systems after Mountain Lion.

AppleJack is a user friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X. With AppleJack you can troubleshoot a computer even if you can't load the GUI, or don't have a startup CD handy. AppleJack runs in Single User Mode and is menu-based for ease of use

Using AppleJack, you can repair your disk, repair permissions, validate the system's preference files, and get rid of possibly corrupted cache files. In most cases, these operations can help get your machine back on track. The important thing is that you don't need another startup disk with you. All you need to do is restart in Single User Mode (SUM), by holding down the command and s keys at startup, and then typing applejack, or applejack auto (which will run through all the tasks automatically), or applejack auto restart (which will also restart the computer automatically at the end of the process)

What’s new in version 1.6

Updated on Jul 13 2010

Version 1.6:
  • Snow Leopard compatibility [feature 2845796] (Thanks again to Steve Anthony)
  • Improved limits on output from syslog to STDOUT
  • Simplified startup of services on Leopard and Snow Leopard
  • Fixed bug in creation of user account lists in Snow Leopard where system accounts would show up
  • S.M.A.R.T. status verification is now being done in the expert mode. I still want to implement this using smartmontools, but for now diskutil will do.
  • Blessing of Mac OS X System folders on attached volumes is now possible. This is a primitive bless, ie, it does not create boot files, but simply blesses the chosen System folder and (optionally) sets it to be used for startup on next launch

Information

License

Free

Size

381 KB

Downloads

768138

App requirements

  • Intel 32
  • PPC 32
  • Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later
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  • Comments

  • User Ratings

Neal
Neal
Feb 10 2020
1.6
5.0
Feb 10 2020
5.0
Version: 1.6
I've not had cause to run AJ for quite a few years. I did contribute a small donation, years and years ago, and I am pleasantly surprised to find that in 2020 it is still valid for certain restoration tasks. However, I'm here because I cannot complete a Catalina upgrade from Mojave or blank disk without Disk Utility, First Aid telling me there are directory faults. My Question for today is: Will Applejack work with Catalina's new separatist disk structure ?
artie505
artie505
Jan 21 2019
1.6
0.0
Jan 21 2019
0.0
Version: 1.6
Even though Applejack appears to still clear caches, I'm skeptical about the job it's doing, because Apple has added, deleted, and moved caches over the years. I'm sure it's doing something, but I doubt that it's what people think it's doing.
artie505
artie505
Jan 21 2019
1.6
0.0
Jan 21 2019
0.0
Version: 1.6
Although Applejack's website links to SourceForge for v 1.7, SF delivers v 1.6. Anybody know what's up with that?
Eric•Woehler
Eric•Woehler
Jul 22 2017
1.6
4.0
Jul 22 2017
4.0
Version: 1.6
Just installed 1.7b as per posting etc below, working under Sierra 10.12.6 - but unable to repair permissions (I suspect framework MIA due to Apple) and removing the swapfiles function doesn't work, but deep clean still deep cleans and other functions also working, so was glad I spent the 15 minutes getting this installed (1.6), upgraded (1.7b) and working. Longest time was spent triple-checking script attributes/permissions with BatchChmod to make sure I didn't have to re-login as root.

Instructions below by sickteddybear re installing and replacing 1.6 with 1.7 very good.

Just type 'applejack' in singe user mode (cmd-s) after the system text has fllled several screens and choose from specific options (1-5) or run 'Auto'.

Once done, hit 'r' to restart your Mac. sweet!
Zarquon
Zarquon
Nov 25 2016
1.6
4.0
Nov 25 2016
4.0
Version: 1.6
Just tested under macOS 10.12 Sierra after installing the 1.7 update described below by SickTeddyBear, and it works great. No need even to type in the path; simply type "Applejack" in Single User Mode, and everything works as expected, except for Repair Permissions, which is no longer needed anyway.
kbootsyb
kbootsyb
Oct 7 2016
1.6
0.0
Oct 7 2016
0.0
Version: 1.6
I ran Applejack. To run parts 3 & 5 to clean the Cache and the memory, you need a apple password. I bought the computer used and don’t have the Apple ID or Apple ID’s from the previous owner or owners. Can I get around this so I can run these two parts of the program? Thanks…
Svenster
Svenster
Apr 1 2016
1.6
5.0
Apr 1 2016
5.0
Version: 1.6
This really is an amazing product. 6 years after it ceased being updated I found myself in a situation where my laptop running OSX 10.11.4 and my mouse arrow lost its ability to left click on anything. rendering the input unavailable. No input devices had left click functionality. Not the Trackpad nor any usb mouse connected to it. And this was the issue across all logins. It was a bit of a problem. Now I was a seriously heavy user of AppleJack also on every computer i have managed. But I haven't even booted into it with this OS before. So I fired it up and run the remove cache routine and checked for corrupt preferences and asked it to reboot. And it did and the issue was resolved!! Quite an amazing product.
fwilkinson
fwilkinson
Nov 2 2015
1.6
0.5
Nov 2 2015
0.5
Version: 1.6
shit
Tlance
Tlance
Oct 10 2015
1.6
0.0
Oct 10 2015
0.0
Version: 1.6
Still works on El Capitan! (Not performing permissions step.) Must enter path yourself at prompt: /private/var/root/Library/Scripts/applejack.sh
Ward
Ward
Mar 16 2015
1.6
0.0
Mar 16 2015
0.0
Version: 1.6
I just discovered I overlooked installing AppleJack on my new iMac running 10.10..2. I'm now faced with choosing between the formal 1.6 release from 2010 or the "untested and unreleased" 1.7 update offered by Negritude on Oct 28, 2013 (see below). Which should I pick?
Penguirl
Penguirl
Feb 22 2015
1.6
5.0
Feb 22 2015
5.0
Version: 1.6
Applejack and DiskWarrior were my go to utilities, I even skipped 10.7 just so I wouldn’t lose the use of Applejack. Now many people are saying that it still works through 10.10 but I have to wonder if it is completely safe and here is why: I remember with each new upgrade (vs update) version of OS X would be followed by an update to Applejack. I never upgraded until the corresponding v. of Applejack was released. And after 10.6 the developer said (paraphrasing here) he could not keep up with all the under the hood changes with each new version of OS X so he was going to stop development of Applejack. So if the developer couldn’t keep up with the continuous changes in OS X for whatever reason, and ended development for that reason, how can it possibly still be safe to use?
Tlance
Tlance
Nov 14 2014
1.6
0.0
Nov 14 2014
0.0
Version: 1.6
WooHoo! Or whatever it is the kids say these days. Just tried this on Yosemite and it works! Two caveats: 1) didn't try Permissions as that has been borked for several versions; 2) at the prompt, instead of typing "applejack" you must type the path. If you do a standard Applejack install you would type (minus the quotation marks) "/private/var/root/Library/Scripts/applejack.sh" and then hit "return". YMMV but I got the hint from several google hits.
Desterwallaboo
Desterwallaboo
Feb 27 2014
1.6
5.0
Feb 27 2014
5.0
Version: 1.6
Used this a lot under 10.4 and 10.5..... anyone know if this works under 10.9?
Marcossi
Marcossi
Jan 16 2014
1.6
5.0
Jan 16 2014
5.0
Version: 1.6
Saved my a** many times! A must have, and it's FREE. I would not mind giving a donation, but there is no option to do that.
SickTeddyBear
SickTeddyBear
Oct 28 2013
1.6
5.0
Oct 28 2013
5.0
Version: 1.6
FYI, there is an untested and unreleased update to 1.7. See the full script here: http://applejack.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/applejack/applejack/applejack.sh?revision=1.150&content-type=text%2Fplain See the differences between 1.6 and 1.7 here: http://applejack.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/applejack/applejack/applejack.sh?view=diff&r1=text&tr1=1.150&r2=text&tr2=1.149&diff_format=h Download the script here: http://applejack.cvs.sourceforge.net/viewvc/applejack/applejack/applejack.sh?revision=1.150 Update the script in Terminal using these commands: sudo cp -f ~/Downloads/applejack.sh /private/var/root/Library/Scripts sudo chmod u=rwx,go= /private/var/root/Library/Scripts/applejack.sh sudo chown root:wheel /private/var/root/Library/Scripts/applejack.sh
SickTeddyBear
SickTeddyBear
Oct 28 2013
1.6
5.0
Oct 28 2013
5.0
Version: 1.6
AppleJack continues to work under OS X 10.9 (Mavericks): 1. Disk repair with fsck is working fine. 2. Clearing of caches both system-wide and per-user is working fine. 3. Validation of plist files both system-wide and per-user is working fine. 4. Clearing of the system swap file, including deletion of the safe sleep image on laptops and desktops that have hibernation enabled is working fine. 5. Automatic execution via both the regular "auto" and deep clean "AUTO" parameter is working fine. 6. Execution of additional special functions, including memory testing via memtest, is working fine. The only thing that doesn't work: 1. Repairing permissions, and this does not in any way put your system at any risk. It simply fails to start, but then AppleJack continues to operate as normal, including in auto/AUTO mode, going on to the next task. I would say that despite the fact that this script is "obsolete", and superseded by the recovery partition in Lion and above, it is still a very useful tool to keep in your Mac troubleshooting and maintenance arsenal. In particular, and I have mentioned this before, but the clearing of caches when in single-user mode is a much more thorough approach than what Yasu, Onyx, TinkerTool System, and other trusted apps provide. Despite the program being "broken", I'm still giving it 5-stars across the board, and sending out a huge THANK YOU to it's former developer, Kristofer Widholm. He provided us with an invaluable tool that kept our machines in shape for many years. Please don't consider this blasphemy, but in terms of the larger Apple and specific Mac community, all I want to say to Kristofer is, thank you for your service.
Tlance
Tlance
Oct 24 2013
1.6
0.0
Oct 24 2013
0.0
Version: 1.6
Working here on Mavericks! I did not test Permissions as I haven't trusted that in several versions. But all other functions looked perfectly fine.
Pixelbender
Pixelbender
Jul 26 2013
1.6
5.0
Jul 26 2013
5.0
Version: 1.6
I've been administering & maintaining Macs for over 20 years. I consider Applejack, and the combination of Applejack and Memtest absolutely essential for troubleshooting Snow Leopard (& earlier) machines. I can't comment on Lion or above. Yet, from this forum it looks like some have used it with success. Cheers to the developer for all his work over the past many years. It's distressing that Apple has configured the new OSX so as to render this tool difficult to update. I have contributed through Paypal to the developer and I certainly will continue to do so if someone else picks up the project. For those of us who still have a 10.6 volume, I highly recommend Applejack.
Gaberdine
Gaberdine
Jun 18 2013
1.6
5.0
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Version: 1.6
From 10.4 through to 10.6 AppleJack has save my mac more times than I care to admit. I has never crashed or failed in its task. AppleJack is quite simply the Boss. Do not pay attention to the *morons* below who gave half a star because the dev has finally ceased work on the project after years of excellent work and support - all for free. He only stopped because: a) Lion already had a recovery partition built in, and b) Apple won't answer enquiries about changes to Single User Mode. So. If you have 10.7 or above you probably don't need AppleJack and it is not designed to work beyond 10.6.8... unless you know what you are doing, leave it alone. MacUpdate should "update" their information accordingly. But anybody still running an OSX machine up to and including 10.6.8 should install this for emergencies and rate it 5 stars. Then see about making a donation to the dev...
pa-geographer
pa-geographer
Jun 18 2013
1.6
5.0
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Version: 1.6
The developer officially ended all work as of Jan 28, 2013. Read his post on Sourceforge here (scroll to near the bottom): http://sourceforge.net/p/applejack/discussion/271611/thread/e2bee929/ The source code is available if anyone wants to develop it further. That being said, if you're still using Snow Leopard or earlier, the last "official" version, 1.6, works very well. Highly recommended.
Neal
Neal
Feb 10 2020
5.0
Feb 10 2020
5.0
Version: null
Eric•Woehler
Eric•Woehler
Jul 22 2017
4.0
Jul 22 2017
4.0
Version: null
cdutill
cdutill
Feb 4 2017
2.5
Feb 4 2017
2.5
Version: null
Zarquon
Zarquon
Nov 25 2016
4.0
Nov 25 2016
4.0
Version: null
Svenster
Svenster
Apr 1 2016
5.0
Apr 1 2016
5.0
Version: null
fwilkinson
fwilkinson
Nov 2 2015
0.5
Nov 2 2015
0.5
Version: null
brentlousm
brentlousm
Jul 26 2015
3.5
Jul 26 2015
3.5
Version: null
tnskeef
tnskeef
Mar 3 2015
3.0
Mar 3 2015
3.0
Version: null
Bronzit
Bronzit
Apr 19 2014
5.0
Apr 19 2014
5.0
Version: null
Desterwallaboo
Desterwallaboo
Feb 27 2014
5.0
Feb 27 2014
5.0
Version: null
Marcossi
Marcossi
Jan 16 2014
5.0
Jan 16 2014
5.0
Version: null
Apple-27'
Apple-27'
Dec 25 2013
5.0
Dec 25 2013
5.0
Version: null
SickTeddyBear
SickTeddyBear
Oct 28 2013
5.0
Oct 28 2013
5.0
Version: null
Pixelbender
Pixelbender
Jul 26 2013
5.0
Jul 26 2013
5.0
Version: null
Gaberdine
Gaberdine
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Version: null
pa-geographer
pa-geographer
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Jun 18 2013
5.0
Version: null
Foulger
Foulger
Dec 28 2012
0.5
Dec 28 2012
0.5
Version: null
Penguirl
Penguirl
Dec 21 2012
5.0
Dec 21 2012
5.0
Version: null
Svetlin-Staikov
Svetlin-Staikov
Nov 20 2012
5.0
Nov 20 2012
5.0
Version: null
Sleek
Sleek
Nov 15 2012
5.0
Nov 15 2012
5.0
Version: null
pjonesCET1
pjonesCET1
Oct 28 2012
0.5
Oct 28 2012
0.5
Version: null
pjonesCET
pjonesCET
Sep 6 2012
0.5
Sep 6 2012
0.5
Version: null
Brian-tully
Brian-tully
Aug 3 2012
4.5
Aug 3 2012
4.5
Version: null
Bigboysdad
Bigboysdad
Jul 30 2012
5.0
Jul 30 2012
5.0
Version: null
Phoenix1506
Phoenix1506
Jul 23 2012
1.0
Jul 23 2012
1.0
Version: null
Aargl
Aargl
Apr 30 2012
5.0
Apr 30 2012
5.0
Version: null
vSeven
vSeven
Feb 27 2012
4.0
Feb 27 2012
4.0
Version: null
Scottlep
Scottlep
Dec 7 2011
5.0
Dec 7 2011
5.0
Version: null
gbdoc
gbdoc
Nov 2 2011
5.0
Nov 2 2011
5.0
Version: null
MacBloke
MacBloke
Sep 11 2011
5.0
Sep 11 2011
5.0
Version: null
FreakyTJ
FreakyTJ
Sep 9 2011
5.0
Sep 9 2011
5.0
Version: null
Shk747
Shk747
Sep 7 2011
5.0
Sep 7 2011
5.0
Version: null
umaromc
umaromc
Aug 31 2011
5.0
Aug 31 2011
5.0
Version: null
Maccog
Maccog
Aug 31 2011
5.0
Aug 31 2011
5.0
Version: null
mam28
mam28
Jul 24 2011
5.0
Jul 24 2011
5.0
Version: null
Kana01
Kana01
Jul 13 2011
5.0
Jul 13 2011
5.0
Version: null
ecdltf
ecdltf
Jul 6 2011
5.0
Jul 6 2011
5.0
Version: null
Dokter-mac
Dokter-mac
Jun 24 2011
5.0
Jun 24 2011
5.0
Version: null
duff
duff
Apr 7 2011
4.5
Apr 7 2011
4.5
Version: null
Amcarter3
Amcarter3
Mar 23 2011
4.5
Mar 23 2011
4.5
Version: null
Free
Absolutely Free
Application is not under development & not supported.

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