Updates not installing - but go through the motions of installing

[galstaph]

So I am on 10.11.2 and am getting some weird issues. The app store keeps telling me I have updates I go through installing them and then restart and they are back - the install log shows the install, the programs don't update and the update still exists.
I have never seen this before - went though permissions, disk cleanups, clearing app store caches and trying in safe mode - about to do a restore as a last ditch before looking at wiping disk fresh.
Any ideas on how to get this working? Anyone had this issue?
I also cannot open terminal, and I uninstalled imovie and have a stuck update loop for it as well

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dianeoforegon]

If you can boot from the Recovery Drive, I would run Disk Utility > Repair Drive on your internal drive first to verify the drive does not have issues.

Boot into the Recovery Drive by holding down Command R when restarting.

If your drive is OK, download the full El Capitan installer. In Mac App Store under Purchases tab find El Capitan and select to download. You'll get a window with "would you like to continue? Click on Continue.

 

[Fishrrman]

I would try downloading the 10.11.4 combo update installer and run that.

You can do this WITHOUT opening the "App Store" application.

Download from here:
https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1869?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

It will download as an "installer app", just double-click to run it.