Using the Command Line to install or upgrade the Starterkit may require you to take an extra step to change and reset permissions on the sites folder and settings.php file.
DURING DRUPAL INSTALLATION:
sudo chown -R www-data sites
(gives you permission to set the permissions on the sites/default files)sudo chgrp -R webdev sites
(makes the webdev group have write access)sudo chmod -R 775 sites
(changes permissions back after install)
For Mac users - Command Line tools can be found here: ss64.com/osx/