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APS PowerTools 4.0.9 prevents drive from mounting?

Hal Gibson reports that on three different drives previously formatted with APS PowerTools, updating to 4.0.9 prevented the drive from mounting. Neither APS Mounter, nor Norton Utilities, nor any other SCSI Tool could get the drive to appear on the Desktop. APS told Hal to revert to 4.0.7, and reinstall drivers. Everything worked again. No word yet as to how general this problem is. Update: Bart Windrum has 4.0.9 running on his 660av with no problem at all. Several other readers are also reporting no problems. Based on another report from a reader who … Read more

PowerLogix cache conflict

According to reader Stan, PowerLogix has confirmed that there are compatibility problems with a recent build of their RapidCache 512K L2 cache cards and their Mach 8 accelerator chip. Apparently, the cache is unable to keep up with an accelerated 604/120 processor. Removing either the cache or the accelerator is a work-around. The ultimate solution is get a replacement cache from PowerLogix. Possible symptoms of this problem include: Phantom CDEF virus reports, corrupted files, and Type 11 errors.

AppleVision 1710 problems and a tip

With all the talk about the 1710 extended warranty, several readers have written to ask just what sorts of problems these monitors have. They have many (some of which are detailed in the MacFixIt Reports on AppleVision monitors). Perhaps the most serious is having the monitor screen go completely black ( as described here previously), most often immediately after recalibrating the monitor. In this regard, I have recently seen a new bit of advice about how to avoid this problem: do not move the cursor, type on the keyboard or have another program actively running while recalibrating the monitor. In any … Read more

Mac OS 7.6 fixes Performa problems?

The Performa Problems & Solutions page is tracking whether the new Mac OS 7.6 fixes any outstanding Performa-specific problems. So far, there is indication (not confirmed!) that it remedies the serial port slow downs characteristic of recent Performa models. By the way, the Performa page may need to seek a new name for itself fairly soon. According to an article in MacWEEK, Apple is getting ready to dump the Performa name (not the computers, just the name).

Norton 3.2.4 Update patch doesn't update 3.2.3

The instructions for the recently posted Norton Disk Doctor 3.2.4 Update patch say that the patch only works with NDD 3.2 and 3.2.1. However, several readers have written to say that they have NDD 3.2.3 and that the Update will not apply the patch to this version. Gene Steinberg (America Online Forum Leader, Mac Multimedia Zone) writes that Norton Utilities 3.2.3 is an international version of the program. Update: Here the official answer from Symantec's Brian Foster: "3.2.1 is the latest shipping English version of NDD. 3.… Read more

Slow network speed on newer PCI-based Macs: YARC modifies its statement

In a previous item on slow network speed with some PCI-based Macs with PCI cards installed, we quoted YARC Systems as claiming that the cause of the problem was apparently the rev. 2.8f2 boot-ROM. They have now modified this position: "Through Apple's assistance, it has been established that the cause for the Slow Network Problem is not the 2.8f2 itself. The observation that the error only occurs on machines with the 2.8f2 ROM is still valid though." Additionally, they note that not all machines with the f2 ROM revision will necessarily show the problem. … Read more

Security Update 2005-001 (#3): Software Update problems; slow app launching; Safari site problems; PHP issues; more

Cannot install via Software Update Yesterday we noted reports that some users are unable to install Security Update 2005-001 via Software Update, instead receiving the error Some of the checked updates could not be installed. Make sure you have permission to write to /tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again. (This error may also appear as The update could not be verified and expanded correctly. Make sure you have permission to write to /tmp/501/temporaryitems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again or The update "Security update 2005 001" could not be verified and expanded correctly. … Read more