Mac OS X 10.3.5 (#2): Disk mounting; Bluetooth devices will not pair; Sleep issues; Safari problems; more
Mac OS X 10.3.5 (#2): Disk mounting; Bluetooth devices will not pair; Sleep issues; Safari problems; more
We'll be posting updates on Mac OS X 10.3.5 throughout the day as they come in
Smooth upgrade for most For most users (especially those who followed our recommended upgrade procedure or used the combo updater right off the bat), Mac OS X 10.3.5 has proved one of the most problem-free incremental updates in recent history.
Some typical responses from readers who have had a trouble-free installation:
- Phil Page writes "Updated this morning, as yet no problems with anything. Been working in various applications, printing, networking all seem fine. If anything system seems a little more responsive. PowerMac G5 1.8, 20" Cinema Display.
- Owen Gerrard writes: "I noticed 10.3.5 in Software Update this morning and as usual I decided not to grab it from there but downloaded the Combo Update from the Support Downloads section of Apple.com. Installed fine with no problems, machine booted back up smoothly. Just running Repair Permissions now to make sure all is perfect. No problems running my usual apps (Mail, Safari, iTunes, MSN Messenger 4, Preview) and no problems with SMB or AFP networking. If anything, networking seems quicker than normal (browsing and copying), although this is anecdotal at present."
Still, several issues have cropped up.
Disks and disk images cannot mount Some readers have reported problems mounting disks and disk images after applying the Mac OS X 10.3.5 update.
One reader writes "I insert the disc and it spins up for a second then stops and refuses to mount. This has happened with my TiBk G4 500 (DVD) and my iMac G3 400 (CD) After repairing permissions with Disk Utility it comes up with the same problems with /System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. (sorry, forgot the error code) but it doesn't seem to make any difference. System Profiler sees the drive but nothing shows up on the desktop. Rebooting in OS9 sees the disc. Booting in X doesn't. I can still boot off my 10.3 disc but only from startup with the option key down."
As previously reported, though the Finder cannot see mounted volumes and disk images in some cases, many users are able to open and manipulate files on the problematic volumes/images using Terminal.app.
For some users, deleting certain system caches can resolve the issue. This can be accomplished with a shareware tool like Cocktail.
As far as which specific files need to be deleted, many users have reported success with the following combination:
- Delete the file called /System/Library/Extension.kextcache
- Delete the folder called /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/
The system needs to be restarted after deleting these files.
In some cases deleting specific preference files can resolve the issue; these include: com.apple.LaunchServices.plist in ~/Library/Preferences/ (username/Library/Preferences) all files with 'com.apple.LaunchServices.*' in ~/Library/Caches.
Sometimes, for reasons unknown, certain options in the Finder preferences (located in the menu Finder>Preferences>Sidebar or Finder>Preferences>General when the Finder is the active application) can become unchecked. Make sure to check this area and see if any items are specified to not show on the desktop or in the Finder sidebar.
Problems with Microsoft Intellimouse, re-installation solves Some readers have had problems with their Microsoft Intellimouse losing its settings and behaving like a standard Apple mouse.
One reader writes "The two side button for forward and backward for browser do not work and in the intellipoint control panel the mouse icon (on the buttons panel) has a large red X. ( Intellipoint mouse 5.0)"
In this particular reader's case, and probably others', re-installing the Intellipoint 5.0 software can resolve the issue.
Bluetooth devices: Wireless mouse no longer working, solution Mac OS X 10.3.5 includes changes to the Bluetooth connectivity mechanism. As such, some users have reported a problem with an inability to use Bluetooth devices.
One MacFixIt reader writes "I'm having a problem with 10.3.5. New Powerbook 17" 1.5. 1GB RAM, 128MB ATI Radeon. My Apple bluetooth mouse will be discovered but it will not pair. Apple bluetooth keyboard is fine. Dont know what the problem is."
In many cases, running the "Wireless Mouse Updater" application, located in Applications/Utilities on a standard installation, will resolve this issue. After running this application, attempt to pair the problematic device again.
Black screen on unsupported (XPostFacto) systems, solution MacFixIt reader Bob Gallant writes "I have a beige G3 desktop. Since I have an unsupported system, I used XPostFacto to update from 10.2.8 to 10.3. After loading 10.3, which went very easily, I updated to 10.3.4 which also sent without a hitch. I just updated to 10.3.5 and had a problem.
"After updating to 10.3.5, I used Disk Utility to fix permissions. The display went to a black screen part-way through, and the computer quit. I forced a restart. I recalled that this same problem occurred after updating to 10.2.8 from 10.2.6."
Fortunately, Gallant was able to solve the issue with the aid of Knowledge Base article #25564, "Mac OS X 10.2.8: Blue or Dark Screen After Updating."
This article discusses how to move the file, "ATIDriver.bundle" out of the /System/Library/Extensions/AppleNDR folder to remove the problem.
Gallant writes "I did so and again, it worked this time. This may be a problem peculiar to the beige G3."
Problems sleeping, shutting down One of the most commonly reported issues is an inability to enter Sleep after the Mac OS X 10.3.5 upgrade. Most users affected by this issue are on PowerMac G5s.
Dean Hare writes "I updated from 10.3.4 via Software Update to 10.3.5 on my PM G5/1.8 1.5GB of RAM last night. I followed the steps you recommended before installing the update, running DiskWarrior 3.0.1 then Repairing Permissions. Next ran Software Update and installed 10.3.5 and the Security Update it also had, then Repaired Permissions again. I checking things over everything seems fine except it won't go into Sleep Mode properly. My 20" Apple Display goes black, but the light on the display or G5 doesn't pulse and the fan keeps going, and it doesn't matter how I put it to sleep. I booted up from my G5 volume backup hard drive still running 10.3.4, and Sleep Mode works fine. I have since run TechTool 4.01, DiskWarrior 3.0.1, and Repaired Permissions from the G5 install disk, but didn't help."
Mark Hiser corroborates "After installing the 10.3.5 update my G5 will not sleep."
Some users are also having problems shutting down. MacFixIt reader Dellano writes "My G5 does not shut down any more from the menu bar since I performed the update."
There are a number of workarounds you can try if this issue appears on your machine after the Mac OS X 10.3.5
- First, try applying the Mac OS X 10.3.5 combo updater if you did not do so on your first round of installation.
- Disconnect any non-essential USB and FireWire devices and re-attempt sleep. In fact, you may want to try temporarily disconnecting your keyboard and mouse as well and inducing sleep via your Mac's power button. In many cases, once you are successful with sleep the first time, you can reconnect USB and other devices and experience proper sleep from that point forth.
- Try disconnecting any network ports, including any active Ethernet connections.
- Attempt to induce sleep twice. That is, when the first attempt to sleep fails, trying pressing the power button -- or accessing the Apple Menu sleep option -- a second time.
- Reset PRAM and NVRAM as explained in Apple Knowledge Base article #2238
Safari problems Several users are reporting connectivity or interface problems in the new version of Safari included with Mac OS X 10.3.5:
One reader writes "After updating to 10.3.5 on a B&W G3 400, Safari does not bring up a page on startup as it usually does. The main menu is at the top, but when I select 'New Window' nothing happens. All my bookmarks are still there, but they don't bring up a new page either. Help!
MacFixIt reader Daniel writes "Since updating to 10.3.5, Safari stalls out not letting me get to many pages I regularly visit."
Some users are also reporting problems with the shareware utility SAFT. One reader writes "I had no problems except with SAFT. Hao Li (creator of SAFT) had sent an update to SAFT earlier in the day, which was working fine. Then, when I upgraded to 10.3.5 (and Safari 125.9 came along for the ride), SAFT would not work (the update states that it requires Safari 125.7 or 125.8). Otherwise, everything seems to be better. Safari loads pages faster and seems much snappier. (By the way, I emailed Hao Li about the problem and am waiting for his reply)."
UPDATE: A new version of SAFT has now been released that includes compatibility for Mac OS X 10.3.5 and the new version of Safari (v125.9)
MarkSpace causing crashes MacFixIt reader Anson reports problems with his MarkSpace synchronization software after the update:
"I run MarkSpace software to sync my Sony Clie UX-50. After I click the 'Data Import' button on the PDA, I get the Black screen/Dark screen crash-screen appearing, prompting a restart on my Titanium 800 MHz DVI PowerBook."
If you are having this problem you may want to try using the normal Hotsync function, which is still working for most.
.Jumpy cursor Gary D'Atrio reports a "jumpy" cursor after his update to Mac OS X 10.3.5:
"Just installed the update this morning and now I have a 'nervous' cursor. Even though the mouse is not moving, the cursor on the screen jitters back and forth slightly. It does not do it all the time and I can live with it for most function. But it is terrible when trying to do a precise drawing in Adobe Illustrator."
In some cases this issue can be resolved by simply temporarily disconnecting a USB-based mouse and then reconnecting it.
Loss of display resolutions A few users report loss of some high resolutions after applying the update.
Rich Fortnum writes "Just installed. Resolutions on both of my monitors (dual card) has reduced to 1600 from 1920. "
This problem could be related to the following mention in Apple's Mac OS X 10.3.5 release notes: "improved Open GL technology and updated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers" and has appeared with previous incremental updates, including Mac OS X 10.3.4.
Resetting PRAM and VRAM can sometimes resolve this issue.
You may also want to try deleting the file:
- /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist
and restarting.
Finally, you may want to try using the shareware utility SwitchResX to force a switch into the desired resolution
Function key constantly active Dirk Prescott reports that his function key is constantly active after the update:
"After upgrading to 10.3.5 over software update (it was only a 22.9MB download) my 867Mhz 12" PowerBook thinks that the function key is being held down all the time."
Apply combo update Many of the aforementioned problems may be solved by applying the Mac OS X 10.3.5 combo updater, which is available from http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosxcombinedupdate_10_3_5_.html.
Reverting to Mac OS X 10.3.4 If problems that appear with Mac OS X 10.3.5 update are too severe, and repairing permissions, applying the combo updater, and other suggestions mentioned in this article fail, you may need to revert to Mac OS X 10.3.4.
Your best bet in this scenario is to perform an archive and install process from the Panther CD, and then re-apply the Mac OS X 10.3.4 combo updater.
Server update links Though the links are broken in some areas on Apple's support site, there are server update packages available on the Web:
Combo updater now available through Software Update? It appears that Apple is making the Mac OS X 10.3.5 combo updater available through Software Update for users who are running Mac OS X 10.3.3 or earlier.
One user writes "I'm running 10.3.3, and Software Update shows me 'Mac OS X Update Combined - 10.3.5.' Software Update is apparently going to give me the Combo Update!"
The Mac OS X 10.3.5 combo updater available through Software Update for Mac OS X 10.3.3 users is approximately 45 MB in size, while the version-to-version upgrade (Mac OS X 10.3.4 --> Mac OS X 10.3.5) is about 23 MB in size. However, the full combo updater (which will bring any version of Mac OS X 10.3.x to Mac OS X 10.3.5) is about 85 MB in size.
ImprovementsPerformance George Brownstone writes "Overall performance seems a bit improved, 'crisper' somehow: faster boot, faster loading of apps, and faster loading of web pages. The latter may result from what seems to be a small but significant improvement in AirPort Extreme signal reception, which is not mentioned in the KB article: from a dismal 2 bars-to-zero bars (from where my machine usually sits), it's now up to a steady 2 to 3 bars.
Several other users corroborate, noting "snappier" performance and increased networking speed.
Hiding Classic apps Scott Kendall "One thing that I did note was the Apple-H seems to hide classic apps now. I don't think it did that before 10.3.5."
Issues still existing
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.PNG graphics One reader notes that neither Safari, nor Preview will accurately render PNG grey in Mac OS X 10.3.5 and previous versions.
An example is posted at: http://soli.inav.net/~johnh/SafariColorIssue/
Several third-party graphics viewers and Web browsers are able to display the color properly.
Image Capture and Nikon cameras Adam North writes "Image capture still can't retrieve Nikon NEF raw Photos from my Nikon D70 Camera after 10.3.5 update even. I have been waiting since March for Image capture to able to retrieve my Nikon NEF raw Photos from my Nikon D70 Camera. So I guess I still have to use Nikon software to retrieve Nikon NEF raw Photos from my Nikon D70 Camera."
For more information on Mac OS X 10.3.5 problems and solutions, see our special report on the update.
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