Mac OS X 10.3.7 (#4): More on FireWire problems, solutions; Slow network/application launch/system startup fixes; more

What to do if you left a FireWire drive connected during the update and had problems In its release notes for Mac OS X 10.3.7, Apple explained that users should disconnect any FireWire drives before applying the update. Unfortunately, a number of readers did not follow this procedure, and as a result have either lost data or found their drives unable to mount.

Some users have been able to solve this problem by re-applying the most recent firmware update for their FireWire drive (check your drive manufacturer's Web site for the latest release).

One MacFixIt reader writes:

"Forgot to disconnect my LaCie FireWire (Porsche Design) 160 GB drive during 10.3.6- 10.3.7 update and it appears that I scrambled the up-to-date firmware that I had recently installed on, and which was working fine with, 10.3.6. DiskWarrior (DW) was initially used to clear up things (several runs) but had only one successful mounting of the LaCie at start-up. After that, only dialogue screens informing me of the 'unknown' status of the LaCie. I then re-installed the firmware update (which the LaCie readily accepted!) erased and zeroed out the LaCie, and then restored my files in a cloning fashion using SD. So far so good as I write this from a LaCie boot. With the one good mount after using DW, one might want to rescue files before erasing the drive, or simply try the firmware update and then use DW. 2004 PM 2G Dual, 2.5 G RAM, OS 10.3.7, current versions of SD, DW and LaCie firmware.

Others have found that this problem affects FireWIre devices other than hard drives. In some cases, the problem can be resolved simply by using Apple's Disk Utility to repair permissions.

One reader writes:

"I didn't think/realize that "external hard drive" would mean my firewire Que CD/RW, so I left it attached (and a CD presumably mounted) on a 10.3.5 -> 10.3.7 upgrade.

"On reboot, no mount.

"Repair Permissions on the drive found /System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util with missing setuid perms (was 0755, s/b 4755), and fixed it. [...] All good after the reboot."

Slow startup and routers As previously reported, slow startup times experienced by a number of Mac OS X 10.3.7 upgraders may be network related. In Ken Marks' case, the issue was resolved by switching his system's IP address to the one assigned by his router:

"Apparently those experiencing the problem are using a some sort of router. In TCP/IP settings change from DHCP to Manual and enter the IP address assigned to your computer by the router. All other settings that need to be entered should appear when you switch. Note that DHCP with manual address does not work as the router address is not entered."

Slow network performance (Mail.app, Safari startup slowly) We previously reported severe network slow-downs for a number of systems upgraded to Mac OS X 10.3.7. This issue can cause an array of other problems including slow startup for network-enabled applications and slow startup for Mac OS X itself.

A number of potential solutions exist -- unfortunately some of them are conflicting. For instance, some users have found that manually entering DNS servers in the TCP/IP tab of the Network pane in System Preferences results in faster network operation; others have found that deleting any present DNS numbers does the same.

Try each of the below solutions, preserving your previous settings (except in the case of a firmware update) each time:

Entering anything (or real numbers) in the DNS field Some users have found that putting anything in the DNS field of the Network pane in System Preferences resolves the issue. Marcin Kotas "If you have DHCP chosen as method of TCP/IP config, you have to put anything in field Search Domains,virtually anything - in my case mistakingly putting DNS server helped, and when i corrected that all failed again. So i put something like 'aaaaaaa' and it works flawlessly right now."

Others have been able resolve the issue by entering real DNS numbers (as previously noted, a fix that also worked for many readers experiencing the Safari "multiple-try" bug we covered a few weeks ago).

Paul Hathcoat writes "After installing Mac OS X 10.3.7 on my G5 Tower, Mail was taking up to 2 minutes to launch. As Ray Landsiedel reported 12/18/04 that he fixed this issue by manually entering DNS server addresses in the Network prefs, I tried this after several other fix tries didn't help. Manually entering the DNS server addresses solved it for me. Mail now opens almost instantly."

Deleting DNS numbers For some readers, previously specified DNS numbers had to be deleted before normal network operation could take place. This is likely a result of Apple's attempt to fix significant DNS resolution issues that occurred under Mac OS X 10.3.6.

One reader writes

"After installing OS X 10.3.7 on one of my machines, I experienced extreme slow-down of network applications.

"Then I turned off the built-in internet (from the Network System Preference panel) and instantly all speeds were back to normal. Turning the built-in internet back on made the problem recur. Then I had the bright idea to delete the IP addresses of the two DNS servers I had put into the Network Pref panel to deal with the Safari problems of old. With no DNS servers named, Eudora works normally. Once again, putting explicit DNS server addresses in causes the mammoth slowdown. (My machine is one of three sitting behind an Airport Extreme router to the outside world, getting its IP address by DHCP.)

"So I now just let the system figure out DNS lookup however it wants to, and I am happy again (now that I have a usable mail client)."

Updating firmware Make sure your router or other network adapter is running the latest firmware. One reader found that doing so resolved slow network-application launches:

"I installed Mac OS X 10.3.7 on my G4 iBook this weekend and immediately noticed the slowdown in my internet connection via AirPort. Additionally, Safari, Mail and any other application that required a network connection launched very slowly. Having read several suggested fixes of which none worked for me, I decided to check the firmware on my Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router. Sure enough, there was a more recent version (3.01.3). Once I updated the router, overall speed was restored and even improved from the pre 10.3.7 state. Of note, the new Linksys firmware included improved wireless drivers."

Remove network mounts Erick Hortolan found that removing automatically mounting network links (in the left-hand column of a standard Finder window) resolved this issue:

"We found a good solution as slow startup or the finder having the beach Ball at startup. Remove all the shortcut of network folder (a folder on a server) added on the left column of a finder window."

Disabling all extraneous ports A workaround previously reported for other network problems has proved successful for Mac OS X 10.3.7-related networking issues: Disabling any network ports that are not being used. This is accomplished by selecting "Network Port Configurations" from the "Show:" pull-down menu in the Network pane of System Preferences and unchecking any ports not in use.

George Regan confirms "I ran the update on two Macs: An iMac DV , and a 12" G-4 Powerbook. Powerbook - no problem. My iMac however suffered significant delay at startup. In 'Network Port Configurations' I had Airport, Ethernet, and Modem all enabled. I turned off all BUT Airport (which is the only connection I use regularly.) Now My iMac starts up faster than before the update."

Calculator Bug MacFixIt reader Scott Rose reports a bug in Calculator, which we have confirmed in-house:

"In Apple's Calculator program in 10.3.7, there is a bug. Not sure if this was present in earlier versions of Panther.

"If you choose any option underneath the "Speak" menu (either 'Speak Total' or 'Speak Button Pressed') and then QUIT out of Calculator, the next time you launch calculator, the calculator will not appear at all!

"The workaround for this is to uncheck all the options underneath the 'Speak' menu, quit Calculator, and relaunch it again."

Unresolved issues

Kernel panic during dial-up A reader writes "Mac OS X 10.3.7 has not resolved an issue that causes frequent kernel panics when initiating a dialup modem connect (every 15-20 connections). This issue first emerged with Security Update 2004-09-30 and Mac OS X 10.3.5, and continued with 10.3.6, and now 10.3.7. So far the issue is only resolvable by downgrading to Mac OS X 10.3.4.

"Thermal Runaway" Another reader hoped Mac OS X 10.3.7 would eliminate previously reported "thermal runaway" events that can trigger kernel panics and other issues for Power Mac G5s:

"I was hoping that this firmware update would solve my 'thermal runaway' events, but it hasn't."

Resolved issues

Confirmation of DNS lookup fix One of the biggest issues under Mac OS X 10.3.6 was an inability to find Web sites or other network locations on the first attempt due to an issue with DNS service. Apple notes this as a problem that has been fixed by Mac OS X 10.3.7, and several users have since confirmed:

"This version fixed (I think) a problem that may have occurred when I upgraded to Mac OS X10.3.6. The problem was that in Internet Explorer, when I clicked on a link anywhere on the internet, I got an alert that the specified page or server could not be found. When I double clicked on a link, then it worked. The new upgrade seems to have fixed that problem for me. Sometimes I get an alert about the http not being found when I am doing online banking, but that may not be related."

Fan/battery issues MacFixIt reader Onno reports that his PowerBooks is exhibiting longer battery run-times and less fan activity after the update:

"For the first time I have used my 1 GHz PowerBook, the fans have not come on after hours of use, the two year old machine, which use to run for about an hour and a half on its most energy efficient settings, including the backlight all the way down, now runs for three and a half hours, full backlighting and its cool to touch, the fans do not come on. Its just amazing, after the two years of lamenting that this was one noisy powerbook without battery life (compared to my pismo), I find that all I now hear is the hard drive. Way to go Apple, what a pleasant surprise. I feel like I have a new PowerBook.

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