Mac OS X 10.3.7 (#8): More on Slow startup; DAVE 5.1 issues; Possible fix for printing issues; more

More on Slow startup We've covered a number of slow startup instances under Mac OS X 10.3.7, and have a few more to report today,

One reader describes a startup stall that occurs before any core system services begin loading:

"First, as I startup the iMac it goes fine until it hits the gray-apple-loading-screen where it begins to move much slower than usual, accompanied by a quick series of grinds grind-grind-grind pause grind-grind-grind pause grind-grind-grind, and so on until it hits the loader screen with the blue bar. At this point it makes it about halfway through the bar, and then it will pause and the grind sequence begins again for about two minutes. It then goes through and loads my background and looks to be loading the desktop fine, when it hits this grind sequence once more. Then finally it loads completely."

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Mark reports that turning his AirPort card off reduced long startup times:

"As others have found, after installing 10.3.7 update on my B&W (G4 550 upgrade) I began to have startup times as long as 2 minutes. Clearing the caches, etc. did not fix the problem. I have a snow Airport, and found that when I have the Airport turned off, the system boots normally as before. I have 5 separate accounts on this computer, and with airport on and connected to the internet I can log out and log back in as any account with no startup problems as long as the airport connection has not dropped. If the connection drops while no one is logged into the computer, the startup time lag comes back. I have read elsewhere that there is some problem with the system looking for an ethernet connection. In short, I find that leaving airport off has solved my slow startup problem."

DAVE 5.1 issues MacFixIt reader Gabriel Dorado reports some issues with DAVE 5.1 under Mac OS X 10.3.7, as well as a workaround:

"Dave 5.1 may prevent Mac OS X 10.3.7 (not 10.3.5 or earlier versions) to show the login window and further proceed booting. You are left with the "blue screen" and mouse pointer for ever. This happens on some Mac models only. You must press the power button to bring up the booting window (restart or shut down). Rebooting does not fix this problem.

Possible fix for printing issues MacFixIt reader Matt reports that he was able to resolve some previously reported printing issues under Mac OS X 10.3.7 by performing a PMU reset:

"I seem to have stumbled on a fix for my printing issues that developed after upgrading to 10.3.7. My wife had the same issues on her iBook G3, that I had on my Powerbook G4.

"We both did a PMU reset (shift control option power with computer off... Wait some seconds then power on) and now we can print fine.

"It was quite odd. I tried to print a text file after the update and it just hung at the 'printing screen.' After I did a PMU reset and logged back into the PBG4 for the first time after the PMU reset, my networked printer fired up and printed the item I sent from 2 days ago!"

DVD/CD recognition problems: More solutions We continue to cover an issue where users are unable to mount or burn CDs and DVDs after applying the Mac OS X 10.3.7 update.

For some users, it appears that the option to show removable devices in the Finder sidebar or on the desktop has been inexplicably turned off during the update to Mac OS X 10.3.7. This is an issue that has occurred with previous incremental Mac OS X updates. MacFixIt reader Philippe Simon writes:

"Recently (certainly since update 10.3.7, but i did not check immediately), an external firewire hard drive is not recognized on my PowerBook. I tried different solutions and noticed in general preferences of the finder 'show these options on the desktop' that the option 'CD, DVD and iPod' was unselected. I am sure that i did not unselect it myself and that the modification was introduced by the update; this could eventually explain why certain users don't see their CD and DVD on the desktop."

In order to turn check whether or not this option is turned off, open the Finder's preferences (located under its Application menu) and click "General." Look to see if the options under "Show these Items on the Desktop" are active. Then click "Sidebar," and make sure the items you'd like to appear on the desktop are selected.

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Steve was able to get proper operation with an alternative drive:

"Since the upgrade I get constant "Hangs" when using Dvd player and or Itunes. I am unable to eject the disc and the beachball of death becomes a regular feature, the only solution has been to shut down using the power button as normal shut down stopped working. I am using a 1.6 G5 with an internal LaCie dvd burner(Itunes supported) that worked great until this upgrade.

"I have solved the problem to a point by removing the LaCie and putting in a Sony 710A dvd drive which is not supported by iTunes but seems fine with everything else including ejecting and shut down, plus no beachballs. This may be because there is no software on the system relating to this particular drive that can be stuffed by the new upgrade. I can now only burn using a third party program i.e. Roxio Toast but can't burn my iTunes purchased music for playing in standard CD players (car)."

We've also received some more reports of CD recording problems -- particularly with sessions burned under Mac OS X 10.3.7 not being recognized:

"After updating to 10.3.7 my G5's internal DVR-106D won't mount CD-Rs burned on it, although they open fine on my external CD drives. Sessions burned prior to the update open while sessions on the same disk burned after the date will not. Vexing indeed."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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