Mac OS X 10.3.8 (#2): Increased G5 fan activity; Problems installing through Software Update; more
Mac OS X 10.3.8 (#2): Increased G5 fan activity; Problems installing through Software Update; more
Increased G5 fan activity Though it's not the first time this issue has appeared in conjunction with a major system upgrade from Apple, a surprisingly high number of readers are reporting dramatically increased fan activity on their PowerMac G5 systems after applying Mac OS X 10.3.8.
James Reid writes: "I installed Mac OS X 10.3.8 combo update after repairing permissions. I notice while logging in after restart that my fans revved up like they do when the processor is under heavy load. This was weird. I never had this happen before. The fans have since revved up several times while doing various things that did not do this before the update. I opened up the Activity Monitor to see if my processors were being heavily taxed."
Mark adds "I have the first model Dual 2 GHz G5. The computer has never been a problem but ever since upgrading to 10.3.8 the fans rev up much more often than they used to. It was immediately apparent after installing the update and restarting. The fan is now kicking into high gear for about 30 seconds whenever I launch any app."
Craig Hein continues "Since installing the 10.3.8 update on my G5 2x2, I am noticing that it is cycling the fans up to turboprop mode every couple of minutes or so, and lasting for a few seconds. This is a noticeable change in behavior from 10.3.7, as the fans hardly ever cycled up to an audible volume. I used the full combo installer, and repaired disk permissions both before and after running the update, and am running the same programs I had been all day prior to running the update."
No FireWire warning, no issues When Apple released the last incremental update to Panther (Mac OS X 10.3.7), it included a warning we have long advocated on MacFixIt: Before applying the update, disconnect all FireWire devices, then reconnect them when the update has been applied an the system is restarted.
No such warning accompanied the release of Mac OS X 10.3.8, and fortunately, this reflects a general lack of issues with FireWire devices associated with the update. We've yet to receive any substantial, corroborated FireWire issues associated with Mac OS X 10.3.8.
Problems installing through Software Update Like the recent iPhoto 5.0.1 release, a number of readers are having problems installing Mac OS X 10.3.8 through Software update, receiving the message "
MacFixIt reader Peter Richard writes:
"I chose the software update route on my G4 Cube 450. But when the progress bar is halfway (downloading is finished) it complains it can't expand the update and to check permission on /tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate (of course, it didn't tell what it should be but at least I had a name, which one often doesn't get with other OS'es). I had run repair permissions before hand. So i checked for /tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, no such directory. I then mkdir the directory and gave it the same permissions, owner etc. as its parent. And tried again, and got the same message. So then I set the ownership to root, instead of the admin user. Still the same message. I've never had this problem with Software Update before."
The easiest workaround is simply to use either the delta or combination standalone downloads for Mac OS X 10.3.8, listed below.
- Mac OS X Update 10.3.8 [27.7MB]
- Mac OS X Update 10.3.8 (Combo) [103MB]
- Mac OS X Server Update 10.3.8 [27MB]
- Mac OS X Server Update 10.3.8 (Combo) [125MB]
Bluetooth Issues; Workaround A number of readers are reporting issues with Bluetooth connectivity after installing Mac OS X 10.3.8. MacFixIt reader Stu, for instance, writes:
"Just saw 10.3.8 up on software update. Installed it. No bluetooth after update, this on a 20" G5 iMac."
For most readers, the following procedure works to restore recognition of affected Bluetooth devices:
- Shutdown.
- Disconnect all USB devices
- Disconnect the iMac from all power for 1 minute.
- Restart.
Audio issues with PowerMac G4 MDDs returns We've previously reported extensively on a problem with the audio volume on PowerMac G4 MDD system where restarting the computer results in a much higher actual volume level, despite Mac OS X indicating no change in volume.
Users worked around this issue by pulling the file "Apple02Audio.kext" from a Mac OS X 10.3.5 installation and restarting.
Unfortunately, the issue remains unresolved in Mac OS X 10.3.8, and Mac OS X 10.3.8 will re-introduce the problem on systems that have been fixed with the older .kext replacement workaround.
Hanson Jiang writes:
"The volume problem on Power Mac G4 MDD models still exists in Mac OS X 10.3.8. After a successful update from 10.3.7, I restarted, only to find the audio problem back in full force. I thought perhaps it required the 10.3.7 Apple02Audio.kext file to update it properly, so I got it from the 10.3.7 Combo and tried updating again, to no avail. I checked file-sizes and versions, and both times, the resulting 10.3.8 Apple02Audio.kext file (version 2.5.0) was the same, and both times the volume problem existed. Once again, I am using 10.3.5's .kext (version 2.2.6), which restores normal volume behavior."
Instructions for replacing this file are as follows: The easiest way to replace this file is to simply copy it from a Mac that has not been upgraded past Mac OS X 10.3.6 and use it to replace the same file on the afflicted Mac OS X 10.3.8 system.
Alternatively, you can download the Mac OS X 10.3.5 combo updater, and use a tool like Pacifist to browse through its contents, locate the old version of Apple02Audio.kext and use it to replace the version installed by Mac OS X 10.3.8.
A word about replacing kernel extensions: Replacing kernel extensions, like the Apple02audio.kext file mentioned above, with earlier versions can cause unintended problems or a loss of some functionality included with an incremental Mac OS X update, and this method should only be used when no other workarounds are available. Make sure to keep a copy of the replaced file locally so it can be switched back in should problems arise.
Panther Cache Cleaner 2.4.6 will not launch, update to 2.4.7Panther Cache Cleaner 2.4.6 will not launch correctly under Mac OS X 10.3.8.
Users running this version will receive the message "This application will not run on this system(1038)"
In order to resolve this issue, update to latest version of Panther Cache Cleaner, 2.4.7.
Individual Device IssuesIssues with MacAlly iShock driver MacFixIt reader George Wagner reports some serious issues apparently caused by the driver for MacAlly's iShock (a programmable USB game controller).
Goerge writes:
"Downloaded the combo update and installed. On restart, my drive space dropped by almost 4GB immediately, and within minutes lost another 350MB or so. Trying to check the system log hung Console, so I suspected something was generating huge numbers of error messages. Activity Monitor showed that the MacAlly iShock driver was using as much CPU as it could get its hand on and my CPU was pegged at 100% with fan running constantly. I killed the iShock driver and deleted the (extremely) bloated system.log file. This seems to have solved the problem and the system has been stable since. I reported the broken driver to MacAlly, but I don't get the impression that they're very fast about update things."
Latest driver required for M-Audio FW410 MacFixIt reader Michael Mortilla reports that using the newest driver is imperative for proper operation of M-Audio's FW410 audio FireWire interface after installing Mac OS X 10.3.8.
Michael writes:
"After installing Mac OS X 10.3.8 today, my M-Audio FW410 stopped working.
"Last month, M-Audio updated many drivers for their excellent devices. Installing the new driver (and swapping my FireWire connector to another port) revived the FW410. Works great."
Reported Improvements
Faster DNS resolution? DNS resolution issues have dogged various incarnations of Mac OS X 10.3.x, with workarounds successful for some and not for others.
A handful of readers have reported, however, that Mac OS X 10.3.8 has improved DNS resolution performance -- and accordingly the speed of loading Web sites.
One reader writes: Safari working much faster on sites. No more 10-30 sec wait for sites to load."
Unresolved Issues
FireWire/iSight conflicts MacFixIt reader Gerald reports that FireWire/iSight device conflicts are persistent in Mac OS X 10.3.8:
Gerald writes:
"I just wanted to put in my 2 cents and advise that the issue I have with the iSight interfering with other FireWire devices (hard drive file transfers, scanner interruptions, iPod interference etc.) is still present in 10.3.8. The instant you unplug your iSight from the FireWire bus, other FireWire devices resume normal disk data transfers, be it an iPod, FireWire Hard Drive, or scanners."
If you are having a similar issue, please let us know.
Resources