Mac OS X 10.4.2 (#3): More on delayed startup -- try disabling network connections; AirPort connectivity fixes; more
Mac OS X 10.4.2 (#3): More on delayed startup -- try disabling network connections; AirPort connectivity fixes; more
More on delayed startup -- try disabling network connections Yesterday we reported that the first restart after installing Mac OS X 10.4.2 can be unusually long -- to the point where some users abort the startup process assuming the system has stalled permanently. In most cases, however, startup will proceed as normal after several minutes of waiting.
The cause for delay in some instances of this issue may be network related -- as Mac OS X tries unsuccessfully to ping an active connection. Temporarily disconnecting any ethernet cables -- then re-connecting them once Mac OS X has started up -- may resolve the delays.
One reader writes:
"If there's no cable plugged into the Ethernet port, it won't go through this process. If you find this happening even when there's no cable plugged into the Ethernet port, it could be because OS X is looking at your Airport connection, trying to establish a connection to a network. I don't know what the fix for that would be, other than to wait it out--the stall usually doesn't recur."
AirPort connectivity fixes We previously noted that a number of readers report losing AirPort/WiFi connectivity -- i.e. installed AirPort cards or third-party wireless adapters are no longer recognized or cannot connect to network properly -- after installing Mac OS X 10.4.2.
Many users receive the message "An error occurred. Could not connect to (name of network)" when attempting to join an 802.11x adapter (including AirPort and AirPort Express base stations).
One potential workaround -- which has worked when this problem appeared with previous iterations of Mac OS X and various security updates -- involves reverting to older version of the AirPort kernel extensions.
This can be accomplished by first downloading the shareware utility Pacifist, then obtaining the AirPort 4.1 updater package.
Use Pacifist to open the AirPort 4.1 package, and extract the following files:
- AppleAirPort.kext
- AppleAirPort2.kext
- AppleAirPort3.kext
Place these same files in the /System/Library/Extensions folder, replacing the old copies (you will be asked for your administrator password) and restart. You may need to repair permissions using Apple's Disk Utility (located in Applications/Utilities after restarting).
Crisp Hues is one MacFixIt reader who had success with this workaround:
"My original problem was AirPort causing my wireless network (Linksys WRT56G router and adapter) to stop working after 10.4.2 on my G5 dual 1.8 tower. The fix I've used is to downgrade to the AppleAirPort.kext and AppleAirPort2.kext files to the ones the ones that came with 10.4.1. and then repairing permissions. I got these files from the Apple Support Forums. Don't have the link anymore. It worked. Probably not a fantastic solution but seems good until Apple addresses this problem."
Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Arno reports that you may need to delete then re-establish any encrypted AirPort network configurations in order to take advantage of Mac OS X 10.4.2's enhanced automatic reconnection capabilities after sleep or restart.
Arno writes:
"I found out that is best to delete all preferred networks with encryption. And then add them again after manually connecting. Fastest way is temporarily turn on 'Automatically add new networks to preferred networks list' under 'Options' of the Airport network connection.
"After that, the problem with not reconnecting after sleep or startup was solved for me. Finally! It was most annoying with closed networks (hidden SSID)."
Menu items disappearing -- solution Yesterday we reported that some menu items -- including the Date/Time display -- are no longer appearing for some users under Mac OS X 10.4.2.
MacFixIt reader Travis Miller's case is typical"
"I applied the 10.4.2 update late this afternoon to my Mac. Since updating, the menu items i normally expect to see in the upper-right part of my screen are gone. the time/date, bluetooth, displays, and volume control icons have all vanished. Strangely enough, if I hover the mouse over the area where the time/date should be, i get the spinning beach ball. In fact, I restarted, hovered the mouse over the menu items, ate dinner, came back to the computer and the beach ball was still going. Strange."
It appears that this problem is caused by prior manual removal of the Spotlight menu, as detailed here on MacFixIt.
Mac OS X 10.4.2 replaces the file Search.bundle in the folder /System/Library/CoreServices/. For many users, removing Search.bundle (again) and rebooting fixes the absent menu item problem. The menu items are back.
Alternatively, replacing a Search.bundle file from a previous Mac OS X installation will also resolve this issue, and bring Spotlight back to the menu bar.
One MacFixIt reader writes:
"I discovered after my first post that it appears the 10.4.2 updater, not finding a Search.bundle file where it expects, installs a new but incomplete version of Search.bundle which causes the missing menu items problem.
"On a bootable backup disk with 10.4.1, I moved the Search.bundle file back where it belongs and then updated to 10.4.2. This resulted in a new Search.bundle file which is complete and works properly."
iChat "Insufficient Bandwidth" A handful of readers are reporting that -- despite Apple's claims of a fix for the issue -- iChat AV 3.0 still displays an "Insufficient Bandwidth" message when enough bandwidth is available.
Harald Weppner writes:
"Although the 10.4.2 update promised to resolve issues in ichat 3.0 (failure to establish video chats) it did not - the message about "insufficient bandwidth" still shows up."
Installation fails partway through Several readers have reported failed installation of Mac OS X 10.4.2, which sometimes necessitates a full re-install (Archive and Install) of Mac OS X 10.4.0 from the original media source (CDs or DVD).
Remember to avoid performing any other processes while the Mac OS X 10.4.2 update is taking place in order to lessen the chances of this issue.
MacFixIt reader Fred Maier writes:
"Downloaded the combo installer (to go to 10.4.2) and it worked fine on my G5 that was running 10.4.1. Copied the combo installer to my iBook and ran it after repairing permissions. Got error message that installation failed and needed to be reinstalled.
"iBook would never start back up from HD. Started from 10.4 DVD and repaired permissions and Disk First Aid. Then tried to restart from HD - sat there for about an hour on the gray Apple Logo with spinning wheel at bottom.
"Restarted from DVD and am trying to reinstall 10.4 from the DVD. After it completes, I will try the combo updater again.:
Mail.app not displaying time stamp Some readers have reported that Mail.app, by default, does not display a time stamp on messages after the Mac OS X 10.4.2 -- only a date stamp.
This issue can be easily resolved by simply widening the date/time stamp column, revealing the hidden information.
One reader writes
"(I was having this problem) and it was suggested that I widen the column just slightly. I did, and the time stamp appeared. I had squeezed the column width to the narrowest that would always display both the date and the time.
"Either the font characteristics have changed subtly in 10.4.2, or an additional space has been added following the date in the defined column format... Regardless, widening the column just a tiny bit will allow the time to appear and display properly. "
Third party applications
Carbon Copy Cloner works again The useful shareware utility Carbon Copy Cloner -- which had issues under previous iterations of Mac OS X 10.4.x -- once again works properly under Mac OS X 10.4.2
MacFixIt reader Eugene Fields writes:
"Carbon Copy Cloner No longer has any issues with 10.4, as of 10.4.2. Probably this is why Mr Bombich did not update the program as he knew a fix was in the works. As I tester of Apple's Systems I knew quite some time ago It was working but non-disclosure prevented me from saying anything till 10.4.2 was released."
Macromedia apps persistently ask for registration MacFixIt reader Marlene Huttner reports that after upgrading to 10.4.2, Dreamweaver and Flash 2004 prompt for registration persistently.
Marlene writes:
"No matter what option is chosen, and even if I register, the prompt keeps re-appearing every startup. Also on login, the Dreamweaver file _XX41c6.TMP is in the trash in a recovered files folder. This happens with every account the next login if the program has been opened previously."
Transparent Dock broken Dom Shannon writes:
"The latest Mac update broke Transparent Dock (it no longer works, at least for me). A nifty little utility that both looks cool, and adds functionality to your dock. I've used it since I started using OS X (10.1) and really miss it. Hopefully they'll be an update soon!"
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
Previous coverage
- Mac OS X 10.4.2 (#2): Common Workarounds; AirPort/Wireless connectivity lost; Widget, TCP/IP security updates; more
- Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.2, Mac OS X 10.4.2 Server
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