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Mac OS X 10.4.3 (#11): Maintenance scripts not running on some Mac OS X 10.4.3 Server installations; Fix for Address Book; more

Mac OS X 10.4.3 (#11): Maintenance scripts not running on some Mac OS X 10.4.3 Server installations; Fix for Address Book; more

CNET staff
8 min read

Maintenance scripts not running on some Mac OS X 10.4.3 Server installations We've received a handful of reports from users with Mac OS X 10.4.3 Sever installations indicating that the system maintenance scripts (normally triggered by the launchd process) are not running after the update.

One reader writes:

"I updated my XServe (duo G4 1.33 Ghz) from OS X Server 10.4.2 to 10.4.3 via Software update, on November 3. In checking the log files, I notice that the daily.out log reported that the daily periodic maintenance script ran once the morning after the update, but has not run since then. I checked to see if any of my client Macs (11 total which include G4 and G5 iMacs, eMacs, G4 PowerBooks and G4 and G5 PowerMacs) were doing this (updated to standard 10.4.3), and found that all were doing the daily maintenance without issue. However, I asked some colleagues who have OS X Server about their logs, and two responded that they also observe that the daily periodic maintenance script ran once the morning after the 10.4.3 update and not after that. Both also have G4 XServes updated to Server 10.4.3. Another colleague running OS X Server on a G5 PowerMac is not observing this issue after updating from 10.4.2 to 10.4.3.

"I can get the daily maintenance script to run manually by issuing a sudo periodic daily line command in Terminal. However, it is no longer occurring automatically on my XServe.

"The weekly maintenance was run on schedule early last Saturday morning (Nov 5). However, looking at my weekly.out log today, I can see that it did not run as scheduled this morning (Nov 12). The weekly maintenance continues to run without issue on all my client Macs."

This issue is reminiscent of a similar problem that existed in Mac OS X Server 10.4.0 and 10.4.1 was fixed for many users in Mac OS X 10.4.2 Server. It does not seem to be affecting all Mac OS X 10.4.3 Server installations.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

Possible fix for Address Book data disappearing We continue to report on a serious issue where Address Book data suddenly disappears from systems recently upgraded to Mac OS X 10.4.3. For many users, the problem does not occur until several hours or days after updating Mac OS X 10.4.3, indicating a problem with the automatic iSync backup function or -- in some cases -- .Mac synchronization.

One reader writes:

"I seem to be having a different problem than other people. I have lost data in address book, but not all of it. It seems to be an issue with iSync (and I don't recall if it only started with the 10.4.3 upgrade - I think it may have occurred before that). ISync warns me that a huge number of my contacts are to be modified and if I allow it to continue I lose data for my contacts. The names are all still there, but some of the phone numbers, email addresses, etc. are gone. Not good. ISync has also been doing some strange things with my iCal events - claiming there is all of a sudden a discrepancy of a day between my .Mac and computer for events that occurred a few years ago."

We previously reported that, in some instances of this problem, the data appears to merely be hidden and not permanently deleted. In these cases, a simple fix submitted by MacFixIt reader Ross may be helpful.

"Reading MacFixIt and fearing the worst I went to my Address Book which was in view card and column mode - it appeared that all but one of my entries was gone (last entry viewed was there). I toggled between view card and column and view card only and all of my entries came back. It took several toggles to restore all entries."

More on automount problems We continue to report issues with network volume automounts under Mac OS X 10.4.3. In many cases, the networked volumes are still accessible via the "Connect to Sever" command (located under the "Go" menu in the Finder, or via the Command-K keyboard combination).

MacFixIt reader Mo writes:

"I've found that since 10.4.3 was installed I don't see the other windows computers in my domain in Network anymore. It was fine when Mac OS X 10.4.2 was being used. I have not made any changes to the network since and after I installed Mac OS X 10.4.3, I cannot see any windows computers in Network now. I can connect to their separate shares using SMB but they don't appear in Network. Mac OS X can also ping the computers."

If you are having a similar issue, please let us know.

USB device recognition issues Users continue to report inability to mount some USB devices after the Mac OS X 10.4.3 update.

Joe Winogradoff writes:

"I am on the road now with 2 devices I plug into the USB port on my 17" original Powerbook - the Sony Ericsson K750i and Palm Tungsten T3. At home, the Palm worked just fine in the cradle after upgrading to 10.4.3. I just tried to sync via the travel cable the Palm is not being recognized. Also happens with the K750 - I have installed the Grabber hack, and it worked just fine via USB cable before upgrading; now, the phone does not mount on the desktop and iPhoto does not automatically load if there is a picture on the phone's memory card. "

As previously reported, in some cases, re-applying the Mac OS X 10.4.3 combo updater can resolve this issue.

In other instances of the problem, clearing caches with a utility like Cocktail or Tiger Cache Cleaner can resolve the issue.

Continuing Keychain problems We've received more reports from readers who have problems with Keychain after the Mac OS X 10.4.3 update.

MacFixIt reader Dag writes:

"I upgraded to Mac OS X 10.4.3 last week on my Powerbook G4 12" and everything so far seems to work. Today I restarted for the first time (after the initial reboot) and up comes the question about a keychain password as it always does after a fresh start of the system.

"This time however it did not accept my password and after three tries it told me that my retrycount was exceeded and that I should try again later. I have never changed that password and the third time I copied the password from a plain text field so I know it was correctly entered. However I don't know if this is caused by the upgrade to 10.4.3 or for any other reason. But I like to report it to see if any others have experienced the same."

In most cases, these issues can be corrected with the use of the Keychain Access application, located in Applications/Utilities. Under the "Keychain Access" menu select "Keychain First Aid" then verify and repair if necessary.

Problems burning optical media We continue to receive reports from readers who are having difficulty burning optical media (CDs and DVDs) after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.3.

MacFixIt reader Doug Marti writes:

"Has anyone reported trouble burning discs (DVD and CD) since upgrading to 10.4.3. Sometimes they burn easily, (Itunes) but do not burn very easily through a Burn Folder. Keep getting error message0x80020063. I restart the computer, run disc utility a couple of times and it seems to work. Burning DVD's is also a chore have to shut down, run disc utility and hope."

More success with applying combo updater from an alternate startup drive We previously reported that some significant issues occurring after the Mac OS X 10.4.3 may be soluble via an unconventional solution: re-applying the Mac OS X 10.4.3 combo updater from an alternate startup volume.

To recap, the exact process is as follows:

  1. Download and save the Mac OS X 10.4.3 combo updater.
  2. Startup from an alternate boot volume, such as an external FireWire drive, or use another Mac to boot the problematic system in FireWire target disk mode (connect the two machines via a FireWire cable, and boot the target [problematic] system while holding down the "T" key)
  3. Once booted from an alternate drive, select the problematic volume in the Finder, and "Get Info" -- either by pressing the Command-I keyboard combination or accessing the "Get Info" option in the File menu. Check the box marked "Ignore ownership permissions on this volume."
  4. If you have a third-party disk repair utility like DiskWarrior, use it to re-build the directory on the problematic volume (this step may not be necessary)
  5. Re-install the Mac OS X 10.4.3 combo updater on the problematic drive.
  6. Re-attempt booting from the problematic volume (hold down the option key at startup to select the desired drive)

MacFixIt reader Robert Marks is one user who had success with this workaround.

He writes:

"Previously I have sent you several e-mail messages about problems with updating my G5 to OS 10.4.3 through software update. I have two hard drives in my G5, and the primary drive has all my applications and was the one I updated via software update. I had problems then with keychain, fan speeds, and e-mail accounts not saving my passwords.

"This week I downloaded the combo update for 10.4.3 and updated my second hard drive from 10.4.2 to 10.4.3. I did this while I was booted from my first hard drive. I then started up from the second hard drive, and there were no problems at all.

"I also ran the combo updated on my primary hard drive a couple of times, but that did not solve any problems. Thus, I knew my primary hard drive was unstable and I bit the bullet. I erased the drive, installed a new copy of OS 10.4, updated the OS to 10.4.3 and began installing my programs back. There have been no problems so far.

"I had blamed Apple, but if I had followed your guidelines for updating the OS, i.e., not using the software updater but download the combo updater and booted from another drive, then I would have not had the problems."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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