Mac OS X 10.4.6 Special Report: Menu bar items missing

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 6:47 a.m. PT

4 min read

Several readers report that various menubar items are missing after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.6.

One reader, Don, writes:

"After using the standalone combo updater to update from 10.4.5 to 10.4.6, all Apple menu bar items (volume, input menu, keychain status, modem status, iChat status) were gone, and stayed gone, after rebooting, repair of permissions, disk repair, etc. Nothing other than reverting to 10.4.5 from a clone would bring them back."

Mike Klein adds:

"I had installed the Mac OS X 10.4.6 update, but, decided to do a 'clean' update using the combo updater on my G4. I booted into safe mode and did the install.

"However, after the restart, none of my menu items would show up! I usually have menu meters, geek tool and the sound control displayed. I re-installed the menu extra enabler and menu meters. Still no go! I disabled and bypassed Shapeshifter and the application enhancer to no effect."

In many cases, the solution for this issue is to re-apply the current combination updater (PowerPC or Intel).

In other cases, it may be necessary to re-apply the Mac OS X 10.4.6 combo updater from an alternate startup volume

Download and save the Mac OS X 10.4.6 combo updater (PowerPC or Intel).
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)
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."
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)
Re-install the Mac OS X 10.4.6 combo updater on the problematic drive.
Re-attempt booting from the problematic volume (hold down the option key at startup to select the desired drive)

In yet other cases, the resolution for this problem is as simple as re-enabling the menubar items through their appropriate preference pane or companion application.

For instance, if your AirPort menubar item is missing after the update, try launching the "Internet Connect" application (located at the root level of the /Applications folder), click the Airport pane, and choose "Show Airport status in menu bar."

In still other cases, it very oddly appears that applying the delta version of the Mac OS X 10.4.6 updater can obviate this problem where it manifests with the combo version of the Mac OS X 10.4.6 updater.

One reader writes:

"The heart of the problem is apparently the 10.4.6 combo update. Going back to 10.4.5 and doing a safe-boot update or just a normal update both fail to allow menu extras. The sound icon cannot be put into the menu bar. Now I'm going to forget the combo update altogether and go back to the simple 10.4.6 update."

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