Mac OS X 10.4.9 (#11): Server connection drops; Core Image, Quartz Extreme disabled; Frozen windows; more
Troubleshooting reports covered today include drops of server connections, unexpected disabling of Core Image and more.
[For complete coverage of Mac OS X 10.4.9 troubleshooting issues, see our special report]
Server connection drops A number of users are reporting problems with general network transfers after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.9, receiving the error message "Server Disconnected" in the middle of file transfers or experiencing inordinately slow transfers.
This problem generally affects transfers to mounted network volumes. Transfers from from mounted network volumes back to the client Mac are generally successful.
In some cases, these network bottleneck can be resolved by modifying the delayed_ack parameter of Mac OS X's TCP/IP configuration by entering the following command in the Terminal (located in Applications/Utilities):
- sudo sysctl -w net.inet.tcp.delayed_ack=0
then pressing return.
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.
Core Image, Quartz Extreme disabled Some users are reporting an issue where Core Image and Quartz Extreme are disabled on Macs with supported graphics cards after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.9 Server.
MacFixIt reader Chris Powell writes:
"After the Mac OS X 10.4.9 update, Core Image and Quartz Extreme are disabled. The first symptom is choppy window movement -- Expose is particularly ugly. System Profiler reports that both core image and quartz extreme are 'Not Supported'."
Similar problem? Please let us know.
Frozen windows We've received reports from readers of an issue where windows become immobile or "frozen" after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.9. When this issue manifests, the windows are generally still active. In other words, items within the windows can be manipulated, the scroll bars still work, etc. However, the windows themselves cannot be dragged to other parts of the screen.
One reader offers a case example:
"I have had problems with some programs that seem to have frozen windows. That is, I can type in them, but I cannot move them. If I quit the program and restart it, all works as it should."
In some cases, this issue can be resolved on a semi-permanent basis by deleting the following file:
- /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist
then restarting.
Quicken: .Mac backup failure (cont.): Fixes We continue inability properly backup to .Mac servers from within Quicken 20006/2007 after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.9. In many cases, when backup fails, repeat attempts are successful.
It now appears that in at least some cases, this issue has to do with a problematic Quicken data file, and simply duplicating this file in the Mac OS X Finder can resolve.
Use these steps:
- Quit Quicken if it is open
- Navigate to /Documents/Quicken and find your Quicken data file
- Duplicate your Quicken data file
- Move the original copy to another location
- Change the name of the duplicate to the same name as your original
- Double-click the duplicated file to launch Quicken
- Re-attempt the backup to .Mac
Desktop icons missing Some users have reported a problem where icons on the Desktop are missing after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.9.
In some cases this issue can be resolved by deleting the following file:
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist [The tilde (~) represents the current home user directory]
then restarting.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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