Mac OS X 10.5.2 Special Report: Misc. third-party application, device problems (Bluetooth, etc.)

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 2:24 a.m. PT

3 min read

Linotype Font Explorer broken Linotype FontExplorer 1.1.2 is not working under Mac OS X 10.5.2, causing Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign to hang on launch. Linotype released an update to FontExplorer (version 1.2.3) that resolves this issue.

Device issues

Bluetooth devices A number of Bluetooth-device related issues are cropping up after the Mac OS X 10.5.2 update.

MacFixit reader Robert Fusfeld reports issues with the DLink DBT -120 adapter:

"After the upgrade it is a no go. Devices don't work and clicking bluetooth in system preferences or system information in about this mac results in system freeze. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse now DOA. I have emailed dlink support to determine if this problem is specific to the old version I have and whether or not there is any firmware upgrade that will fix this. No reply yet."

If your built-in Apple Bluetooth system is not recognizing devices after the upgrade to Leopard, try performing a full power-cycle. That is, shut down your Mac then power it back up.

If you're having problems with third-party Bluetooth adapters, try removing them from hubs (including USB keyboards) and connecting them to directly to your Mac. Note that some devices may require firmware updates before they can interact properly with Leopard.

Also note that third-party Bluetooth adapters may cause other, more significant system issues until they are updated for compatibility with Leopard.

There are also some general-purpose Bluetooth fixes you can try:

Rediscover device(s) The most commonly applicable immediate fix for problems with Bluetooth device recognition after an incremental Mac OS X update is simple rediscovery of the afflicted device(s). You can accomplish this by going to the Bluetooth menu item (if it is enabled) and selecting the device or the "Setup Bluetooth device" option. Alternatively, go to the "Bluetooth" pane of System Preferences and select your device from the list, or press the "Setup new device" button.

Delete Preferences folder Try dragging the folder /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration to the Trash, then restarting and re-attempting access to your Bluetooth devices.

Reset PRAM/NVRAM In some cases, resetting your Mac's PRAM (parameter RAM) and NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) via the following process can restore Bluetooth access:

Shut down your Mac

Turn your Mac back on, while holding down the Command, Option, P and R keys simultaneously.

Allow the startup chime to repeat twice, or listen for your Mac to perform a restart process twice, then release the keys.

Deactivate, Reactivate In some cases this issue can be resolved by simply going to the Bluetooth pane of System Preferences, then deactivating Bluetooth and subsequently reactivating it again.

Resetting the PMU/SMU Some users have reported that resetting their systems' PMUs or SMUs (depending on model) solved this issue. Apple provides details for performing the reset procedure in the following Knowledge Base documents:

#14449 (for PowerBooks, iBooks)

#303319 (for MacBooks, MacBook Pros).

#300341 (for Power Mac G5)

#301733 (for iMac G5)