Security Update 2005-001 (#2): Problems obtaining through Software Update; Take upgrade precautions; more
Security Update 2005-001 (#2): Problems obtaining through Software Update; Take upgrade precautions; more
Problems obtaining through Software Update; use standalone instead Some users have received the message "Some of the checked updates could not be installed. Make sure you have permission to write to /tmp/501/TemporaryItems/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate, then try again."
This issue can be easily resolved by downloading the standalone version of Security Update 2005-001, available from Apple's software download page.
As experienced by MacFixIt reader Dave Stephens: "Solved (this problem) by downloading from Apple and installing directly. Two restarts, permissions repair found nothing, and changing permissions on the folders containing the invisible items was a no-go, too."
Take upgrade precautions Many of the problems mentioned in this report can be resolved by following these procedures, recommended for any major system upgrade:
- Make sure your hard drive is in good shape: Boot from the OS X Install CD and run Disk Utility's Repair Disk function (or use a third-party drive utility such as DiskWarrior or TechTool Pro).
- When booted from the volume containing Mac OS X, run Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions function.
- Install the update.
- After rebooting, again run Repair Disk Permissions.
The last step, in particular, has proved critical for resolving issues on a number of readers' machines. One reader writes:
"Many applications wouldn't launch or run properly (fonts were missing, numerous nebulous console entries) until I ran Repair Disk Permissions in Disk Utility and rebooted."
Safari: Unexpected quit; slow loading of pages Some users are reporting minor issues with Safari -- a component affected by Security Update 2005-001 -- after applying the upgrade.
In particular, several users have reported issues accessing secure banking Web sites.
Some have found that cleaning caches with a utility like Panther Cache Cleaner or Cocktail resolves the issues. MacFixIt reader Don Hayes writes:
"After manually downloading and applying the update, Safari spontaneously quitted when access online banking accounts. As Java apps are involved, I tried to empty the two plugin caches (Utilities > Java). Plugin 1.3.1 opened OK, and I cleared the cache, but 1.4.2 quit on launch. I used Panther Cache Cleaner on medium cache cleaning, rebooted, and all is well again."
Mail.app launching slowly A number of readers have reported slow launch speeds from another component affected by Security Update 2005-001: Mail.app.
MacFixIt reader Paul Ambrose writes: Since updating I find that Mail is having problems launching. When launching the application it seems to fail to launch but after delay of 30 seconds to 1 minute, or another couple of attempts at launching, it will finally complete the process. Once launched it works as it should."
If you are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.
System will not start-up A handful of readers have reported problems starting up after applying the 2005-001 Security Update.
MacFixIt reader Daz writes: I just installed the new 2005-001 security update via Software Update ? restarted only to find the machine freezes at the login page
"Restarted under fsck ?f ...no problems found ? re booted ? grey screen with Apple logo appears ? then blue screen with the OSX window (shiny apple logo) with aqua loading bar. Items appear to load but stops after 'Waiting for Apple File Service' appears
Another reader adds:
"I just installed Security Update 2005-001. After restarting the following two problems popped up: On startup the Finder hangs while installing the menu bar. I had to force quit (relaunch), after which it proceeded normally. This has happened three times in three attempts."
Third-party application-specific problems When problems with individual, third-party applications that are not directly affected by a given Security Update arise, they are often the result of pre-existing disk conditions triggered by the update process, or coincidences.
Nonetheless, there have been a number of such issues that are experienced in similar fashion by multiple users. In some cases, these turn out to be issues that -- directly or indirectly -- are inexorably linked to the update in question.
For Security Update 2005-001 a number of application-specific issues have appeared, for which we are seeking confirmation:
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.Photoshop Elements 3 A reader writes "After loading update 2005-001, I am having problems with Photoshop Elements 3. It crashes every time I try to load it. I am using an iBook G4 (early 2004), 1.25ghz processor, 256 MB RAM."
Logic Pro 7/Logic Platinum 6 MacFixIt reader Matthew had some problems with Logic Pro 7 and Logic Platinum 6. Problems with the former may be resolved by re-applying the most recent Mac OS X combo updater (in this case, Mac OS X 10.3.7), a workaround that has proved successful for numerous other problems in the past.
Matthew writes:
"This update apparently causes midi problems with Logic 7 and 6. After installing and repairing permissions, Logic Platinum 6 now unexpectedly crashes upon opening. Logic Pro 7 users have the same problem, according to osxaudio.com forums, but with midi errors on the screen before the crash.
"For Logic 7, reinstalling the Mac OS X 10.3.7 combo update seems to correct the problem. I tried doing the same for my Logic Platinum 6.3, but I still get the unexpected crash every time I open Logic. Digital Performer 4.52 seems to open and work fine under the new security update."
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