Security Update 2006-002 (#2): Menu bar items missing; Safari won't launch, fixes

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 6:28 a.m. PT

3 min read

Menu bar items missing Several users report missing menu bar items -- including the clock, battery indicator on portables, Spotlight icon, and Fast User Switching module -- after applying Security Update 2006-002.

In some cases, this issue is due to the presence of a Front Row installation on an unsupported Mac.

The most common fix for this issue is to re-apply the Mac OS X 10.4.5 combo updater (PowerPC or Intel).

In some cases, it is necessary to re-apply the Mac OS X 10.4.5 combo updater from an alternate startup volume as follows:

Download and save the Mac OS X 10.4.5 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 10.4.5 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)

This is a common workaround that has also proved successful for various problems caused by incremental Mac OS X updaters.

In 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."

Safari won't launch, fixes Several readers have reported that they are unable to launch Safari after applying Security Update 2006-002.

MacFixIt reader Michael Harver writes:

"After installing the software update update for PowerPC (don't know if the Intel guys are having the same problem) my copy of Safari was dead in the water.

"The icon had been dropped to the generic os application icon, and will not launch. I don't know if the SU replaces Safari each time it updates stuff or not. But it certainly replaced mine with something that did not work.

"I originally updated thru Software Update, and attempted a second update by downloading the security update but ended up with the same results.

"The only way I even got Safari back was using a program to pull it out of the 10.4.5 combo update Ed.- Michael is referring to the use of Pacifist to extract a copy of Safari from the Mac OS X 10.4.5 combo updater, as described in this tutorial]. And it runs, but the icon is still ugly."

There are several possible fixes for this issue, which different workarounds proving successful for different users:

Try deleting the "Icons" folder ~/Library/Safari/
Remove items from the /Library/Internet Plug-ins directory, and check for persistence of the issue.
Look for third-party items in /Library/Input Managers and remove them if necessary
Delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist

UPDATE: One third-party add-on that can cause problems with Safari launching is Saft (and Saft Lite).

A MacFixIt reader writes:

"After installing to the new Security Update, I found that Saft Lite was blocking the launch of Safari. This was rectified by going to Library/Input Managers to remove the Saft folder."

Front Row disabled for unsupported Macs As mentioned above, users who installed software (like Front Row Enabler) to enable Front Row on unsupported Macs are finding difficulty using Front Row after the update, and other associated issues.

Apple recently forced a legal shutdown of the Front Row Enabler Web site.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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