Stripping Universal Binaries of Intel code -- a potential troubleshooting procedure for PowerPC Macs

It seems that the presence of Intel code in Universal binaries can cause some troubleshooting issues. For instance, a problem we've been covering where the presence of iTunes 6.0.2 causes Disk Utility to be unable to run can be solved by stripping the application of its Intel-based code.

This workaround may be especially applicable for Mac OS X 10.3.9 systems.

A new application called TrimTheFat is is a simple, silent drop-launch utility to strip the code for the architecture(s) you're not using from a Universal application

Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader Frank Kittie offers a terminal based series of commands, with iTunes as the example application:

• sudo ditto --rsrc /Applications/iTunes.app /tmp/iTunes.app
• sudo rm -rf /Applications/iTunes.app
• sudo ditto --arch ppc --rsrc /tmp/iTunes.app /Applications/iTunes.app
• sudo rm -rf /tmp/iTunes.app

Frank writes:

"This should replace the iTunes application with a copy of itself, the copy containing only PowerPC code. The "--arch ppc" strips all code for other architectures.

"For me the resulting application ran fine (in a quick cursory test) and a repair permissions no longer gave me the 'Disk Utility lost connection with Disk Management Tool and cannot continue.'

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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