Troubleshooting Mac OS X 10.2.3: Fix for audio problems, another VPC workaround

Fix for audio problems A poster to the Apple discussion boards has posted a workaround for some of the audio problems apparent after applying the Mac OS X 10.2.3 update. One reader describes his problem: "After using the 10.2.3 updater has no sound, and the Sound Control Pane has no Line In or Line Out hardware, and the volume keys either minimize or maximize the sound level graphic, but still no sound."

The workaround involves using an older version of the AppleOnboardAudio.kext (the version included with Mac OS X 10.1.3), which seems to allow at least some system configurations to produce sound throughput under Mac OS X 10.2.3.

For full instructions, visit http://homepage.mac.com/anthonyvu/.

Another Virtual PC workaround For users experiencing hangs at shutdown in Virtual PC 5.0.x under Mac OS X 10.2.3, Doug Eldred offers another, simple workaround:

"In my experience quitting Virtual PC works fine as long as I don't move the mouse during the shutdown. Both times that it hung I was moving the mouse; every time I've refrained from moving the mouse the quit went perfectly."

Disabled internal CD-RW/DVD drive solution It appears that re-installing Mac OS X 10.2 from your original Jaguar CD, and then applying the Mac OS X 10.2.3 combo update (rather than installing incremental updates - 10.2.1, 10.2.2) resolves a number of issues, including -at least in some cases - disabling of the internal CD-RW/DVD drives on a number of models. Winfried Deijmann writes:

"I ran a clean install with the original OSX 10.2 installer CD including options as 'Save previous system' and 'save users and network info'. After restarting I used the auto-update option to install all the earlier security-, Stuffit Expander-, Explorer etc. updates except for the Mac OS X 10.2.3 update. I restarted again and used Disk Aid to restore privileges. Then I run with auto update the OSX 10.2.3 combo update, and everything seems to run fine."

IBM Deskstar drive failure to update? Previously reported failures of external IBM Deskstar hard drives may not be directly related to the Mac OS X 10.2.3 update. According to a growing number of readers, these drives exhibit some severe reliability problems, which have been apparent when moving to other new versions of Mac OS X . Tom Alperin writes:

"I think that there may be some reliability issues with the IBM drives. After the clicking noise started, the drive refused to mount or would mount but take longer to read files, while clicking intermittently while being accessed. This occurred whether I was using OS X or OS 9. If users can manage to get their drive back up for one last time, they should back up whatever he can that is not already backed up. Once the 'click of death, HD death-rattle' begins, there isn't much time."

Removing Norton aliases from the System Some users have reported that removing extensions to the kernel created by Symantec's Norton Utilities often resolves Apple System Profiler freeze problems. Apparently, System Profiler chokes on the Norton file, and does not proceed. Mark Rougeux writes:

"I looked in System/Library/Extensions, and found two items beginning with "Sym..." The first was SymDC.kext, which was an alias; the second SymOSXKernelUtilities. Not knowing if both had come from Symantec, and fearing the worst if I removed a file with OSX in its name, I removed the alias (had to startup into OS 9 to do so). After removing only the alias, and restarting in OS X, System Profiler works great. "

Feedback on any of these issues? Drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.

In yesterday's Mac OS X 10.2.3 troubleshooting round-up, we noted Re-installing Mac OS X 10.2 before updating to 10.2.3; More on disappearing devices; More on sleep problems; Login items freeze; Finder preferences and CD mounting and more.

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