Mac OS X 10.4.10 released: Update recommendations and procedure

Major new release of Mac OS X -- ensuring a smooth update.

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 1:26 a.m. PT

5 min read

[Published Wednesday, June 20th]

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.4.10, a major iterative update that includes enhancements in the following areas for Intel-based Macs:

RAW camera support
Mounting and unmounting external USB devices
Support for 3rd party software applications
Security updates

and these areas for PowerPC-based Macs:

Mounting and unmounting external USB devices
Support for 3rd party software applications
Security updates

The new release is available via Software Update and through the following standalone download links (we recommend using the standalone updaters):

Update procedure recommendation

General principles.

Leave all Apple-installed components where they are. Don't, for example, move Safari out of /Applications, or move your user Home folder.
In System Preferences > Software Update, make certain that "Download important updates in the background" is not checked. If your computer has multiple users, do this for every user. It might also be wise to uncheck "Check for updates"; one user, the administrator, should then be responsible for checking manually for updates from time to time. (To do so, choose Apple > Software Update.)

When an update is available in Software Update, do not press the Install button in the Software Update window. Instead, download any desired update packages individually and without actually performing the installation. Software Update allows you to do so, but this feature is not at all obvious, so here are instructions:

Make sure there is a checkmark at the left of all and only the packages you want to download.
Choose Update > Download Only. After performing the download(s), note the location, on your hard drive, of the downloaded material.

[Note: Alternatively, go to http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ and click the download link for the desired package. In the case of major system updates, this is the way to obtain the full "combo update", which is often better than the incremental update offered by Software Update.]

Restart into Safe mode, by holding down the Shift key from the moment you hear the startup "bong" to the moment the "spinning gear" appears. Expect this startup to take longer than usual. Don't be alarmed if the fans whir loudly during the "spinning gear" display. Eventually you will be presented with the Safe Boot login screen. Log in as the administrator.
Without launching any other applications, double-click one installer package and perform the installation. Do nothing else; just sit there and wait until the installation is complete.
Repeat step 3 after every installation. Finally, restart normally. This, too, may take longer than usual, and you may experience a "double-restart." Be patient!

Problems after applying the update? Please let us know.

Common workarounds for when things go wrong post-update

The following gamut of solutions that will solve a surprisingly high number of post-update issues. Unfortunately, there's really no rhyme or reason to the order in which these solutions should be tried, aside from starting with the least involved and working your way up more drastic measures.

Problems starting up Possibly the worst thing that can happen after applying an incremental update like Mac OS X 10.4.10 is an inability to startup your Mac. The first step in this case is to attempt startup in safe mode (hold the "shift" key while your Mac is booting), then follow the procedures outline in our tutorial "Startup fails (particularly after a system or security update); solving"

Delete kernel extension caches, other caches for some issues A number of common issues that crop up after incremental Mac OS X updates can be resolved by deleting specific cache files -- specifically kernel extension caches -- and restarting.

This can most easily be accomplished with a shareware utility like Tiger Cache Cleaner, but also bears a manual process which involves dragging the following files to the trash:

com.apple.kernelcaches (a folder in /System/Library/Caches)

Extensions.kextcache (a file in /System/Library)

Extensions.mkext (a file in /System/Library/)

com.apple.ATS (a folder in /Library/Caches/)

Files that start with com.apple.LaunchServices (in /Library/Caches)

You will be prompted to enter your administrator password when dragging these files to the trash. You may need to restart after moving them to the trash.

Re-apply the Mac OS X 10.4.10 combo updater A workaround that has proved successful for various problems caused by previous incremental Mac OS X updaters is re-application of the current combination updater:
Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update (PPC) [165MB]

Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update (Intel) [293MB]

Mac OS X Server 10.4.10 Combo Update (PPC) [218MB]

Mac OS X Server 10.4.10 Combo Update (Universal) [391MB]

Doing so overwrites potentially problem-causing files that were not replaced by the "Delta" (adjacent version-to-version) update.

Re-apply the Mac OS X 10.4.10 combo updater from an alternate startup volume

Download and save the appropriate Mac OS X 10.4.10 combo updater (links above).

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 10.4.10 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)

Downgrading to Mac OS X 10.4.9 If you are experiencing severe, seemingly insoluble issues after the update, you can revert to Mac OS X 10.4.9 per the instructions in this tutorial.