Mac OS X 10.4.9 Special Report: External optical drives: hardware errors
Mac OS X 10.4.9 Special Report: External optical drives: hardware errors
External devices can become non-functional after incremental Mac OS X updates for a variety of reasons, including corruption or accidental deletion of critical kernel extensions/caches and firmware incompatibilities.
One reader writes:
"I updated to Mac OS X 10.4.9. All was fine until today when I tried to burn a CD using my: 16X LightScribe DL d2 DVD-RW. I have tried it using Disc Cover, disclabel NEATO Edition and LightScribe Simple Labeler. Keep getting: Hardware error, communicating with drive."
Fixes
Make sure firmware is up-to-date Is there a firmware update available for your drive? Make sure firmware is up-to-date. Before writing off a suspect device and seeking replacement, make sure that its firmware is not simply out-of-date. For most devices, manufacturers' Web sites will maintain a stock of current (and sometimes older, perhaps more compatible) firmware revisions.
Clear caches Perhaps cliché, but undeniably successful for some hardware recognition issues: 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/)
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 combo updater The tried and true method of re-applying the Mac OS X 10.4.9 combo updater has proven successful for some users experiencing this issue. Download links are as follows:
Index:
- Release notes
- Update procedure recommendation
- Common workarounds for when things go wrong post-update
- Downgrading to Mac OS X 10.4.8 (uninstalling Mac OS X 10.4.9)
- Files modified by this update
- AirPort: Loss of connectivity, card not recognized, more
- Application launch problems
- Bluetooth device issues
- Classic: Will not run, other issues
- Desktop icons missing
- Disk images not mounting
- Eject key issues: Longer duration before action takes place
- External optical drives: hardware errors
- Final Cut Pro/Express: Capture issues, performance concerns
- Finder persistently crashes and re-launches
- Frozen windows
- iSync issues/general synchronization problems
- Mail.app: junk filters not working
- Microsoft Office: Various issues
- Networking problems with Mac OS 9 systems
- Persistent booting into Windows
- Printer problems, fixes
- Problems starting up
- Quicken: .Mac backup failure: Fixes
- Resolved issues
- Secure site access broken: fixes
- Segmentation faults
- Server connection drops
- Third-party device issues (Nikon Capture NX, Griffin AirClick, more)
- Update to Final Cut Pro 5.1.4 for best performance
- Volume significantly louder: boon for some, drawback for others
- VPN connectivity issues
- WWAN update included, how to remove
Resources