Apple Acknowledges 10.5.6 'Configuring Installation' Issue

[MacRumors]

Apple released a technote detailing an issue that some users have run into while installing the latest Mac OS X Software Update.

When attempting to update software using Software Update in Mac OS X 10.5, the update process may stop responding while "Configuring installation" is visible in the update window.

Apple describes that this may happen when trying to install a partially downloaded update. The work-around is to remove the partially downloaded update and try again. The incomplete update files may be found in "/Library/Updates" and can be safely deleted before trying Software Update again.

Alternatively, users can download the Combo update (list here) and install it themselves.

It seems that the bug resulting in the partially downloaded file affects Mac OS X 10.5.1 through 10.5.5. Once you successfully installed 10.5.6, the issue seems to be fixed for future updates.

Article Link: Apple Acknowledges 10.5.6 'Configuring Installation' Issue

[137489]

I wonder if this is the cause of my long boot up. since 10.5.6 my system beachballs for 1-2 minutes while starting up. otherwise it is fine.

other than that I had been 8 months without a problem.

[stefanski]

I had exactly this problem on my MBP. And I can confirm that it was because of an only partly downloaded file. After deleting it and re-running the update, all is well.

[scotty96LSC]

My update downloaded completely, or so it stated, but when I tried to install something to the effect, "couldn't verify software ..., contact software company for help."
I deleted the download from library>updates. Worked fine a secondtime.

[Jiddick ExRex]

eh? It's out?

[motulist]

I can't even tell if anything is different in 10.5.6. Mail.app still doesn't always beep when new mail comes in. My airport still only works with some wifi networks but fails to connect to certain open wifi networks that 10.3 machines and Vista machines can connect to. etc.

Did 10.5.6 actual improve anything for anyone?

[Melan]

I had this exact problem with safari 3.2.1, but not 10.5.6. I ended up solving the safari problem by downloading the dmg from apple.com and installing it from there

[Kilamite]

Didn't suffer from this luckily.

Pretty shocking that this happened though.

[irishgrizzly]

Because this issue I did a Combo update for the 1st time.

[the vj]

I just have the same problem. I got a new Mac Pro last week and I upgraded it and now when I boot up the machine it takes about 4 minutes, the screen stays blue for at least 4 to 5 minutes.

At first I rebooted the machine twice, then I was searching in the internet for the problem on another machine and all of the sudden it was ok.

My sugestion, do not update your OS, there are actually no improvements.

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by the vj

My sugestion, do not update your OS, there are actually no improvements.

Bull. 10.5.6 fixed several annoying bugs for me, including the "Mail won't quit" one.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

Bull. 10.5.6 fixed several annoying bugs for me, including the "Mail won't quit" one.

Right. Now it actually quits all by itself when trying to reply/quote to messages sent from Hotmail that have remotely linked images* embedded.

*smileys stored at the hotmail servers

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by Kar98

Right. Now it actually quits all by itself when trying to reply/quote to messages sent from Hotmail that have remotely linked images* embedded.

*smileys stored at the hotmail servers

I'm sure you give more details in the bug report you submitted to Apple. Right?

[137489]

Originally Posted by the vj

I just have the same problem. I got a new Mac Pro last week and I upgraded it and now when I boot up the machine it takes about 4 minutes, the screen stays blue for at least 4 to 5 minutes.

Not exactly my problem. my displays my wallpaper and my icons. then it beachballs for 1-2 minutes while loading my menu bar. Nothing new was added before the 10.5.6 - all my software was already installed when I did the 10.5.6. I deleted the file in the folder mentioned and am downloading the combo now. Quite hefty, so this is gonna take a while.

UPDATE:

*Hmm - must have been my problem, a partial update; yet my symptoms were different and did not appear as a partial. I did the combo and the first reboot took forever and sent my fans racing. Now, it boots up quickly., and my menu bar loads a lot quicker and no beach balls.

[Orion27]

It's really quite simple. I'm always amazed at the impatience and ignorance surrounding these updates. First, Apple is not God though lord knows it sometimes seems so. Operating system code is a complex enterprise. The process is not infallible. Third party applications, obscure code glitch's and untidy users can affect the code stream. 99.99% percent of the time all goes well. One has to remember, OS X, Windows XP, Vista, Linux and even flavors of Unix are constantly tweaked and built upon. They are not finished systems.
Between updates, Apple, just as Microsft, offer security patches, application tweaks ect. Most conscientious users install these updates when offered. Many do not, particularly those with dial up or slow speed connections. Indeed, many never install these updates, content using 10.5 or even earlier versions of OS X. When a update is offered, say 10.5.6, it is meant to install on top of 10.5.5 as a stand alone update. Systems are amazingly robust reliable. Common sense dictates, over periods of time a bit or two may corrupt on the the hard drive. One may not notice until an update when a specific operation is called up. To eliminate trouble and inconsistency over time, keep your system current and keep your desktop organized. Multiple files on the desktop slows boot time. Organize them in folders. If you have neglected previous updates, security patches ect, download the Combo Update from the Apple downloads page. Those with slow connections I feel your pain but that is not Apple's fault. Do your download overnight. Regular
and consistent updates keep your system optimized. One more caveat. Be the first on the block to install to an update if you must. I usually do but I take responsibility for my actions, a rare thing theses days. My advice is to wait a day or two and see how things shake out with early adopters. When the coast is clear update.

[KindredMAC]

My PowerMac G5 took the update like a champ but my MacBook has been acting like a short circuiting droid, getting all pissy with me. Software Update crashes on launch, tried downloading the combo update but keep getting the same codec error.

The HDD has been acting up on the MacBook since June so I am thinking I've got some bad sectors on the disk and I need to just swap out the drive for a newer, larger one. I've reformatted this one probably 6 times since buying it back in May '06 due to glitches. It's time.....

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by shervieux

I wonder if this is the cause of my long boot up. since 10.5.6 my system beachballs for 1-2 minutes while starting up. otherwise it is fine.

other than that I had been 8 months without a problem.

That is not the issue being described by this article.

Originally Posted by shervieux

Explains why the software update showed 191 mb an the combo update is showing almost 700mb.

No, combo updates are always much larger than the Software Update ones, because they contain everything. 190Mb is the correct size for the 10.5.6 updater on some platforms.

[twoodcc]

hmm, glad i didn't run into this issue. seems like an easy work around though

[yuhaii]

Just remind you guys to backup your data. I have a bad experience for that!!!! My update has the exactly problem. I took my macbook air to the genius bar. The guy installed combo updates too. But It came to the end that My harddriver is failure. i can't start up my computer anymore. Before restart, verify the disk shows "invalid key length". The genius bar guy told me that I have to change my harddriver. How is it possible to come out this way?

[MARCHAND]

As mentioned below. Delete previous files and download the full Combo updater. First run permissions repairs always before doing an update. Second install the combo updater and all will be good.

The note that states do not run update and there are no improvements in this update is simply grossly incorrect. There are substantial fixes in this update and there always is. Always RUN APPLE UPDATES These guys do not spend hours upon hours creating updates of no value.

Often problems come from poorly maintained machines or poorly installed updates. If you follow the above Protocol you will avoid a lot of issues created by latency connections.
Best Wishes

[dylanschafer]

I cannot, for the life of me, find the updates folder. also, how am I supposed to reset permissions or whatever? I need to gt this fixed and don't want to come off as stupid, but this is really aggravating. I guess I need step-by-step tutelage.

I've included a screen shot of my library where the folder should be

[137489]

Originally Posted by dylanschafer

I cannot, for the life of me, find the updates folder. also, how am I supposed to reset permissions or whatever? I need to gt this fixed and don't want to come off as stupid, but this is really aggravating. I guess I need step-by-step tutelage.

I've included a screen shot of my library where the folder should be

Interesting mine is there At first I was confused and went to the /system/library (shows you how much I get deep under the hood ). But I guess that is I had no problems up to now, and not having to look is a good thing.

all those people who said to me "that is not what the article said" , "or that is not the symptom". well, I cannot explain before the 10.5.6 software update why my system was fine, after the update I got the beachballs when booting and loading my menu bar. then after I deleted the update and applied the combo - i went back to being all fine and dandy.

I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I get a lot of this on Windows (1/2 machines messing up after autoupdates, the other 1/2 machines are fine). Went through a streak a few months back where every Windows update during a 2-month time hosed mine and several other PC's.

[mrkgoo]

The shocking thing isn't that it happens, but that when it does, it is not acknowledged by the system.

I had repeated partial downloads (this was early on - I had to research it to find a fix), and while it was downloading, it would suddenly 'finish', expand AND verify. How can it verify, when the size was totally wrong? That's the scary part.

[Doc69]

This happened on my 2.0GHz Powermac G5 when I took it from 10.5.5 to 10.5.6, even though I used the combo updater. On second try, with the same .dmg file, it worked. My Macbook Pro updated without issues.

[Live Steam]

such a crapshoot? Should this be the case and did they put something out there too soon? Why would they do that? Why would they put an update out that clearly wasn't ready or well thought out? They had to know this would be a problem for many.