OS X 10.4.6 Now Available

[50548]

It's NOT harmless.

What 'Repair Permissions' does is check the package receipts and bom logs from software that you've installed and checks that the unix file permissions match the original. If they've changed, it puts them back to the original.

However, if you've deliberately changed the permissions for whatever reason, those changes will be overwritten and reset.

99.9% of the time, permissions never change of course but Apple used to show notices saying they were using 'Special permissions' which confused the easily confusable.

Well, but it is obvious that those who deliberately change permissions KNOW what they're doing and why, including the fact that "repair permissions" resets custom settings...

For 99,99% of Mac users, who would NEVER mess with permissions at all, Disk Utility IS, at least, totally harmless and, in some cases, beneficial to a Mac's reliability.

 

[matthewreid]

I'll chime in...mine had the update crash as well.

Now, all I have is the apple logo and the turning thing at the startup...it never boots...

DAMN YOU APPLE!

 

[aegisdesign]

3) The Cagefighter haxie for Mail (to use Panther-style buttons) is gone for now; the update kills it (not that I would care much anyway);

I just reran it. Re-enable the buttons in CageFighter then Disable them again. Horrible buttons are gone again.

4) Notwithstanding what other users say about the "repair permissions myth", please DO quit all apps and DO repair permissions before running the update.

The risk of facing problems gets much lower, and the hassle you have is irrelevant even if "repair permissions" are not that necessary anymore;

It really doesn't matter. The apps you're running will either be shutdown during the update or when you reboot they'll be replaced. Most of the heavy lifting in Software Update is done on reboot.

5) I have always used the Software Update mode with the routines above, and nothing ever happened to my Mac. Combo/delta updaters, in my opinion, are for extreme cases, including those arising from connection breakdowns...

Yes, if you've a poor connection then downloading the update prior to updating is a good idea. Be sure you've lots of space for the update too.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

It's NOT harmless.

What 'Repair Permissions' does is check the package receipts and bom logs from software that you've installed and checks that the unix file permissions match the original. If they've changed, it puts them back to the original.

However, if you've deliberately changed the permissions for whatever reason, those changes will be overwritten and reset.

99.9% of the time, permissions never change of course but Apple used to show notices saying they were using 'Special permissions' which confused the easily confusable.

I know perfectly well how permissions work...

And if you've changed permissions on any of the system files and/or Applications with recipes then there's a very good chance that you're doing something wrong. Maybe you rather should make yourself a normal user and keep the admin account for administration...?

And the warnings, that apparently confused many users (understandingly, IMO) does, as of this update, no longer appear.

 

[Photorun]

The thread reminds me of a truism of the internet/forums - you'll hear the negative people complain, whine, b**** and moan, ad nauseam... but you won't hear the good or in some cases when it just works.

For hundreds MR members it just worked. No complaints. Then there's four or five, and in a couple cases people that clearly did not read the tech notes first (you get what deserve) but overall to clarify for anyone coming here reading this thread thinking the update will cause the world to implode under it's own weight and dogs will fornicate with cats and from now on everything will taste like postage stamps... it won't. This update is perfectly fine, check to see the tech notes effect you, maybe manually shut down all apps first to be safe and unplug squirrelly devices, install, and be happy.

 

[TheMac19]

JEEBUS! - where's me keyboard backlight?!?!

Just noticed on a whim that somehow after this update my powerbook lacks the backlit keyboard!!!! if I press f8, f9, or f10 - the normal commands, it just shows the translucent box with a circle with a slash through it. And if I cover my speaker grills, or put the powerbook in a dark room - no light from the keys at all...

 

[Tech]

Photorun, it is too early to tell if it is working perfectly. The people who are complaining are those who ran into problems right away.

 

[DamonNoisette]

Make it seven...

Hi,

I now know of six people who have had serious upgrade issues with this
update...

Yep. Our fully-functioning PowerBook G4 1.67 (last G4 PB, "Last of the Mohicans") is basically kaput after attempting to install 10.4.6.

Disk Utility can't see the hard drive. The installer can't see the hard drive.

I can run programs, but I was kind of hoping that we'd have some Nikon D200 NEF (RAW) file support through Aperture since the wife is a pro photographer and her backup camera is the D200...

Instead it looks like we'll have to do a fresh install, unless Apple Support can come up with something less drastic. That means reinstalling ALL of the crap I've got on there: Adobe CS, Aperture, Poker Academy Pro... d'oh.

(Bastards!)

 

[gauchogolfer]

Just noticed on a whim that somehow after this update my powerbook lacks the backlit keyboard!!!! if I press f8, f9, or f10 - the normal commands, it just shows the translucent box with a circle with a slash through it. And if I cover my speaker grills, or put the powerbook in a dark room - no light from the keys at all...

Mine's OK, although it took a little longer to kick in the first time than normal. It seems to be back to its usual state now.

I've another problem after this update.
Safari seems to be taking up much more CPU space than normal, sometimes up to 90% while scrolling and typing. It gets almost unusable at some points. Anyone have this problem and/or solution?

Cheers

 

[zoikers]

Update issues on 17" G4 Powerbook my CPR

This is the first time that I have ever had any issues with an update on my 3 year old Powerbook. After the update and re-boot I saw nothing on the screen, just black. I heard the start up chime. At first I did not even think about the update being an issue. I thought for certain that the 17"er had maybe seen its last day from over-usage .

I rebooted a couple more times and the same deal. Eventually I just held down the power button until it made an annoying sound. I then re-started it again and after a little bit of time life had been breathed into my aluminum friend. If all else fails you may want to try my resuscitation technique.

 

[TheMac19]

Question

I ran the update from Software Update, and have run into a couple minor issues so far. (no k700i syncing, no keyboard backlight). I've read elsewhere that it might be a good idea to download the combo update directly from apple's site, and run that as well. (effectively on top of my previous 10.4.6 update.)

Is this indeed advisable, or is this liable to make things even worse?

 

[Malcster]

All good on a 1.83 MBP, Airport has definately improved.

 

[DamonNoisette]

Blame the victim?

What about people who read the notes, repaired permissions, and did everything correctly and it still hosed their machine -- like me? Should we retreat to a cave and cry in silence, so we don't annoy the people who had an Ebert & Roeper upgrade experience:

"Two Thumbs Way Up!" - MacUpgradeBoy, Apple Insider
"Riveting" -- JerkMcGee, CBS-TV

As a creative pro user, this update had the long-awaited Nikon D200 NEF RAW support we needed for our backup camera rig. The installer worked fine on our G5, but absolutely killed our PowerBook. Luckily we use our PB mainly for location shoots and not mission-critical items, but it's a little scary nonetheless...

The thread reminds me of a truism of the internet/forums - you'll hear the negative people complain, whine, b**** and moan, ad nauseam... but you won't hear the good or in some cases when it just works.

For hundreds MR members it just worked. No complaints. Then there's four or five, and in a couple cases people that clearly did not read the tech notes first (you get what deserve) but overall to clarify for anyone coming here reading this thread thinking the update will cause the world to implode under it's own weight and dogs will fornicate with cats and from now on everything will taste like postage stamps... it won't. This update is perfectly fine, check to see the tech notes effect you, maybe manually shut down all apps first to be safe and unplug squirrelly devices, install, and be happy.

 

[kirk26]

Here's your 30th Anniversary present. Now be quiet.

 

[Paul O'Keefe]

Hope this fixes printer issue

I hope this fixes the driver issue with my large format HP deskjet 9650 printer. Since tiger it became a $350 paperweight.

 

[Multimedia]

10.4.6 Safari 2.0.3 (417.9.2) Is Much Faster

ssorry I didn't go thorugh the whole thread...but is it just me or Safari is flying after the update

I think so too. 10.4.6 Safari 2.0.3 (417.9.2) Is Much Faster. Is that a new version of Safari? someone who is still on 10.4.5?

Thanks.

 

[rmessnerjr]

Time to Install

Those of us with OCD... here are my stats on the install.
PowerMac G5 1.6 GHz, 1 GB mem, 300 GB HD
07:02:00 - opened Software Update and got the iPod and 10.4.6 (53 MB) items
07:02:16 - clicked the Install button and Download started
07:04:03 - Install started
07:05:40 - Install done (both packages)
07:06:16 - System restarts itself
07:07:20 - System "bong"
07:07:50 - Grey Apple
07:09:13 - Second system "bong"
07:09:30 - Second Grey Apple
07:10:30 - Login dialog
07:12:29 - Desktop available
07:21:30 - I finish typing this.

 

[j-a-x]

I have installed the update and no problems here. THey did not fix the finder resize columns in list view cursor bug though.

 

[sunfast]

I'm really sorry to hear about all the problems people have been having with the update. Hope you all get fixed asap.

As for me - I installed before I read this and it's fine (fingers crossed I haven't missed anything). Probably wouldn't have updated had I read all of this though

 

[Master Atrus]

Just Fine

I've been reading MacRumors forever now and decided to post my first reply ... I installed the update on my 1 GHz PowerBook G4 and everything works just the same as it did before. I can't notice any change at all actually ... my question is, has anyone been able to get the new Cisco VPN built into the OS to work without using the VPN client?

Atrus

 

[Multimedia]

Isolated Disasters May Be Operator Error Rather Than Apple Error

Hi,

I now know of six people who have had serious upgrade issues with this
update.

The symptoms in all cases are the upgrade process failing, putting the
installer in the Trash and leaving computer unable to execute any
process without a CPU exception. Subsequent reboots then fail.

The only solution is to reinstall MacOS 10.4 and then download the patches
~220Mb worth to get you back to where you were.

I suspect that Apple may pull this update and have a new one soon..

Cheers, Ed.

I wonder exactly HOW those disaster updates were executed. I've noticed some here think it's just fine to run an incremental updater while continuing to run a bunch of applications AT THE SAME TIME. I wonder if they had quit everything and run the Combo updater if then their update would have failed. I wonder how much free disk space they had on their system volume. I had totally smooth updates on both a Quad and an old 1.25 GHz PB G4 using the Combo from here.

While I am a little concerned, I am more inclined to attribute these disasters to operator error rather than to Apple. My Quad has never run better. I love this update.

Would all who had disacsters please answer the above questions. Thank you in advance. I hope no one is going to get mad at me for positing this theory.

 

[mileslong]

so far the only negative things i have noticed are that my backlighting on my powerbook is gone as are my panther mail iconss that i had installed...

 

[milo]

Just because they don't "make you do that" doen't mean you don't need to to make sure you don't run into problems like Eddyg had. And just because you never had a problem not doing it doesn't mean one shouldn't do it. You are darned lucky aegisdesign. I would never run an update while other applications are still running and without running repair permissions first and with only the Combo and never the incremental updater. But that's just me. You could be right. Only Eddyg may not think so right now.

Just because you had a problem not doing it doesn't mean that it caused the problem. Let's not confuse cause and effect here, is there any real proof that all the voodo actually makes upgrades work better? I've always waved a dead chicken over my computer during upgrades and never had a problem, I guess everyone should do that since it obviously helps. And after all, it can't hurt right?


Sadly, it looks like this doesn't fix the crappy airport issue on my mini.

 

[Multimedia]

1.25 GHz PB G4 Keyboard Backlight Still Works

Just noticed on a whim that somehow after this update my powerbook lacks the backlit keyboard!!!! if I press f8, f9, or f10 - the normal commands, it just shows the translucent box with a circle with a slash through it. And if I cover my speaker grills, or put the powerbook in a dark room - no light from the keys at all...

My 1.25 GHz PB G4 Keyboard Backlight Still Works. Go figure. Sure are a lot of weird isolated "bugs" showing up after this update. Have to thank God none of them seem to have attacked mine.

 

[mongoos150]

Eh...I won't be installing this update.