10.4.9 Update

[Dillinger-63]

Ok, I'm in the installer. It won't let me install to the external drive, unfortunately, because it says OS X can't start from this volume. Its formatted for Macs, so I guess that means OS X just doesn't boot from externals. Bummer.

With my MB's HDD selected it says the following:

"You have selected to move the files in the System folder on this volume to a folder named "Previous System" and save existing settings and user accounts. After installing a new version of Mac OS X, your existing settings and user accounts will be restored."

Hmmm, that sounds about alright, though a little too vague or un-mentioning about what will happen to all my other files and apps. It says the install requires 15.5GB and fortunately with some recent spring cleaning I've got 20.7GB free.

My finger's on the button. Someone please either stop me or tell me its all gonna be alright!

I'm still waiting for the miror image of my MBP to finish. The next thing we are going to try is to hook up my MBP to a co-workers PowerBook G4 and see if it will recognize mine as an external drive (which it should) then I will back-up my latest emails, files, some programs etc... then finally do a clean install. All this work for most likelly the last up date for 10.4. For all this work Apple should give me a free copy of 10.5 when it is released, and I may just call them and ask them. The most frustrating part of this is I just set my MBP up to do some desktop music publishing with FL Studio and my Korg MicroKontrol Midi keyboard, then installed this update, and bam, all that work is now gone.

 

[Dillinger-63]

Dillinger,

Yes, I'm a C2Duo MacBook. I've not called Apple yet, my disk image just finished, and for kicks I've tried to boot from it but still no love. Anyone know if I'll be able to use this on another Mac, or a fresh install of mine, to pull out all my important files, etc?

Has anyone tried reinstalling OS X and seeing if it leaves all their files and apps in place?

Not yet, but I'm going to give it a go. It is interesting that apparently your update did not install fully and you received an error message, yet my update installed fully, no error message and we still have the same issue.

 

[Dillinger-63]

In answer to you question about "finger being on the trigger" The Apple tech guy said when you reinstall the OS it takes all of your existing files/folders/old OS, everything and puts it in one folder. So can launch the programs say in Entourage and export all your contacts/emails and such, BUT, it is highly recommended once you get all of the files you want, then do a clean install of the OS, if you don't your will be taking up HD space with two OS-X's and it may mess up if you do an OS update, plus it slows your system down, all this according to the Apple tech.

 

[dtravis7]

ARchive and Install. Choose that option in the installer and nothing will be lost. Done it a few times when installing a Tiger over panther and once when a BAD so called DEFRAG program that I should have never tried killed my OSX.

 

[thisdarcy]

All good info, thanks for that Dillinger.

I let my trigger finger "slip" and went ahead with the install after consulting with the Apple support doc about installing and checking with a friend, all agree with your assessment that the files will be preserved.

Its a lengthy process, still going on now, so I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Once I've recovered everything (not sure how things like playlists in iTunes get preserved, I can tell this isn't going to be a quick and easy process) I'll definitely be doing a fresh install.

Lots of time lost, lots of work ahead. All very annoying, though I doubt Apple will be reimbursing either of us for it. Good luck with your process, and let us know how it goes on your end!

 

[remltr]

Just reporting my experience.

I installed on my PB G4 and everything came back up to my normal desktop, mouse moved, logitech wireless keyboard allowed me to logon. But when I went to select anything with the mouse nothing happened.

Came to this forum and started getting scared that I was in a similar boat as others.

Had to use the power key on the laptop and the laptop enter key to shutdown (wireless wouldn't accept the enter key after the logon).

Restarted and now all is working again. (whew) Dodged a bullet.

 

[thisdarcy]

Ok, the reinstall, while taking almost two hours, went through with what looks to be not a hitch. Its like nothing ever happened. My wallpaper, my widgets, my apps, my files, they're all there and in place. I was expecting it to be more like a fresh install with apps and files and everything shoved off to one side. This is much better.

Oh, and the image I made of my Mac HDD in Disk Utility after the problem started onto the external drive, that has all my files and everything in place, too, so if I had ended up with a fresh install I'd at least be able to pillage that image for my stuff.

I hope you have as much luck as I did today, Dill. If you can call it luck. I'm just glad to have my Mac back!

 

[Dillinger-63]

Ok, the reinstall, while taking almost two hours, went through with what looks to be not a hitch. Its like nothing ever happened. My wallpaper, my widgets, my apps, my files, they're all there and in place. I was expecting it to be more like a fresh install with apps and files and everything shoved off to one side. This is much better.

Oh, and the image I made of my Mac HDD in Disk Utility after the problem started onto the external drive, that has all my files and everything in place, too, so if I had ended up with a fresh install I'd at least be able to pillage that image for my stuff.

I hope you have as much luck as I did today, Dill. If you can call it luck. I'm just glad to have my Mac back!

Are you going to do a fresh install of OS-X, or operate as is? One thing I'm considering is to operate as is for a while, if the archive install works and then when 10.5 is released do a fresh install then. Also, if you reported this to Apple did you ask how many others had this issue, and what is going on?

 

[Mattlike]

Just did the install a little bit ago and have had no problems on my C2D iMac. I have not done the update on my MBP yet.

 

[gikku]

10.4.9 update hung on iBook G3, then would not boot past the grey screen, apple logo never appears.

Eventually booted into safe mode, (hold shift at chime) Repaired Permissions in Disk Utility and rebooted. all good now (after about 3hrs of mild concern).

Also 10.4.9 added iSync support for the SE K610i phone - woo hoo.

 

[frankthetank966]

This update was average. It improved stability of macintosh's but did not make the more exciting.

 

[Stretch]

All well here, just updated my iMac with now problems.

 

[MBasile]

well they've run out of versions to make of 10.4.X so 10.5 better be next

 

[thisdarcy]

I was going to do a fresh install after the archive and install, but it seems to have gone so smoothly I may just do as you've suggested and wait for Leopard before doing a fresh install. I am hesitant about moving forward with the 10.4.9 update again, though.

I've not called Apple, kind of got caught up in the excitement of having my computer back, but its worth a call just to report the issue, see if they have anything to say about it. I did make the news on Wired.com's Cult of Mac blog, though!

 

[MacHeadCase]

According to MacFixIt, there are a few problems this update fixes:

Resolved issues

Illustrator pathfinder problem fixed It appears that Mac OS X 10.4.9 resolves some significant issues related to Adobe Illustrator, much to the joy of users whom have been plagued by the problems for months with no respite from Adobe.

One of the more prominent issues, discussed in our Mac OS X 10.4.8 special report, was an inability to properly use the application's "pathfinder" tool, which is used for manipulating compound shapes. The problem seemed to occur only on Intel-based Macs. Most users affected by this issue reported that the crash occurs when attempting to use the pathfinder tool to modify shapes created by the pen tool, circle tool, and others.

This issue is resolved in Mac OS X 10.4.9.

MacFixIt reader Ted August writes:

"I had a whole lab of iMac (Intel Core Duo) computers that were experiencing the Adobe Illustrator Pathfinder bug. I'd like to report that 10.4.9 fixes this glitch. I have a whole lab of students using the tool right now in their class, which they haven't been able to do since the beginning of the semester (when we jumped to 10.4.8)."

iPod mounting/synchronization improvements Some users have reported resolution of iPod interaction issues under Mac OS X 10.4.9.

MacFixIt reader Rob Wallace writes:

"My 4th generation ipod failed last week, it could not mount and I could not get any utility to reformat it. Leading to hours of frustration. Plugged it in today after the update and it started disk utility , then iTunes launched and within seconds the iPod was reinitialized and loading its music library faster than ever."

But some reports indicate some Bluetooth, disk mounting, launching some applications, AirPort and printer issues. MacFixIt suggests to reinstall the Combo Update, it has been known to get things working for some users. MacFixIt does post a fix for a malfunctioning printer which consists of reinstalling CUPS (available here):

Printer problems, fixes A number of users are reporting issues with various printers after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.9.

There are two general solutions to printer issues after a system update, with the first (re-installation of CUPS) being the most commonly successful:

Re-install CUPS Corruption or other faults with the standard CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) installation may have occurred during the Mac OS X update process, and re-installing CUPS can resolve some otherwise insoluble problems.

The current known stable build of CUPS is version 1.2.8, and is available as a 4.3 MB standalone download. The install process is straightforward: once the CUPS disk image has been downloaded, mount it and double-click the cups.pkg file to begin installation. You may need to restart after installation in order to get your printer working again.

Delete then re-add printers/Reset printing system If CUPS re-installation is unusuccessful, open Printer Setup Utility, located in Applications/Utilities and look at the "Printer List" Highlight and delete all entries. Alternatively, go to the "Printer Setup Utility" menu at the top of the screen and select "Reset Printing System". After all entries are deleted, click the "Add" button and re-add your printer(s).

Failing the above fixes, you may want to try the utility Printer Setup Repair or peruse the solutions listed in our tutorial "Resolving common printer problems."

Of course, the updater should NEVER be stopped before completing its task.

 

[MaDDoG]

According to MacFixIt, there are a few problems this update fixes:

Of course, the updater should NEVER be stopped before completing its task.

I trhink that is where I have gone wrong....nothing seemed to be happening afetr a few minutes so I powered off.....no MBP will not reboot at all. Any ideas PLEASE!!!!

 

[MacHeadCase]

*Snip*Of course, the updater should NEVER be stopped before completing its task.

Another thing that should always be done before installing any update is to:

1- Make a backup

2- Unplug all peripherals before the install.

 

[MaDDoG]

Another thing that should always be done before installing any update is to:

1- Make a backup

2- Unplug all peripherals before the install.

Hadn't got as far as the backup stage as I only got it home today and was just installing stuff

Power and bluetooth mouse was all I had plugged in

 

[Dillinger-63]

I did the archive install of OS-X and I'm back up and running, but I cannot open Parallels, nor get any of my OneNote folders off the MBP because of that, so I'm hopeful the mirror image the IT guy did will take care of that problem. I've decided to get every file and program copied to my external drive today, and then do a fresh install tomorrow, as I have to be able to use Parallels. But, right after the fresh install I will re-download the 10.4.9 update (before I install anything else) to see what happens, that way if it screws up again at least I don't have a lot of time spent in reinstalling all of my programs..

 

[gomez1018]

Another smooth install on mbp intel core duo. Volume actually seems to be louder but maybe just me