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MacFixIt

Startup mouse-related freeze: Power Computing issues

Regarding the mouse-related startup freezes, which appear to affect both Apple and Power Computing machines ( as reported here recently): Chris Heatherly (Power Computing Support Communications Coordinator) writes: "We experienced this issue long ago with some mice we used with the PowerWave. Replacing the mouse always has resolved the issue. If customers with PowerWaves are sometimes unable to use their mouse on restart, they should contact Power Technical Assistance for a replacement. A sure way to determine they are experiencing this issue is if they are able to disconnect the mouse and then reconnect it to get it working." … Read more

Another TechTool System Analyze glitch? Perhaps not

TechTool's System Analyze feature apparently continues to have trouble with false alarm reports of System damage. The latest glitch, as described to me by Brian Walls: TechTool 1.1.4 reported that Mac OS 7.6.1 System file was damaged. So Brian did a clean install of Mac OS 7.6 and updated again to 7.6.1. TechTool now reported no damage. However, he next updated to Open Transport to 1.1.2, QuickDraw 3D 1.51 and QuickTime MPEG. After this, TechTool once more reported System file damage.

Update: Several readers report that they have the … Read more

Possible RAM Doubler / GeoPort modem conflict

Tom Schroeder describes a possible conflict between RAM Doubler 2 on a Performa 6360 and the internal GeoPort modem that comes with that Mac (this may also affect some 6400s, as some of them use the same modem). In particular, he often gets a "PPP negotiation failed" error when trying to connect online. Removing RAM Doubler 2 eliminates the problem.

Brian Grove (of Connectix) confirms they are investigating reports such as this one. However, since not every GeoPort modem configuration has this problem, it has been difficult to pinpoint. Brian promises more details if and when they discover … Read more

PC Exchange 2.1.1 problems

Several reports now point to a significant problem with PC Exchange 2.1.1 (as included with Mac OS 7.6 and 7.6.1). In particular, the most common report is an inability for the Mac to access files originally copied to a DOS-formatted floppy disk from a PC (Thanks, David Meimann and Tim Foley). Similarly, Clay Courtney reported that, using PC Exchange 2.1.1 on either a IIsi or and Centris 650, PC text data files from a DOS-formatted floppy disk would not load correctly. In a more serious case of this problem, Todd Wiblin writes that … Read more

More on new CFM-68K/OSL 1.2 crashing bug

The page on PointCast's web site, describing the OSL 1.2. problem ( as mentioned yesterday), now includes the following statement:

"ObjectSupportLib 1.2 installs a CFM-68K 'evnt' gestalt function where the Transition Vector is in the application heap. If two applications link to ObjectSupportLib, quitting the first application but leaving the second running will cause a crash when checking for the 'evnt' gestalt. This problem occurs on all 68K machines in our QA lab. If the gestalt function were in a detached classic 68K code resource (rather than in CFM-68K code) this problem would not occur."

Bottom … Read more

PowerBook 1400 and the free modem offer

Apple's offer of a free modem to those who by a PowerBook 1400, may have a couple of problems.

The PowerBook Memory Source page is reporting that both the modem offer and the Apple-Citibank Credit Card rebate offer require that you send them the lone original UPC symbol for the PowerBook. (Thanks Bryan Goldstein).

Ricardo Davis writes that the modem offer is for a choice of a 33.6 PC card modem from either Dayna or Megahertz. However, Ricardo claims that Megahertz has confirmed that their modem does not currently work with the 1400. They expect to release a … Read more

Ethernet file transfer rate problems

David Patton (Senior Technical Consultant for Dessie Informatique) informs me of an Ethernet related problem with Power Mac 7300/180s. Specifically, the symptom is that, when a 7300 attempts to copy something over the network, copying is exceedingly slow (copying from the 7300 by another Mac works fine). The problem occurred with a coaxial cable connection, but not with a 10Base T one. After contacting Apple several times, he was told to remove any "large DIMMs" that he had. David writes: "All of the affected machines had at least two 64 or 32 Meg. third party DIMM'… Read more

Performa 6400 causes display problems?

David Sibley reports that the text and images on his Sony Multiscan 200sf were severely "ghosted or blurred." He was ready to blame this on the monitor until he transferred the monitor from his Performa 6400 to his PowerBook. When connected to the PowerBook, the problem went away. He said he spoke to tech support about this and was told: "Apple had discovered what has been causing the problem and is implementing a fix, but it might take as long as 6 weeks or more to realize the fix."

Update: Apple claims that this problem (which … Read more

Sound muting problems: FreePPP and more

a. FreePPP and sound muting Bean Landin writes that "Apple Tech Support acknowledges a bug in FreePPP which disables the sound on Power Mac 7300s."

Frederic Kayser claims that there is "a conflict between FreePPP 2.6b2 and the Apple AudioVision extension: the conflict causes sound to go mute. Reverting to FreePPP 2.5v3 fixes the problem."

I queried Steve Dagley (developer of FreePPP) about this. He replied that updating to Mac OS 7.6.1 should clear up most of these mute problems. However, "there's still some sort of conflict with FreePPP 2.… Read more