Security Update 2007-004 (#6): AirPort connectivity issues in Mac OS X 10.3.9, clear caches

AirPort connectivity issues in Mac OS X 10.3.9, clear caches Yesterday we continued coverage of an issue where users running Mac OS X 10.3.9 lose AirPort connectivity after applying Security Update 2007-004.

We noted a potential fix for this problem that involves navigating to /System/Library/Extensions and dragging the following files (if they exist) to the Desktop or another location outside the System folder:

• AppleAirport2.kext
• AppleAirportFW.kext

then restarting.

It now appears that this fix may work because it refreshes system caches that store information related to kernel extensions. As such, simply clearing the caches may have a similar beneficial effect.

This can most easily be accomplished with a shareware utility like Cocktial or AppleJack 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 need to enter an administrator password to move these files.

Restart your Mac after deleting these files and check for restored AirPort connectivity.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• Security Update 2007-004 (#5): AirPort connectivity issues: definitive fixes; FTP security issue: Users able to access files outside their domain -- fix
• Security Update 2007-004 (#4): Files modified by this update; AirPort connectivity problems and fixes; more
• Security Update 2007-004 (#3): Problems logging in, QuickTime components may be to blame
• Security Update 2007-004 (#2): Problems logging in; login items broken; fixes
• Security Update 2007-004 released: Vulnerabilities in AFP, AirPort, Help Viewer, SMB, WebDAV and more plugged

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