[Friday, February 15th]

Time Machine broken Several users have reported that Time Machine is not functioning properly under Mac OS X 10.5.2, often delivering the error message:

"Unable to complete backup. An error occurred while copying files to the backup volume."

MacFixIt reader Bruce Baker writes:

"We have recently tried to move most of our small office over to Mac including a Leopard server. One of the big draws was time machine. This latest update from Apple (10.5.2) had effectively taken this feature away. No one in our office can now back up to Time Machine. We get about 1 or 2 Gigs into the backup (if that much) and then are told that there is a disk error or a file copy error. We've tried reformatting the drives that are attached to our server but to no avail."

Some users are also reporting that Time Machine backups are much slower after the update. While the first backup after applying 10.5.2 is expected to be slow (after all, massive changes have been made to the filesystem), numerous users are reporting that all backups post-10.5.2 crawl. A poster to Apple's Discussion boards, MBPguy07, writes:

"On 10.5.1, my Time Machine backups took about 30 seconds. The first backup I did on 10.5.2, it took about 10 minutes, with my MPB's fans roaring--but the backup eventually completed. I just assumed it would be one-time thing associated with the upgraded OS. I just did another backup now, and again, it took about 5-10 minutes--and I didn't make any substantial changes (i.e., load any huge files) since the aforementioned backup."

In other cases, Time Machine becomes inexorably stuck in the "preparing" phase, never continuing with the backup process.

The most effective fix we've discovered for this issue so far: check the system log. Launch Console, located in /Applications/Utilities, then inspect the system log while Time Machine is running. You may find that it is getting stuck on a specific file or directory. Remove that offending item and re-attempt the backup.

If worse comes to worst, you can try deleting your Time Machine backup drive and starting from scratch.

If you're having a similar issue, please let us know.

System utilities (Cocktail, LCC) must be updated A number of popular system maintenance and repair utilities must be updated in order to be used properly with Mac OS X 10.5.2.

For instance, Leopard Cache Cleaner v 4.0.4 will not run on OSX 10.5.2.  When launching you get the error message: "This application cannot run on this system (10502)." Leopard Cache Cleaner 4.0.5 fixes the problem. Likewise, Cocktail 4.0.3 -- released today -- is required for compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5.2.

Repair Disk/Permissions to the rescue, again MacFixIt reader Quentin Smets writes:

"The update caused my mac to kernel panic while booting and thus making my G5 useless. Repairing the disk and permissions with Disk Utility on the leopard DVD solved the problem."

Enough said.

Clicks from speakers Some users are reporting a strange issue where unwanted clicks are emanating from the speakers under Mac OS X 10.5.2.

One reader writes:

"Since the upgrade to 10.5.2 I get clicks through my speakers (audio quality with a subwoofer) that weren't there before. For example just before the Sent mail sound there is a click, as well as before sounds in iChat, when Quicktime has opened and audio is about to start, playing the first song in iTunes, etc."

Weirdly, this is an issue that last appeared under Mac OS X 10.2.5 in 2003. Conspiracy theorists note the inversion.

At that time we noted: based on a number of reports, the problem is resolved for some portables when external power is connected. Some users have connected the issue to individual applications including Microsoft Office, Final Cut Pro and XSounds, but there does not appear to be any discernible pattern among the group.

Screen resolutions missing Some users have reported disappearance of previously available screen resolutions. One reader writes:

"I'm using a MBP (latest) with a NEC Spectraview 2690. Plugged in using 10.5.1 - running 1920 x 1200 / 60 Hz via DVI. Fine. After update to 10.5.2 the highest resolution 1440 x 900 and 'Standard LCD'."

If you're experiencing a similar issue, please let us know.

Parallels problems Users continue to note problems with Parallels under Mac OS X 10.5.2. We previously noted that reinstalling the virtualization package can resolve the issue, but that fix is not universally successful. One reader writes:

"Parallels refuses to launch after update to 10.5.2 bounces in dock for a while then becomes non-responsive while using up 99% cpu activity force quit or restart is necessary. Reinstallation and deletion of preferences have no effect."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage:

• Mac OS X 10.5.2: poor performance; AirPort, device issues; more
• Mac OS X 10.5.2: Problems starting up; ACL messages in Disk Utility; more
• Mac OS X 10.5.2 troubles: AirPort Problems, device issues; more
• Mac OS X 10.5.2 released

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