Mac OS X 10.4.6 Special Report: Update process recommendation

We recommend the following procedure when installing Mac OS X 10.4.6.

First, avoid performing any other operations (in Mac OS X or third-party applications) while the update process is occurring. In addition, before installing this security update, make sure all Apple-installed applications and utilities are in their original locations. Moving one of these applications to a different location on your hard drive can lead to an incomplete update. Also, disconnect any FireWire/USB devices before applying Mac OS X 10.4.6 (except for your startup drive, if it is FireWire or USB, and your keyboard/mouse), then re-connect the devices one by one (checking for issues created by any particular device) after the update process is complete and the system has restarted.

If you'd like to take an even more cautious route, use the following process:

• First create a backup of your startup volume.
• Drag the folder com.apple.SoftwareUpdate located in /Library/Caches (the Library folder at the root level of your hard drive) to the trash.
• Download the standalone version of Mac OS X 10.4.6 and save it for later.
• Startup (restart) your Mac using a drive other than your usual startup drive as the boot volume. This can include an eDrive created by TechTool Pro, or better, an external FireWire. Make sure that this drive includes a copy of Disk Utility (which can simply be copied from your normal startup volume).
• Launch Disk Utility from the temporary startup drive. Perform a "Repair Disk" operation on your normal startup drive (which should now appear as another mounted volume in the Finder)
• Again restart, this time booting from your normal startup volume, while holding the "Shift" key to boot in Safe Mode.
• Apply Mac OS X 10.4.6 and restart when prompted, this time without holding the "Shift" key.

As with previous iterative Mac OS X releases, the startup time after first installing Mac OS X 10.4.6 can be inordinately long. Don't panic if you are stuck at the grey progress screen for several minutes after the update. Subsequent restarts should take place at normal speed.

Index:

• Release Notes/Download links
• General purpose workarounds
• List of updated Apple applications
• Update process recommendation

• AirPort network not automatically re-joined after sleep
• Bluetooth: Connectivity issues
• Dock Auto Hide/Show function broken -- fix
• Double restart is expected behavior
• Energy Saver issues -- system will not automatically shut down, etc.
• FireWire problems
• Font issues -- fixes
• Improvements
• iSync Issues -- Issues with hacks for unsupported devices; Sony Ericsson K700i won't synch
• Menu bar items missing
• Networking issues: Problems with proxies
• Photo booth distortion
• Printer issues
• Problems logging in from Windows systems
• Reminder: Have enough free drive space before installing
• Reverting (downgrading) to Mac OS X 10.4.5
• Safari: Image loading problems
• SCSI drives not recognized
• Server volumes cannot be written to -- fixes
• Special permissions messages no longer appear in Disk Utility
• Spotlight issues -- make sure drive is not in Privacy tab
• Startup problems -- will not proceed after update, etc.
• Streaming Audio -- fixes
• Third-party applications: Fix for Photoshop save on crash; Word crashes; more
• Update Installer cannot find destination drive

Resources