Mac OS X 10.4.8 (#6): CoconutWiFi may affect wireless connectivity; Printing issues -- fix; more

CoconutWiFi may affect wireless connectivity We continue to report on a variety of wireless connectivity issues (and associated fixes) after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.8.

Some users have reported that disabling coconutWiFi -- an application displays you a small aqua-bubble at the top of your screen which indicates whether you're in range of a wireless network or not -- resolves an issue where AirPort connections toggle between normal speed and dismal speed.

MacFixIt reader Chris writes:

"I was having awful problems with Airport on my MacBook under 10.4.8.  I had even logged a call with Apple.  Activity Monitor showed that the connection was yoyo-ing rapidly in speed between nothing and not very fast, and pinging my router from Terminal showed a pattern of quick and very slow ping times.  Then a search on the internet gave me a clue that coconutWiFi v1.2 might be to blame.  I quit the app and the connection was instantly restored to normal working.

UPDATE: The developer of coconutWiFi, Christoph Sinai, has posted a message to his Web site acknowledging the issue, and noting that a revised edition of the software is on the way. Christoph writes:

"It seems that there is currently a Airport performance issue while running coconutWiFi and Airport. I've created a workaround which should fix this for the moment. (feedback welcome) I will release a complete bugfixed version the next days."

Printing issues -- fix Several users have reported issues with printers after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.8.

One reader writes:

"I have iMac 20 on Intel, and and I am working in big publishing company as a help desk. I installed system update Mac OS X 10.4.8 a lost the ability to add network printers with the error 'An error occurred while trying to add the selected printer server-error-service-unavailable.'"

In some cases, this issue can be resolved by re-installing CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) which is available via this download link.

This, and other workarounds for various printer issues are available in our tutorial "Resolving common printer problems."

Adobe Illustrator problems Some users have reported issues with Adobe Illustrator after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.8, an area of problems for which we are seeking more feedback.

MacFixIt reader Oscar Cortez writes:

"I have been following your coverage of the issues with 10.4.8 and I noticed that nobody has mentioned issues with Adobe Illustrator.

"I have been experiencing the following on my MacBook (1.83 Ghz Intel): Random application crashing; Application crashing while attempting to use any 'Pathfinder' tools, especially when related to 'Outlined Text.'; "Unknown Error [EXR]" dialog window when attempting a number of different things, including editing paths inside of Live Paint Objects. A second machine I have (800 mhz G4 iBook) has been experiencing Illustrator startup issues as well."

Previous coverage:

• Mac OS X 10.4.8 (#5): AirPort connectivity (cont.) issues: More fixes; Non-launching applications: Try re-installing; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.8 (#4): Another fix for AirPort connectivity issues: Turn off Firewall; Safari issues (cont.): more on bad plug-ins, caches; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.8 (#3): Startup problems (cont.), more fixes; More on the blue tint, fixes; Menu items missing, fix; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.8 (#2): AirPort connectivity issues -- inability to connect to 802.11n routers; Problems starting up; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.8 released: Wireless network, USB, RAW camera, printing, broadband network performance improvements

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