Mac OS X 10.4.5 (#6): Network slowness -- More fixes; Slow Finder operation -- another fix; more

Network slowness -- More fixes; turning off IPv6 can solve other networking problems A workaround we've previously noted for other networking problems -- entering a usable DNS address to the Mac OS X's TCP/IP settings -- has proven successful for resolving some network slowness issues under Mac OS X 10.4.5.

Many times your ISP's specific DNS addresses can be found in in the on-router configuration file, usually accessible via the URL "192.168.1.1." (check your router manual for more information).

With manually entered DNS addresses, Mac OS X does not have to take the extra step of locating the servers and hence processes more DNS query requests on the first try.

MacFixIt reader Florian Hotzinger writes:

"I recently upgraded to Tiger and to 10.4.5. I also experienced slow internet performance (i.e. slow web page loading). Disabling IPv6 didn't help but the slow web page loading smelled like a DNS problem. So I manually added the primary DNS server of my ISP to Mac OS X's TCP IP settings and everything was back to normal."

For more potential fixes for this issue, see the following articles:

• Another fix for system-wide freezes when Web browsing
• Using DNS addresses from other ISPs

Meanwhile, it appears that our previously reported workaround for network slowness - disabling IPv6 -- also works to resolve an issue with frequent AirPort Express streaming dropouts that occur after the update.

One reader writes:

"The Mac OS X 10.4.5 update caused an annoying problem to appear - when streaming music to an airport express, the music would pause every 10 seconds making it unusable. Just letting you know that disabling IPV6 fixed this problem. (I was streaming from a 2.0GHz iMac Core Duo)."

In order to change this setting, open System Preferences and click on your currently used interface (Ethernet, AirPort, etc.). Click on the TCP/IP settings for the interface -- at the bottom if you see a button which says 'Configure IPv6...' click that and set it to "Off." Press the Apply Now button.

On a related note, another reader notes the network performance boost offered by this method:

"I read about the speed increase turning off IPv6. I hadn't noticed any network slowdown with the change to 10.4.5, but I decided to try it anyway. Wow, what a difference! Accessing other machines on our network is now almost instant. Thanks so much, everyone who doesn't specifically need IPv6 should do this as a matter of course!"

Slow Finder operation -- another fix Users continue to report extremely degraded Finder performance after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.5, particularly when using column view mode and performing some other operations.

One MacFixIt reader writes

"I have a 550 MHz PowerBook with 1 GB RAM and an 80 GB HD. The Finder performance on Mac OS X 10.4.5 is much slower than in Mac OS X 10.4.4. This is especially notable when making new folders and moving items from the desktop inside folders and moving anything from the Desktop to the trash. I have relaunched the finder, rebuilt the directory using DiskWarrior, repaired permissions, run all the chron scripts, all to no avail."

Deleting the com.apple.windowserver.plist file In some cases, Finder performance issues can be resolved by simply deleting the com.apple.windowserver.plist (located in /Library/Preferences) file then restarting.

Last resort -- Re-install system Some users have reported that completely re-installing Mac OS X using an Archive and Install then re-updating to Mac OS X 10.4.5 resolved the issue.

Problems automatically joining AirPort networks -- fix Some users have reported recurrence of an old issue under Mac OS X 10.4.5 -- the inability to automatically join AirPort networks after waking from sleep, starting up or first turning the AirPort card on.

One MacFixIt reader writes:

"I purchased the new Intel iMac. After the Mac OS X 10.4.5 update my AirPort Express will not join my wireless network automatically. I can go to the AirPort icon and manually join but who wants to do this when it was joining automatically before the update.

Solution -- deleting AirPort keychain entry Many users are able to resolve this issue by deleting the AirPort keychain entry.

This can be accomplished by opening the "Keychain Access" application, located in Applications/Utilities.

In the upper left corner, navigate to the "System" set of keychains. Delete the afflicted AirPort network keychain entries, then re-establish a connection to the network, re-entering authentication information.

SoundSticks not functional Some readers are reporting loss of connection to their Apple SoundStick speakers after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.5.

In some cases this issue can be resolved by simply switching the SoundSticks to a different USB port.

In other cases, the solution is to launch the Audio MIDI Setup in /Applications/Utilities, and change the setting from "1 channel 16 bits" to "2 channels 16 bits."

Problems burning media A handful of users are reporting issues recording optical media from within Apple's applications or with third-party apps after the update to Mac OS X 10.4.5.

One reader writes:

"Just attempted to burn a DVD for the first time since upgrading to OSX 10.4.5 and the "estimated time to completion" for a 4.2GB DVD burn says 6 minutes. But in reality it's been 10 minutes since I started this burn. And this was after creating a coaster the first time around (I grew impatient and aborted the DVD burn)"

Final Cut Express HD will not launch One reader reports problems launching Final Cut Express HD after the update Mac OS X 10.4.5. He writes:

"Since I installed 10.4.5 on my dual 2.5GHz PowerMac I cannot launch Final Cut Express HD. I'm running version 3.0 since the 3.1 updater says it is not needed. The app crashes immediately on launch."

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

Previous coverage:

• Mac OS X 10.4.5 (#5): Slow Finder interface operation -- possible fixes; Confirmation for network slowness fix; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.5 (#4): Network slowness -- possible fix; Slow Finder operation; More on Mighty Mouse problems; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.5 (#3): Mighty Mouse issues -- won't scroll down; Special permissions can be ignored; more
• Mac OS X 10.4.5 (#2): General purpose workarounds; Reverting to 10.4.4; USB Overdrive broken, now fixed; QuickTime problems; more
• Apple releases Mac OS X 10.4.5 in PowerPC, Intel, Server versions

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