Mac OS X 10.3.8 (#9): Garbled display, other wake-from-sleep issues; Safari World Leaks (cont.)

Garbled display on wake (cont.) We continue covering an issue where after upgrading to Mac OS X 10.3.8, their PowerBook screens become scrambled -- displaying what looks like the result of a broken plasma tube (though nothing is wrong with the actual hardware).

For users experiencing this issue, it occurs with high frequency. Most report the problem 60-100% of the time they wake their machines from sleep.

It should also be noted that this problem is not specific to Mac OS X 10.3.8; there has merely been an increase in the reported incidence since users have applied the update.

For some users, the issue manifests not as the "warped plasma" visual mentioned above, but rather as a series of random horizontal black blocks.

MacFixIt reader Ira Altschiller writes:

"I have noted waking from sleep on my G4 powerbook often will result in a series of random horizontal black blocks -- something I had never seen before Mac OS X 10.3.8."

For others, the issue appears only for a split second that fades away to reveal a normal display:

MacFixIt reader Jeff writes: "I also get a garbled display on my 15" 1.25GHz PowerBook after waking from sleep, but only for a split-second, and then the screen returns to normal. It's a somewhat recent development that unnerved me at first; but thankfully, the garbled effect has never "stuck." I think it happens with higher frequency when waking from sleep after the screensaver has been activated (vs. the computer falling asleep before the screensaver comes on)."

Other Macs affected? Though the vast majority of users reporting this issue are using Mac OS X 10.3.8-upgraded PowerBooks, some are reporting garbled display after wake-up on other Macs -- particularly iMac G5 models.

One reader writes "I have been experiencing the garbled display on my 20" G5 Imac when waking from sleep, again it isn't every time but probably around 50%."

Another user corroborates "The issue mentioned in today's report 'Garbled display after waking from sleep on some PowerBooks' also happens exactly the same way on my iMac G5."

Other issues when coming out of sleep Meanwhile, users are reporting a variety of other issues that occur when waking from sleep under Mac OS X 10.3.8.

One reader writes" "After installing Mac OS X 10.3.8 (Combo) my 1 GHz 17" PowerBook has had several problems waking up from sleep asking for the password: neither the keyboard nor the trackpad has been operational. The only way I've found to get past this is to connect an external keyboard-mouse combination or restarting (actually forcing a restart if there's no external keyboard-mouse to use)."

MacFixIt reader Tim adds: " "I upgraded to 10.3.8 on 2/11 and since that time I have had a consistent problem with my PowerBook crashing after it comes out of sleep mode. The computer wakes up and then after 3-4 seconds, the screen dims and a grey error message informs me that I have to restart. The computer also locks up on every other start up - also requiring a hard restart."

If you are having any wake-from-sleep issues since installing Mac OS X 10.3.8, please let us know.

Safari World Leaks (cont.): Caused by Saft? Yesterday we reported on an increase in the number of "World Leak" error messages generated by Safari under Mac OS X 10.3.8.

World Leaks are error messages generated by Safari's Debug menu option. They are only useful for developers, and should be of no concern to general users. In order to eliminate the messages, go back into the debug menu, and de-select the option called "Always Check for World Leaks".

MacFixIt reader Apta now reports that the presence of the shareware add-on "Saft" may be partly responsible for some of the new World Leaks.

"I have not recently been experiencing World Leaks every time I close windows in Safari 1.2.4 (v125.12). It turns out I had installed Saft 7.5.2 last week. I experimented with and without Saft and sure enough the World Leaks disappeared when I uninstalled it."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Resources