Mac OS X 10.4.10 (#5): Wireless connectivity issues

Audio popping: two .kext files may need to be replaced We continue to report on an issue where "popping" noises emanate from internal or external speakers on some systems after updating to Mac OS X 10.4.10. This issue may be caused by a component of the internal audio hardware switching on and off -- perhaps a new power-saving feature introduced in 10.4.10.

We've separately recommended the reversion of two specific kernel extensions for alleviation of this problem: /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext and /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext and /System/Library/Extensions/IOAudioFamily.kext. However, some readers have reported that both of these files need to be reverted to the copies included with Mac OS X 10.4.9 in order to eliminate the popping noise. Instructions are as follows:

1. Download the appropriate Mac OS X 10.4.9 combo updater from Apple's download page.
2. Download and install the shareware application Pacifist
3. Drag the Mac OS X combo installer package (e.g. MacOSXUpd10.4.9Intel.pkg) onto the Pacifist application icon.
4. Click the disclosure triangles next to System, then Library then Extensions and find the file AppleHDA.kext.
5. Select the file AppleHDA.kext and click the Install button in Pacifist. You will be required to enter your administrator password.
6. Click the disclosure triangles next to System, then Library then Extensions and find the file IOAudioFamily.kext.
7. Select the file IOAudioFamily.kext and click the Install button in Pacifist. You will be required to enter your administrator password.
8. Go back to the Mac OS X Finder and navigate to /System/Library. Drag the file Extensions.kextcache to the Trash. You will be required to enter your administrator password.
9. Restart your Mac

To reiterate, you should generally not mix and match components from different system versions because of potential compatibility issues. You will also lose any refinements brought about by the revision. Still, in a bind, replacing newer items with older ones can solve otherwise insoluble issues.

[8:45 AM update]

In our earlier coverage of the Mac OS X 10.4.10 update, we noted that some users were reporting Airport card wireless connectivity issues that have arisen following installation of the update. Now a number of threads over on Apple?s discussion forums seem to indicate that the problem is fairly widespread.

The common symptom is apparently that, while the menu bar indicator continues to show a strong signal, connectivity has in fact been lost. This loss of connectivity seems to happen with some regularity, such as every ten minutes or so, and can occur even in the middle of a download.

Some users also report kernel panics, where these were not occurring prior to the application of the 10.4.10 update.

The problems appear to be due to software, not hardware, because other operating systems running under BootCamp on the same machine (such as Windows) display no such connectivity issues. Suggestions such as rebooting the router do not appear to help.

Suggested solutions include switching the Airport card off, then on again. Also, there is some indication that changing the security type from WPA2 to WEP can alleviate the problem, though of course WEP is now regarded as a much lower level of security.

Reader Brian reports success solving the problem by reverting to the 10.4.9 version of AppleAirPort.kext. (The procedure is described in our wireless connectivity tutorial, which may contain other useful suggestions as well.)

Please let us know if you?re experiencing possibly related issues.

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