Filed under: OS, Software Update, Bad Apple
OS X 10.4.10 update causing widespread wifi problems?
We already mentioned the audio bug that popped up with the OS X 10.4.10 update (since hopefully corrected). Now reader Josh writes in to say that 10.4.10 also introduced a nasty wifi bug that's apparently causing both repeated connection loss and even kernel panics for a lot of users. There's a long thread on the Apple discussions boards, and independent confirmations from around the macweb. The main workaround so far is to go wired (which is hardly a workaround if you ask me). If you haven't thus far updated, it would probably be a good idea to hold off yet again until Apple can get this fixed. How many of you are experiencing problems?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Pieter said 7:29AM on 7-24-2007
> How many of you are experiencing problems?
No problem here. I have a MacBook Pro (17") and a LinkSys WRT54G wireless router.
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Nick Pope said 7:31AM on 7-24-2007
I updated my Macbook Pro to 10.4.10 and I have been having annoying Wifi problems ever since. I can stay connected via wireless for 10 mins to even an hour before it randomly stops sending packets. The only way to restore connectivity is to sleep/wakeup. Sometimes wakeup will KP the machine (I've had 2 in as many weeks).
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Jon said 7:33AM on 7-24-2007
I have experienced two problems:
1. My WiFi connection has always been pretty unreliable but it's been really bad of late. I have the router in my room and I will click a link and the lights won't flash at all and it will display the "processing" icon for AGES. My solution is to go up to the Airport icon, disconnect and then reconnect and it works immediately.
2. When I put my MacBook to sleep by closing the lid, sometimes (not always) the DVD drive will keep making a noise every so often. It's really annoying when I'm trying to sleep and the only way to stop it is to shut the machine down. It's the same noise that the drive makes when you wake it up from sleep and it's either due to 10.4.10 or the recent DVD drive firmware patch.
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Hervé Sainct said 7:36AM on 7-24-2007
No trouble here, MBP 17' ('previous' core duo proc.)
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Mac Diva said 7:37AM on 7-24-2007
Interesting. Since installing .10, I've been having kernel panics at many different Wi-Fi sites. (That matters because I know a couple of local Wi-Fi sites to be badly configured; don't expect much of them.) More consecutive kernel panics than I've ever had in 12 years of using Mac laptops. Another thing that happens is System Preferences failing while I am fiddling with the Network Preferences panel, trying to get Wi-Fi to work. I have to force quit SysPref. Anyone else?
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Matt said 7:37AM on 7-24-2007
No problems–Mac Mini Core Solo.
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Craig said 7:38AM on 7-24-2007
I've been experiencing this problem since I got my MB in September last year. Lately it has been getting worse, maybe dropping the wifi connection once every 30 minutes.
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Eevee1 said 7:42AM on 7-24-2007
My Mac Mini's KPing more often since I put 10.4.10 on, and that uses wireless to go online.
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Adam said 7:43AM on 7-24-2007
I'm getting the kernel panic problem on my 15" 2.2 Core 2 Duo MBP. Most annoying is that when this situation occurs, I generally can't reboot right away; it seems I need to go back and boot from my install disc, and then do a normal reboot. If I try rebooting normally, it hangs before even reaching the Apple ding.
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Rob B. said 7:51AM on 7-24-2007
I have a Mac Book Core Duo and have been having flaky wi-fi since the .10 update as well. Thankfully no KPs (knock on wood). Rather than using wired networking, I've found that my connection seems more stable when using wireless if I just use AC power rather than battery power. I've not lost a connection yet, when using wireless and my AC adapter. Anyone else find this to be a work-around as well?
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Milind said 7:59AM on 7-24-2007
Whoof! Thank god I didn't update mine to .10! 10.4.9 rules!!!
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Ricky Clay said 7:59AM on 7-24-2007
I had this problemj long before .10 with loss of wifi connections. I had a LinkSys WRT54G wireless router and there are long threads on the linksys forum about it on Macs, which linksys doesn't support. I switched to a Belkin and the problems went away even on .10. I have on old G3 imac, a Mini Core Duo, a PB G3 and two ibooks connecting to it.
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Anton said 7:59AM on 7-24-2007
I have the same problem. Happened to me 4 times now. I noticed that it only happens when running on battery. The connection has always been good though.
Jon! I had the same problem with the DVD drive on my 2.00ghz CoreDuo MBP. It started happening after it came back from the repair (screen replacement). I took it to Apple store and it turned out that the logic board was damaged during the screen replacement. 3 days later I got a call from Apple Store and was told that they decided to give me a new c2d 2.33Ghz and it was ready for pick up with all the data already transfered.
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patrice said 8:00AM on 7-24-2007
* Touching wood *
So far no Wifi problems on my iBook G4. But laptop generally does not work as well as it used to pre-10.4.9. (10.4.9 is when it started misbehaving.) Cache on HD fills up like crazy (just from using Safari), does not free up after all apps have been quit, and sometimes Shutdown takes FOREVER.
I am becoming more and more disillusioned with Apple & Mac OS X.
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Ricky Clay said 8:00AM on 7-24-2007
Sorry abou the spelling. It's a PB G4, its early, and I'm not wearing my glasses.
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Jeff said 8:01AM on 7-24-2007
Apple has acknowledged the bug, and is working on a fix, as covered by MacRumors.
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/07/10/mac-os-10-4-10-and-macbook-airport-issues/
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Kelmon said 8:02AM on 7-24-2007
I'm not certain. I have a Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro (Oct 06 revision) and have experienced my first 2 kernel panics with it at the weekend. Since the only aspect of my system that I believe had changed since my total reinstall at the weekend was the use of Logitech's own mouse drivers (I had been using SteerMouse before) I put the crashes down to this, uninstalled the drivers and installed SteerMouse again (no problems so far). However, one of the kernel panics did happen when I was working with my Airport Extreme network (I think it happened when I clicked the Airport icon on the menu bar) so perhaps I am having an issue with this as well.
I will say that I had not had any kernel panics since installing the 10.4.10 update and reinstalling my system (a period of a few weeks I think) so my chief suspect is still the Logitech drivers.
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Sietepestes said 8:02AM on 7-24-2007
Macbook 2nd Gen. I dont have any problems with WiFi...
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Todd Dominey said 8:05AM on 7-24-2007
Drops out for me *all the time* on my MacBook Pro. It's definitely not my network, for that hasn't changed. I didn't have these issues until 10.4.10.
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ant said 8:06AM on 7-24-2007
Hey there - since my up date to 10.4.10 & losing my wifi capabilities (about 2 weeks ago), I've been forced to use boot camp on my MacBook Pro. Scary thing is I'm starting to like XP! Someone shoot me please!
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