Mac OS X Update 10.3.1 Available

Installed by __aavhli5779 · 2003-11-10 11:24 · Score: 3, Interesting

I don't have a FireWire 800 drive nor do I use FileVault, so I doubt I'll benefit much from any of the improvements, but it's just too much not to install the latest OS X update. :)

Unfortunately, it hasn't fixed the one bug I've been experiencing so far, which is with certain pop-up menu widgets. If it has a text-entry box and a pop-up widget, the menu will pop up for a split second and then go away, even if I keep the mouse depressed. This does not happen with normal pop-up widgets.

Odd.

Re:Installed by lullabud · 2003-11-10 11:36 · Score: 4, Insightful

you know, i used to install all the latest updates as soon as my mac found them. that all changed when i installed the 10.2.8 update and the ethernet card on my g4 tower quit working, and my dock went into a crash loop. from then on i have been waiting a few days.. no sense in rushing to upgrade when my software already works.
Re:Installed by Demolition · 2003-11-10 20:39 · Score: 4, Informative

Well, in the case of lullabud's Ethernet issues, Apple may deserve blame. See the following Apple Knowledge Base article:

Mac OS X 10.2.8: Can't Connect via Ethernet After Installing Update

His other statement (about waiting a few days before installing an OS update) is good advice, echoed by Mac troubleshooting websites such as MacFixIt and MacInTouch. Both offer excellent coverage of (and cures for) issues brought about by Mac OS updates. Reading the troubleshooting reports before installing an update can prevent a lot of unnecessary grief.

I'll also note that Apple's own Discussion Forums) provide a place to seek troubleshooting advice and/or a place to vent your frustrations. Since Apple employees monitor the discussion threads, it's possible that at least some of what's posted there is noted and acted upon.

D.
Re:Installed by lullabud · 2003-11-11 05:13 · Score: 2, Informative

i never said that the update alone caused the problems. in fact, i know that the update along with transparent dock caused the problem, however, knowing that was no consolation when my dock was crashing before my eyes and i had to ssh into my box to fix things. that experience has given me hesitance to update, lest i end up in some other problematic situation, whether it's cause is purely apple's or not. placing blame or even finding the cause is still not a solution, so i choose to try to not have problems in the first place.

FileVault by Nutcase · 2003-11-10 11:26 · Score: 5, Interesting

From my limited experience with FileVault, it securely deletes files... The problem is that it does it to files you need, when you don't ask it to. Or at least it did to me, when it nuked my entire keychain and nearly required a reinstall to repair. I have since turned it off.

It is said that this update fixes bugs with Filevault, and I have installed it, but i am still /very/ hesitant to reenable filevault.

Besides, It would be better to enable it by folder (any folder) instead of simply the home dir. I would love to just encrypt my documents dir and leave my music available. That would make more sense, and probably speed things up as well.

Re:FileVault by burns210 · 2003-11-10 12:36 · Score: 2, Informative

well, as long as you back things up, you should be able to have your laptop harddrive get nuked(or stolen, since it is suppose to be for security use) and not have a problem...

it is sad though, that such a cool feature is having initial difficulty. hope everything gets ironed out completely by Apple.
Re:FileVault by NaugaHunter · 2003-11-10 13:14 · Score: 2, Informative

This is already possible. Use Disk Copy to make a Disk Image with encryption. You can then make this as paranoid as you want - either highly: manual opening, and don't save the password in Keychain. Or low, with Applescripts to automatically open and close it during login and logout. Used with aliases and/or links it could probably be made fairly transparent. However, I've had one of these get hosed when it was automatically ejected after clearing a screen-saver, so your milage may vary.

--
R: That voice. Where have I heard that voice before? B: In about 365 other episodes. But I don't know who it is either.
Re:FileVault by Pendersempai · 2003-11-10 15:45 · Score: 3, Funny

As they come through the door just yell "Suck on that! Encrypted and all I had to do was take a 35% performance hit in everything I do!"
And they'd yell back "Suck on THIS! Here's a subpoena; now decrypt the volume or become a felon!"
:)
Re:FileVault by martinX · 2003-11-11 02:09 · Score: 3, Funny

I'm afraid that the head-clubbing that your goons dealt to me has made me forget the password. sorry.

--
When they came for the communists, I said "He's next door. Take him away. Goddam commies."
Re:FileVault by Graff · 2003-11-11 04:42 · Score: 2, Informative

I would love to just encrypt my documents dir and leave my music available.

That's easy enough to do, just make an encrypted disk image using Disk Utility (Disk Copy in pre-10.3). Copy everything you want encrypted to it. Then just open it when you need your stuff, it takes only a second to open. You can even make it a login item and save the password in your keychain so it automatically opens on login.

The only difference is you'll have a documents volume instead of a documents folder, no big whoop there since it all pretty much works about the same. If you want to make it look like it is in the same old spot then make a soft link from the Documents folder to the Documents volume.

--
Sapere aude!
Re:FileVault by andreMA · 2003-11-11 12:15 · Score: 2, Insightful

By refusing to give the password, you buy time to try to have the subpoena quashed on merits (or lack thereof).

I Wonder ... by Mad_Fred · 2003-11-10 11:29 · Score: 2, Insightful

Is it Apple who pushes restarts after updates just to be sure, or are other OSs much better at updating themselves without needing a restart? I even like how Windows lets me dismiss the prompts to restart until I decide to do so on my own better than Apple's approach. Sure, it may not make much practical difference, but the Windows way feels friendlier. Except when it reboots without warning of course ...

Re:I Wonder ... by bpbond · 2003-11-10 11:40 · Score: 3, Informative

This has been discussed previously on apple.slashdot. The short answer, as I remember, was yes, you can usually do one-by-one reloads of the appropriate libraries, drivers, etc., without a restart--but why would you go to that trouble? (Unless you're super-anal about your uptime.) Restarting is fast and easy.

Also, the installer doesn't force you to restart that instant; just hide it, go on working, and restart at your convenience.

--
"Science is a tribute to what we can know although we are fallible" -Jacob Bronowski
Re:I Wonder ... by sporty · 2003-11-10 11:41 · Score: 2, Insightful

Not all updates require restarts. Some which I suspect use kernel extensions, prolly do, just to ensure that they get unloaded and reloaded properly.

--
-
ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only
Re:I Wonder ... by segvio · 2003-11-10 11:47 · Score: 3, Informative

Command-Option-Escape. Force quit software update once it has done the install. You can also 'kill' the process the *nix way. You can now reboot when you want, with out the nagging dialog box.
Re:I Wonder ... by Nexum · 2003-11-10 12:15 · Score: 3, Interesting

Yeah... like recently a friend with a brand new Windows XP notebook brought it round to use my DSL to download some files...

I plugged it into the network, and loaded up IE... *nothing*, IE reports no internet connection.

Hmm, that should'nt happen, I'll go take a look in the Internet configuration options...

Ah, there's the problem, silly XP didn't/doesn't detect it has a network now, I'll just go to the LAN settings and change them... there we go, Accept>OK.

Type in an address... ... ... Oh no, still no internet.

Weird says I, that should have worked. Went and ran through the Internet Connection Wizard...

Yes I want to connect to the internet via a network, Yes it's a home network, Yes I'd rather like you to find the settings automatically.

WINDOWS XP WIZARD: "Windows XP is setting up your internet configuration, please wait"
(Window with animation of computer sliding down a wire toward another computer)

Still waiting...

Still waiting...

Still waiting (now taken a few minutes

WINDOWS XP WIZARD: "The Windows Internet Configuration Wizard has now successfully set up your internet settings (I'm ever so clever)."

ME: "Joy! At last!"

WINDOWS XP WIZARD: "But first of all, Windows XP needs to restart before these new settings take effect"

FFS - this is the LATEST operating system from MS, and I am REBOOTING to get it to access the internet from a HOME NETWORK!?!?!?!?

I couldn't believe it... My PowerBook on the other hand, I took it out of the box, it was already charged, and I powered it up, and it found the (wireless) network instantly, I had internet access straight away. (And the PC was connected with CAT 5 to the Router, so it didn't even need to bother with the added complexity of wireless). Sigh... I remember XP being bad... but I really actually gave it more credit than that.

--

This sig has been deprecated.
Re:I Wonder ... by ZackSchil · 2003-11-10 18:01 · Score: 4, Insightful

I've seen Win XP do either one at different times. Someimes it needs a restart, sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the hardware or something. Maybe when you run the Wizard it resets a lot of important stuff so a restart is needed but manually changing small things doesn't.

No matter which way you call it, it's just as, if not more sloppy than OS X's update restart thing. If I know what the security update is changing, I sometimes force quite the app that's telling me to restart and then reload ssh (or whatever component has changed) from the command line. If the uber-geeks at Slashdot would stop projecting or (if they're not blatantly trolling) start looking at problems objectively, they might gain some valuable skills.

"After patching Linux I can do X and keep my machine on!"
"Well have you tried a variation of X in Mac OS X to keep your machine up and benefit from updates? No? Why not?"
Re:I Wonder ... by TClevenger · 2003-11-11 04:56 · Score: 2, Insightful

Interesting, I never had that problem. Just minimize Software Update until you're ready to reboot, then bring it back up and click "Restart." I've never had it force me to restart.
Re:I Wonder ... by valkraider · 2003-11-11 06:29 · Score: 2, Interesting

Wow, I had this exact same problem! I have a regular home network, that I have 3 Macs (all now running 10.3.1) and two x86s running windows 2k.

A relative comes to visit, plugs in their shiny new $2500 Dell with Windows XP, and it won't connect to the network at all. It has an internal 802.11b card that won't connect to my 802.11b network - no matter what I try. So I give up, disable the wireless and try hardwired to the internal Ethernet port. Nope, still won't see the network. It took almost three hours and several reboots to get XP working.

By contrast, when we recieved our new AlBook, we turned it on and the airport Extreme saw our wireless connection, and started working. No hassles. I have also plugged it in wired to the network - still works just fine.

Now all of you guys are probably going to call me an Apple fanboy or addict or something like that. So what about the Win2k boxes I mentioned? They are both laptops and they both work fine with our wired AND wireless networks.

But the XP was a nightmare.

Re:How About Fixing Windows Printing by austad · 2003-11-10 11:39 · Score: 4, Informative

This works, but it's not documented anywhere. Change your cupsd.conf to allow access from your other machines, not just localhost. Then when adding the printer on your windows box, for the location type in:
http://:631/printer/printername

It will force windows to use IPP when printing to the printer, and it works great on my network.

--
Need Free Juniper/NetScreen Support? JuniperForum

Re:How About Fixing Windows Printing by austad · 2003-11-10 11:44 · Score: 4, Informative

oops, slashdot's filter took out the part before the :631, it should be the ip of your mac. I had it enclosed in less than/greater than signs.

http://[ip of your mac]:631/printers/printername

--
Need Free Juniper/NetScreen Support? JuniperForum

/usr/sbin/softwareupdate by babbage · 2003-11-10 12:33 · Score: 4, Informative

For those that haven't seen it yet, updates can be done from the command line. The interface for the command has changed with Panther; it will accept a --help argument now, for example, and called with no arguments you get the help text (where under Jaguar this would have retrieved a list of current pending updates).

The command for the 10.3.1 upgrade is

sudo softwareupdate -i MacOSXUpdate10.3.1-10.3.1

Now go upgrade your work machine from home, or your home machine from work... :-)

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DO NOT LEAVE IT IS NOT REAL

Re:/usr/sbin/softwareupdate by usr122122121 · 2003-11-10 13:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

I have succesfully updated this machine on the command line since failing to do QT 6.4. It's just this one update. Any advice for getting it to work remotely (I am 3500 miles away from it and unlikely to be near it any time soon)?
If you're 3500 miles away from the computer, I can't imagine having the newest QuickTime on it is a high priority :-p

--

-braxton
Re:/usr/sbin/softwareupdate by DonnarsHmr · 2003-11-10 20:52 · Score: 2, Informative

I went through the same troubles until I noticed a stange dialog box on the screen when I got home. The QuickTime 6.4 installer prompts for user input part way through. If you're doing the upgrade remotely over ssh, the dialog opens on the remote screen. You have to physically access the machine, or use a protocol like VNC, to access the GUI remotely. AFAIK, there is no was to do this install solely through the command line. You have to access the GUI one way or another.

window selection by roninmagus · 2003-11-10 13:03 · Score: 2, Interesting

My buddy at school showed me this on his mac notebook.

One cool feature he pointed out was the ability to zoom out all the windows. You could then click on one you want, which is then zoomed into the foreground with focus.

I thought that was the coolest thing under the sun, no more alt-tabbing craziness.

Any idea if someone could implement this ability into X or the current top window managers?

Re:window selection by BitGeek · 2003-11-10 13:32 · Score: 2, Informative

You're talking about expose.

If you have apple's X11 server installed (comes with panther, but not installed by default) the xwindows are just like regular windows and expose cleans them up and lets you pick the one you want-- along with all the other open windows. Or just among the open x windows if you choose the "pick from apps windows" version of expose.

The x integration seems pretty well done, though I haven't used it much.

--
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23/ 1816257

Anyone else by backlonthethird · 2003-11-10 13:19 · Score: 2, Insightful

going to wait on this one? Just remembering 10.2.8 here..

Re:Anyone else by stripes · 2003-11-11 09:17 · Score: 2, Interesting

10.2.8 was a notable anomaly in Apple update history. It unintentionally disabled Ethernet on some-not-all 3+ year old dual processor G4s, not a good thing and inexcusable, but not exactly widespread or havoc-wreaking either.

Er, and don't forget the other notable anomaly, one of the first iTunes updates forgot to handle spaces in file names (which are common on Macs) and could delete vast swaths of your stuff.
Other then those two I can't think of any bad upgrade experiences from Apple.

Re:Lack of secure erasure upon enabling verified. by BoboTheMonkey · 2003-11-10 13:45 · Score: 2, Informative

just created a new user account, created a new testing text file directly saved into the home folder of the new account, copied it a couple of times for good measure, enabled filevault, ... booted off of the norton cd, and indeed those files where found and recovered... so, securemac is correct in its advisory.

"From my limited experience with FileVault, it securely deletes files...Or at least it did to me, when it nuked my entire keychain and nearly required a reinstall to repair" the issue of files being destroyed in FileVault is another bug entirely, ... even though I hate being pompus, rtfa next time ... .or, if you're trying to be humorous, it's very, very dry humor.

New terminal how-to by djupedal · 2003-11-10 14:46 · Score: 2, Informative

[Mine:~] metoo% softwareupdate -l Software Update Tool Copyright 2002-2003 Apple Computer, Inc. Software Update found the following new or updated software: ! MacOSXUpdate10.3.1-10.3.1 Mac OS X Update, 10.3.1, 1292K [required] [restart] ========== The 10.3.1 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: FileVault, Printing, WebDav, and FireWire 800 drives. This update also includes the latest Security Updates. Important Note: Apple has identified an issue with external FireWire hard drives using the Oxford 922 bridge chip-set with firmware version 1.02 that can result in the loss of data stored on the disk drive. Even with the improvements available in this update, Apple recommends you update the firmware on your FireWire drive. Please contact your drive manufacturer for more information.

Notify me of incoming calls by macmurph · 2003-11-10 20:39 · Score: 2, Informative

Ever since installing Panther, I haven't been notified of any incoming calls while I am online. The feature is turned on in the System Preferences>Network>Modem Tab... but incoming calls to my v.92 PowerBook modem aren't triggering the proper "answer, ignore" dialog box.

The 10.3.1 update did not fix this bug either.

Anyone else having problems with this flakey feature?

It used to work for me in Jaguar reasonably well.

Any problems with 10.3.1 yet? by watsondk · 2003-11-10 21:52 · Score: 2, Insightful

after losing 212GB in the Panther Firewire fsckup, its going to take a great deal for me to have any confidence in Apple ever again.

Anyone installed this update? with firewire drives attached?

Anyone come across any problems?

Once burned, now even more paranoid than usual

Re:Any problems with 10.3.1 yet? by valkraider · 2003-11-11 06:12 · Score: 2, Insightful

Of course the firmware update was unnecessary because it was all Apple's fault, right?

Apparantly there was a problem with the firmware in those drives as well - and the actual problem required TWO things to be exactly right. A certain condition in Panther had to exist at the same time as a certain condition in the firewire.

The simple fact of the matter is that no one party is at fault. Things like this happen, and it is impossible to protect against every possible variable that can exist!

As is true with any system - if you have important data that you can't afford to lose - keep it backed up during an upgrade. Backed up to a media that is safe, something like tape or DVD or something like that.

Firewire hard disks are still hard disks and are subject to the same risks as the disks inside the computer...

I was stupid and didn't move some stuff correctly which caused me to do some extra work to get it back after my upgrade... But that was my fault.. Live and learn, eh?

Active directory roaming profiles by Hunts · 2003-11-10 23:14 · Score: 2, Informative

Since Installing 10.3.1 update, I've been unable to to use any logins that are taken from active directory. A bit of a problem since I use my windows login for my main account :/. I'm now having to login to my mac using the admin account.
Anyone else having this problem?

--
"Enlightenment is your ego's biggest disappointment." --Yoginanda

Don't assume... by Cadre · 2003-11-11 00:33 · Score: 4, Informative

It's not possible for someone to reset your password to circumvent FileVault.

It's a symmetric encryption system and your password is being used as a key to encrypt your home directory. If somebody were to boot single user and change your user's password then login they'd just get an error because the new password couldn't unencrypt your home directory.

This release looks like it cleaned up those nasty home-directory-gets-nuked bugs and is probably pretty solid.

--
All editorial writers ever do is come down from the hill after the battle is over and shoot the wounded.

Free Update ;) by hexdcml · 2003-11-11 01:14 · Score: 2, Funny

Heh, silly mortal f00ls who paid for their copy of 10.3
I'll just sneaky sneaky download and patch my 10.2.6 system with 10.3.1.

:D Shhh! just don't tell Apple!

--
Fight Crime - Shoot Back!

but it doesn't matter, does it... by thatguywhoiam · 2003-11-11 03:02 · Score: 3, Insightful

I've seen Win XP do either one at different times. Someimes it needs a restart, sometimes it doesn't. Depends on the hardware or something. Maybe when you run the Wizard it resets a lot of important stuff so a restart is needed but manually changing small things doesn't... No matter which way you call it, it's just as, if not more sloppy than OS X's update restart thing. If I know what the security update is changing, I sometimes force quite the app that's telling me to restart and then reload ssh (or whatever component has changed) from the command line. If the uber-geeks at Slashdot would stop projecting or (if they're not blatantly trolling) start looking at problems objectively, they might gain some valuable skills.

That's fine and good, and I see your point (assuming the XP machine was patching itself)... but at the end of the day...

He plugged in the XP laptop and it didn't want to work right away. The Mac laptop did. Now, if you are an 'average user', do you care about what's going on there? Or do you just want the damn thing to work?

--
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.

powerbook "sleep" light dimmer? by ThreeToe · 2003-11-11 06:47 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is strange. Ever since I installed 10.3.1, my powerbook's sleep light (y'know, the one on the button to open the screen) has been much, much dimmer. Either my PBG4 is about to explode or Apple decided to chill it out a bit.

Anyone else seen this?

The Update - A One-Man Psychodrama by thatguywhoiam · 2003-11-11 07:49 · Score: 4, Funny

INT. NIGHTTIME - HOME OFFICE

We see THATGUY, sitting in front of his POWERBOOK. On screen, an ICON is hopping up and down like an overcaffeinated Chihuahua. THATGUY signs heavily.

THATGUY Oh no... it's here. 10.3.1.

(drums fingers on desk rapidly)

THATGUY This probably fixes FileVault, and that FireWire bug.

(drums fingers)

THATGUY And other stuff. Fuck.

In the BG, we hear audio of a CHORUS OF VOICES shouting negatives like NO DON'T DO IT, and ARE YOU INSANE and HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED YOUR LESSON? A single voice becomes louder in the din.

THATGUY Must... update....

His FINGER reaches for the pulsating UPDATE NOW button.

ALL-POWERFUL SLASHDOT VOICE Are you seriously going to do that? Really?

THATGUY But I must! It'll be better... Apple is almost always bet-

APSV (BOOMING) YOU FOOL. DON'T YOU REMEMBER THE ITUNES BUG? THE 10.2.8 DEBACLE? THE VERY BUGS WE JUST ENCOUNTERED IN PANTHER?? You have got to be the STUPIDEST L0SER EVAR!!11!!1

THATGUY but... the Panther, she is beautiful, and I must help fix the-

APSV IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT IF YOU LOOSE YOUR DATA

THATGUY I have backups!

APSV (BOOMING again) THOSE CD-RS ONLY HAVE A SHELF LIFE OF 6 YEARS YOU KNOW, SURELY YOU HAVE A WEBDAV-

As the voice is booming, THATGUY reaches and quickly clicks the UPDATE button. A stunned silence. He looks sheepish.

APSV .....FOOL! YOUR IGNORANCE IS YOUR UNDOING. DON'T ASK ME FOR HELP WHEN YOUR DRIVE IS FSCK'D.

THATGUY Well, you wouldn't help me before, now, would you?

APSV True. FADE OUT

--
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.

Lid closes versus open by SuperBanana · 2003-11-11 09:26 · Score: 3, Informative

This is strange. Ever since I installed 10.3.1, my powerbook's sleep light (y'know, the one on the button to open the screen) has been much, much dimmer. Either my PBG4 is about to explode or Apple decided to chill it out a bit.

Close the lid, instead of choosing sleep- or close the lid while it's asleep. Believe it or not, "lid open" sleep mode uses a much dimmer light.

I suppose it's possible Apple got a lot of complaints about the brighter mode(I know it was annoying as hell at night in my bedroom, felt like I was about to be abducted by aliens) and just set it to dim all the time.

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Please help metamoderate.

Don't update Panther Beta by pr0nbot · 2003-11-12 00:44 · Score: 2, Informative

If you're running a Panther Beta, you'll see the 10.3.1 update in software updates. DON'T INSTALL IT. The kernel extensions it installs aren't compatible with the Beta kernel and your machine won't boot.

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Mac OS X Update 10.3.1 Available

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