OSX 10.4.9 Bug

[rongold]

Since updating to 10.4.9 and its new method of checking disk images before mounting them, I have had recurrent problems mounting disk images. Even freshly down-loaded OSX 10.4.9 Combo Updater.dmg failed to mount. THe problem has been well described in MacFixit's Special Report on 10.4.9 (http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20070318234629161).

None of the work-arounds suggested in the Special Report on OS X 10.4.9 in MacFixit including:

1. booting in Safe Mode (by holding down the Shift key while starting up), then re-attempting mounting of the disk image.

2. Deleting the following files

* /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache
* /System/Library/com.apple.kernelcaches

and re-attempting the mount.
 These, and other cache files, are automatically deleted when you boot in safe mode, but you can potentially save some time by trying deletion of these files (then logging out and back in) first.

3. using  an alternative tool that can mount disk images, like Toast Titanium.

Apple has posted a KB article #30511
(http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305111)
about the supposedly more robust ability of 10.49 to detect damaged or corrupted disk images. This robustness seems to be the cause of my problems.

The problem first appeared for me on both my G4 1 GHz iMac and on my Core 2 Duo MacBook immediately after upgrading to 10.4.9, using the appropriate Combo Updater.

After restarting at the end of the update, I was unable to mount any dmg files.
What did work was doing a single-user restart and running Applejack.

The problem has been recurring at shorter and shorter intervals. After running Applejack this morning and restarting, I was able to mount disk images for about 2 hours. Then, without any reboots or opening any new applications, the problem recurred. I corrected it once again, this time by only clearing cache files with AppleJack.

Is any one else having this problem? Any long term cures?

[pendragon]

FWIW, relief to a similar problem can be found Here. (Note last few posts re Disk Utility.)

Perhaps that will work for you too?

[rongold]

QUOTE(pendragon @ Apr 9 2007, 02:36 PM) [snapback]124154[/snapback]

FWIW, relief to a similar problem can be found Here. (Note last few posts re Disk Utility.)

Perhaps that will work for you too?

I'll try it the next time this bug surfaces. Disk Utility itself failed to mount the disk images. I'll see if the restore funciton works.

[Jack W]

Hey Ron,

Have you tried GetInfo and making sure Open With shows DiskImageMounter?

For DMG files.

Select DiskImageMounter and then Change All.

HTH, Jack

[rongold]

QUOTE(Jack W @ Apr 9 2007, 08:08 PM) [snapback]124166[/snapback]

Hey Ron,

Have you tried GetInfo and making sure Open With shows DiskImageMounter?

For DMG files.

Select DiskImageMounter and then Change All.

HTH, Jack

GetInfo on all of my dmg files shows Open With "Stuffit Exapnder." I assume this is because I use Path Finder (which has Stuffit Expander built-in) rather than DiskImageMounter.

So - perhaps the problem is with Stuffit Expander (not an unheard of possibility). But why would this surface with OS X 10.4.9 and never happen before?

Before I change all the dmg files to open with DiskImageMounter, I will wait until the mounting problem recurs and then see if switching to DiskImageMounter solves the problem.