Apple acknowledges Leopard install issues
updated 01:15 pm EDT, Mon October 29, 2007
Leopard install freezes
UPDATE: Apple has now acknowledged issues with Leopard installation that can result in an everlasting blue screen after the install has taken place. Blaming the problem on "third-party 'enhancement' software," namely Unsanity's APE (Application Enhancer) and its included haxies, Apple says the problem can be resolved by either reinstalling Leopard (recommended), or using the Terminal to uninstall APE and its haxies. The first fix requires performing an Archive and Install installation of Leopard. Archive and Install moves your existing Mac OS X system files to a folder named "Previous System," and then installs a new copy of Mac OS X on the selected volume. Apple says "After installation, verify each third-party software product is compatible with Leopard before reinstalling it, especially any application 'enhancement' software."
The second fix requires starting up in single-user mode by holding Command-S after restarting the computer, then executing a series of commands that will remove the offending software. However, according to Apple. if the problem still exists after uninstalling APE, you may need to resort to the first, recommended fix: performing an Archive and Install.
-----
A number of users who have bought Mac OS X Leopard have been experiencing stalled upgrade installations, Apple's forums reveal. Upon nominally completing the installation process, some Macs have rebooted only to become stuck at a blue screen, requiring users to manually shut them down. Apple is said to already be aware of the issue, but the exact causes are at present unknown; some have suggested problems with attached peripherals, DivX Application Support or Tiger's RAID technology, but these factors are not constant.
A recurring suggestion is the presence of Unsanity's Application Enhancer program, though this too has not been reported on all frozen Macs. MacFixit has posted a guide for removing Application Enhancer, as well as handling other potential fixes. The site ultimately recommends though that if installations continue to freeze, users should attempt to boot from the Leopard DVD by holding down "C" at start-up, and picking either "Archive and Install" or "Erase and Install" instead of the Upgrade option.
Apple on Saturday released a patch for less severe issues, fixing Wi-Fi connections, logins for users upgrading from Mac OS X 10.1, and password changes for FileVault-protected accounts.
DON'T use "upgrade
10/29, 02:10pm reply
Use Archive Install.
I wish Apple would get rid of the upgrade option.
whackjob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
Upgrade is faster
10/29, 03:26pm reply
I haven't had any proble
dmsimmer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2005
'upgrade'
10/29, 03:38pm reply
yes... I wish Apple would do the same too. I accidentally did the upgrade option and messed up my system (have always done archive and install). Long story short... I spent 3 hours doing an erase and install, then reinstalling all my apps.
FastAMX79
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2000
Re: don't use upgrade
10/29, 03:45pm reply
Apple should take away a feature that works fine for the majority of their customers? Oh please - use Archive and Install if you want, but Upgrade is faster and has always worked well for me.
Not to mention novices have no idea what to do after Archive and Install. Novices who aren't likely to have unstable hacks like APE on their systems.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
Upgrade ROCKS!!!
10/29, 03:59pm reply
I've been an OS X guy since 2002 and have UPGRADED from: 10.1 -> 10.2 -> 10.3 -> 10.4 (wife's old iBook G3/800)
10.1 -> 10.2 -> 10.3 (my old iMac G4/800)
10.3 -> 10.4 -> 10.5 (my Powerbook G4/1.67)
Had no major issues on any of these machines with the upgrade process. I've had the apps that were not compatible, but no major issues.
itguy05
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2005
Archive & install
10/29, 04:41pm reply
I wish apple would get rid of Archive and install and upgrade options. The only option needed is Erase and Install. That's sure to work, won't bring over anything that might not work in X.5, and will cause the OS to be the snappiest it could possibly be.
Come on Apple, anyone who doesn't know how to backup their computer, install a clean OS, and copy all the components from their old system to the new by hand is just wasting our time and should just go back to windows!
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Archive + Install best op
10/30, 01:46am reply
I had that same problem with at least two of Jaguar, Panther, and/or Tiger, and clearly the Archive + Install option is the most reasonable and should be the default. My mother never really noticed the Options and/or Customize buttons whereby she could have made a more informed choice. It's fairly dangerous and more problematic for Apple to leave Upgrade as the default installation method. Are people unable to think for themselves to the extent that they wouldn't know about weeding through or even entirely deleting the Previous Systems folder? If it is a problem with available space that has made Upgrade the default, there would likely be problems with lack of space for virtual memory and swap file space if a new OS were to fill up most of the remaining available space via a standard Upgrade.
I must admit, though, that I couldn't find my hundreds of ElectricSheep screensavers in the Previous Systems folder, and now I'll have to spend a few weeks of downloading them again. Admittedly, I also did not have enough space for the safer Archive + Install option until it forced me to make some critical decisions of first deleting a few dozen shareware titles that I would be less likely to use, and of course my tens of thousands of music and my iPhoto library are on three of my four 500-GB external hard drives. The fourth is filled with downloaded TV episodes and admittedly less legitimately acquired movies. If I of all download fanatics can open enough space on my hard disk for the Archive + Install option and thus profit from a cleaner and more stable system, most other users can do the same.
Xiaopangzi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
I wish Apple
10/30, 11:02am reply
would just ship blank floppies. That way putting the upgrade on your system would be as simple as super gluing the floppy to your machine.
I'm sure some would still have problems with the upgrade though.
Flying Meat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
leave it be, nerds
03/06, 03:06am reply
I did upgrade and it sucked. But at least I got to backup everything with time machine b4 reinstalling from scratch.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999