Text Size

Macs hit with OS X 10.5.3-related bug

updated 12:25 pm EDT, Fri June 6, 2008

Mozilla & Mac OS X 10.5.3

A variety of Mozilla-based applications are triggering serious errors following Apple's Mac OS X 10.5.3 update, scattered reports indicate. Users are indicating that programs such as Firefox, Camino, Songbird and others are now spawning crashes and lock-ups, "zombie" processes, and an inability to shut down a Mac without using the power button. Mozilla is currently tracking the issue, but as of press time has not assigned a priority to the item, nor an estimated time for a solution.

The problem does not appear to be limited to Mozilla software however, as more general shutdown problems are currently being discussed on Apple's support forums. In most or all cases it appears that users are left staring at the "loop," the same loading symbol that appears when first loading Mac OS X.

A number of homemspun fixes have been suggested, including the removal of things like Qmaster services, or anti-virus login items. Less dramatic options may include fixing permissions on the boot drive, or removing USB and FireWire devices one-by-one.

 
Previous Comments

Me too

06/06, 12:40pm (3 replies) reply

I've been having shutdown problems for ages. I thought it was because of something I did. 10.5 will tell me that apps are running that canceled logout. But the apps in question aren't running.

Sondjata

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2000

+2

Kernal Panic

06/06, 12:40pm (1 reply) reply

I keep getting Kernal panics every time Time Machine is switched on. Don't know if it's related to update, but only noticed it lately. Anyone else?

surferboy

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2003

+2

No kernal panics for me

06/06, 12:46pm reply

I use Mac mini, iMac C2D, Mac Pro & Macbook Pro

mgpalma

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

-1

Stable

06/06, 12:48pm reply

My 10.5.3 has been pretty stable with few problems. I dont really use anything other then safari either. But the mozilla problems is not a Mac only issue, my roommate has been having a lot of issues on his Windows machine too with firefox. I think its more a problem with Mozilla then the OS's.

Athens

Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Jan 2003

-1

"As of press time"

06/06, 12:55pm reply

"As of press time"? Really. Come now. You're a website.

Guest

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 1999

+5

Firefox

06/06, 01:06pm reply

I use Firefox all day long and havent had a single issue at all Guess i'm lucky :)

FYI: MBP 2.4 Ghz, 10.5.3

eldarkus

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2004

+2

Problematic upgrades...

06/06, 01:19pm reply

...seem to be increasing on the mac platform - Apple should take heed of their own 'Vista Blues' ad as I & other colleagues are still holding off on 10.5 upgrades which incidentally precludes new hardware purchases...

With so much energy being directed towards the iPhone & rumours of the 10.6 upgrade in early 2009 perhaps Apple should be getting 10.5 working first or risk tarnishing their reputation for efficacy...

bobolicious

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2002

+4

TM

06/06, 01:28pm reply

Initially 10.5.3 crashed my MacBook during so that it didn't boot up right after the first reboot staying at the blue screen. Cleaning cache and reinstalling it once or twice finally helped with that. Then came constant kernel crashes which were finally identified as something to do with TM trying to access network share (which was working perfectly fine on 10.5.2). I have it disabled for now but am wondering for myself if Apple was rushed to release that beast just prior to WWDC?

maxk

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2008

+1

Please...

06/06, 01:48pm (1 reply) reply

Macs aren't having any more bugs than they did before--it is just that there are more and more demanding software and peripherals that are upping the possible number of things that can/do go wrong.

Say what you will but OSX is no Vista....anyone who says otherwise hasn't used Vista extensively. (speaking as someone with Vista Ult. 64-bit)

JuanGuapo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2008

-5

Time Machine Slowdown

06/06, 02:09pm reply


How about the intolerable Airport scanning drop outs. How about wireless backups stalls and drop outs. Airport was great for seven years. Now this Time Capsule mess. Either they hide the antenna from the outside world or it is the new controlling software. Come on guys.
Nice to have backup after backup failure announced.

starwarrior

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

-4

Popular News