New graphics routines to blame, solution for problem announced

[Updated with discussion of problem and Codeweavers update information] According to an announcement post on the Codeweavers support forum, virtualization application Crossover fails to operate under recently-released OS X versions 10.8.2 and 10.7.5. Crossover reports that the bug "prevents CrossOver from operating any application that uses 3D functions" and that it is "working with Apple on this issue and we hope to resolve it rapidly."

Crossover, unlike other Windows virtualization environments, is built on WINE, which does not incorporate Windows into its solution at all -- rather, it reverse-engineers specific Windows APIs. This "fools" a select group of Windows applications into running on Intel Macs without Windows being installed.

Both Crossover and Crossover Games are affected by the update. The only announced "solution" is to not perform the latest Apple-supplied OS X updates. MacNN has contacted Codeweavers for more details on the specific nature of the problem and potential fixes.

Update: Codeweavers says that the compatibility issue arose with an Apple-introduction of "additional resource locking into obscure innards of Core Graphics." Additionally, "the additional locking conflicted with existing locking used elsewhere in X11 implementations, leading to a deadlock." The application has since been updated to version 11.2.2, which has reportedly resolved the issue.

by MacNN Staff