Kernel panics & USB printing problems on a Revision B Late 2004 dual 2Ghz CPU Apple G5 after upgrading to OSX 10.4.7

It seems Apple got something wrong in the 10.4.7 upgrade to Tiger, mainly USB compatibility..suddenly my USB printer I use with an irreplaceable OS9 program just refused to print.

Far, far worse, after a few days I started experiencing KERNEL PANICS - this is the grey screen which advises you (in a few different languages) that you should restart your computer. I also use a Ratoc 4 port USB 2.0 card which until 10.4.7 worked like a charm with my G5 - it now had a conflict with the OS.

THE SOLUTION

The file below in red needs to be replaced by the version in OSX 10.4.6

/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext/

If you have access to another Mac running OSX 10.4.6 you are in luck : Just find it, highlight it and go to the file menu and select "create archive" and it will appear on the desktop in a zipped archive. Don't just copy the original file - later the OS might change it to a folder and it will be useless.

Now put the zipped 10.4.6 IOUSBFamily.kext file onto a CD or USB flash card, whatever.

How to install the 10.4.6 version of IOUSBFamily.kext on your target Mac:

STEP 1.

You will need to login as a ROOT USER.

If you haven't created a root user it is easy -

- go to Applications/ Utilities and double click on "NetInfo Manager".

Now, in the "Security" drop down menu, select "Enable Root User".

Create a long, non-trivial password . . something like $4R5∞&j• it should be at least 8 characters and try holding down the Option key to find unique characters.

STEP 2.

Restart your Mac HOLDING DOWN THE "SHIFT" KEY" - (this is called "Safe Boot" - it automatically runs a couple of repair and optimization routines.

Now when you get to the login screen you will see that there is a new option - the ROOT user can login - do it - fill in "root" for the user and then your special root user password.

STEP 3.

Now Pop in your CD / USB flash card with the 10.4.6 IOUSBFamily.kext file -de-archive it and copy it to . . . .

/System/Library/Extensions/ you will be asked it you want to replace it - select "REPLACE".

STEP 4.

MOST IMPORTANT

It is absolutely essential that you now REPAIR PERMISSIONS - Open Disk Utility in Applications/ Utilities - select your main drive / partition and repair permisssions.

FINISHED restart your Mac as usual !

If you do not have access to a Mac with OSX 10.4.6 installed - try hunting through Apples download archives for the OSX 10.4.6 COMBO updater.

I found it HERE.

You can access the various folders in this package by selecting it and holding down the right mouse button key while selecting "Show View Options" in the finder.

(you should really delete the root user after this exercise is completed for security reasons!)

NOTE

After years of experience with Apple eccentricities I have now adopted the habit of com[pletely re-installing OSX from my install DVD

and then using the "COMBO" updates that Apple makes available when OSX upgrades become available, they seem to offer the most compatibility and stability.

I also download the upgrades and burn them to disk for future reference.

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