Gestern Abend durfte ich mich ausgiebig über die fehlende Funktionalität des Internet-Sharing unter Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 ärgern. Heute funktioniert Alles wieder, da die alte Firmware zurück gespielt wurde, dies ist eigentlich ganz einfach.
Keine Gewähr für Garnichts/No warranty for nothing…
Das Vorgehen sollte eigentlich auch alle durch Mac OS X 10.5.8 verursachte WLAN-Probleme im Akku-Betrieb übergangsweise lösen (AirTunes, Latenz, Internet-Sharing, etc.).
Zuerst wird das Mac OS X 10.5.7 Combo Update heruntergeladen:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_7_Combo_Update
Den Installer Doppelklicken, damit er gemounted wird:
MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg
Terminal öffnen und einen Ordner für weitere Arbeiten erstellen:
Programme > Dienstprogramme
mkdir /Airport-Reparatur
cd /Airport-Reparatur
Das Installations-Package entpacken:
xar -xf /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Update\ Combined/MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg
cd MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg
cat Payload | pax -z -r -v
Die neue Firmware sichern und die alte Firmware aus dem 10.5.7-Bundle an die richtige Stelle kopieren:
(Der aktuelle Benutzer muss Mitglied der Administratoren-Gruppe sein und im nächsten Schritt das Passwort für diesen Account eingegeben werden)
sudo su
tar cvfz IO80211Family.kext.10.5.8.tar.gz /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
mv IO80211Family.kext.10.5.8.tar.gz /Airport-Reparatur/
rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
cp -R /Airport-Reparatur/MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext /System/Library/Extensions/
Jetzt müssen die Dateirechte angepasst werden:
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
Anschließend die Module überprüfen und den Kext-Cache neubauen:
kextload -t /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
kextcache -k /System/Library/Extensions
mv /System/Library/Extensions.mkext /System/Library/Extensions.mkext.backup
So, nun können ganz Sorgfältige noch über das Disk Utility/Festplatten Diensprogramm die Permissions/Rechte überprüfen, ggf. reaprieren und dann einen Reboot wagen:
reboot
Nach dem Reboot sollte wieder ein gewohntes Benutzen der Airport-Karte inklusive Internet-Sharing möglich sein:
AirPort Card Information:
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x88)
Wireless Card Locale: Worldwide
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.35)
(Hochscrollen für deutschsprachige Anleitung)
How to fix Airport/WiFi problems causes by Mac OS X 10.5.8
No warranty for nothing 
To fix known wireless issues with Apple-Airport-cards and the Mac OS X 10.5.8 “Upgrade” try to enable old Wi-Fi firmware from 10.5.7 which fixed my problems with sharing and latency:
First download Mac OS X 10.5.7 Combo Update:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Mac_OS_X_10_5_7_Combo_Update
Double-click the downloaded installer to mount it:
MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg
Open Terminal.app and prepare a folder for further work:
Applications > Utilities
mkdir /Airport-Repair
cd /Airport-Repair
Decompress the installer-package:
xar -xf /Volumes/Mac\ OS\ X\ Update\ Combined/MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg
cd MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg
cat Payload | pax -z -r -v
Save the new firmware and copy the old one from 10.5.7 to the right position:
(The current user must be able to administer the mac and in the next step the password for this account has to be entered when prompted for)
sudo su
tar cvfz IO80211Family.kext.10.5.8.tar.gz /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
mv IO80211Family.kext.10.5.8.tar.gz /Airport-Repair/
rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
cp -R /Airport-Repair/MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.pkg/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext /System/Library/Extensions/
Fix file permissions and ownership:
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
Test the new-old modules and rebuild kext-cache:
kextload -t /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
kextcache -k /System/Library/Extensions
mv /System/Library/Extensions.mkext /System/Library/Extensions.mkext.backup
If you think you need to fix permissions on the volume use Disk Utility to check and repair them (was not necessary for me, but won’t hurt).
Then try to a reboot and keep your fingers crossed:
reboot
yay! it works
Comment by raghu — August 9, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
Sure
Comment by atari — August 9, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
the http://ow.ly/jsuF fix worked for me. i tried the other smaller fixes out there before finding this page. so far so good.. my fingers are crossed.
Comment by Dave — August 10, 2009 @ 1:18 am
When everything works fine, you can stop crossing your fingers and use them normally again…
Comment by atari — August 10, 2009 @ 1:23 am
i am not much of a nerd. can i simply copy and paste what is written above in the terminal, as it is written? i guess so
Comment by antric — August 10, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
My girlfriend’s macbook has a dead airport (it says no card installed) after the 10.5.8 update..
Anyone similar problems?
Comment by huub — August 10, 2009 @ 5:57 pm
andric: Yes, should work, have a try.
huub: Not here…
Comment by atari — August 10, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Did you ever know that yooou’re my heeerooo …
Thank you very much from a Mac newbie!
Comment by Celesemine — August 11, 2009 @ 11:23 am
This worked a treat. Cut’n'pasted and voila, until Apple fix it fully, this has done the trick. Many thanks.
Comment by Richard - DC — August 11, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Works perfectly!
Thanks and congratulations
Comment by Pascale — August 11, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
Yes yes yes…. this is a great fix. Thanks for the repair.
Comment by Jenz Cook — August 11, 2009 @ 10:58 pm
Replacing IO80211Family.kext fixed my problems completely.
Comment by seebs — August 11, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous that apple releases this (and other items such as exploding ipods and iphones, macbook airs thats hinges break and they claim are not covered, calling the macbook “pro” when they deleted the expresscard slot and only allow mirror (err…glossy) screens, or a regular screen at a $50 premium.)
Comment by Wil — August 12, 2009 @ 12:15 am
Wil: You are not forced to use and buy apple-products, market economy…
I never had problems with the apple support, after my macbook had a crack in it’s topcase it was replaced for free within one day. To err is human, so software will always have bugs…
Comment by atari — August 12, 2009 @ 12:23 am
Thanks, your guide worked brilliantly !
Comment by Egil Fujikawa Nes — August 12, 2009 @ 6:30 am
Did everything as described, only I did perform the permission fix via disk utility, plus I failed in keeping my fingers crossed. After the reboot, my MacBook 3,1 tells me that there is no Airport Card installed. Guess I’ll have to reformat and get back to my last TM backup.
Comment by scribble — August 13, 2009 @ 12:12 am
scribble: “permission fix via disk utility” – you have to correct the file permissions and ownership via Terminal!
Why haven’t you downloaded the official patch, which is available meanwhile?
Comment by atari — August 13, 2009 @ 12:19 am
Quote: “If you think you need to fix permissions on the volume use Disk Utility to check and repair them (was not necessary for me, but won’t hurt).”
I have downloaded the official patch, which didn’t work for me. Then I thought I might as well give it a try with this clever workaround, albeit knowing full well that one should wisely avoid using terminal when one has no idea what one is doing. And somewhere in this process, AppleAirPort2.kext has vanished into thin air. I’d appreciate if you could resist commenting on my ignorance. That’s a tough one, I know.
Comment by scribble — August 13, 2009 @ 12:30 am
scribble: Ok, wait a moment. It’s a bit hard to explain to a terminal newbee, but you cat restore the “mystically” disappeared AppleAirPort.kext the same way the IO80211Family.kext was restored. Send me an instant messenger-contact and I’ll try to help you.
Comment by atari — August 13, 2009 @ 12:40 am
atari, thank you so much, I appreciate this. can we use skype? the name is ********.
Comment by scribble — August 13, 2009 @ 12:57 am
no, that is the only messenger I don’t use. Jabber, ICQ, MSN? Anything Adium can do
Comment by atari — August 13, 2009 @ 1:00 am
Sorry, I fear I’m somewhat underequipped. Not even on facebook or anything, so Skype is the only way to go.
Can I catch up with you tomorrow? It’s 02:03 in the morning where I am, and I have a business meeting early tomorrow. I could get ICQ and check back here any time from afternoon to midnight.
Comment by scribble — August 13, 2009 @ 1:06 am
Yes, just drop me a message here or write an email to address found in “impress”.
Comment by atari — August 13, 2009 @ 1:09 am
Right on, thanks & good nite!
Later,
Scrib
Comment by scribble — August 13, 2009 @ 1:11 am
Hey there! Just wanted to let you know that I have solved my issues. Finder started behaving somewhat weird the other day, looking like a friggin’ ol’ lighting console. s so I ended up doing an archive & install. Thanks again for your helpfulness, and for not distributing my skype name!
Cheers,
Scrib
Comment by scribble — August 14, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
Scrib: You’re welcome!
Comment by atari — August 14, 2009 @ 7:59 pm
thank you for the work around, I am happy to see people care and search for a solution instead of waiting and wasting energy on blaming!
appreciated .. I wish it work with me ..
Comment by Joy — August 15, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
I mean, i am still downloading the combo update ..
Comment by Joy — August 15, 2009 @ 5:43 pm
I have been tearing my hair out with this – NO WIRELESS CONNECTION ON ALL 5 MACHINES ON MY HOME NETWORK….since 10.5.8 update. I have spent hours digging and trying all I know. This fix has made my machine work. WONDERFUL & V E R Y much appreciated. Now to apply it to the other 4 machines. What are Apple playing at?
Comment by Jake Kirkpatrick — August 27, 2009 @ 11:28 am
er – I should add that non of my machines are laptops – imac 20″ intels & mac Mini intels.
Comment by Jake Kirkpatrick — August 27, 2009 @ 11:31 am
either i was ignorantly hopeful or just ignorant, but i tried to do this on 10.6 as i was having the same problems with internet sharing as before. and now, it says i have no airport card installed. so that’s good. i mean, not good. i’m going to try and do a restore to fix it, but wanted to mention to anyone else with 10.6, that this patch won’t work for them as far as i can tell.
Comment by scott — September 3, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
scott: nobody should do this on 10.6, nobody said so too…
Comment by atari — September 3, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
I want to try this but am a terminal newbie…..what are the pitfalls?? I don’t want to screw this up!
Comment by Elizabeth — September 4, 2009 @ 6:06 pm
Elizabeth: Just copy and paste the lines to terminal, no pitfalls… Don’t try this with Snow Leopard, it’s for 10.5.8 wifi-problems only!
Comment by atari — September 4, 2009 @ 6:14 pm
Thanks! I am running 10.5.8 with Leopard (no snow here yet!) One thing the official fix at apple is for 2007 and 2008 models and mine is from 2006 is the fix mentioned here still OK for me?
Comment by Elizabeth — September 4, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
Oh and will I get a new prompt after each line entered?
Comment by Elizabeth — September 4, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
Enter after each single line, the fix only works for broadcom cards (see System Profiler -> Airport)
Comment by atari — September 4, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
I dont get how to do this at all. I’m dwlding the combo pack right now though. MY WIFI really sucks =( I hope i figure this out..
Comment by Kathy — September 6, 2009 @ 9:14 am
When I try to mount it, it says, You cannot install Mac OS X Update Combined on this volume. This volume does not meet the requirements for this update.
Comment by Kathy — September 6, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Kathy: If you click on the file named “MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg”, there is no need to install it. Go ahead with instructions
Comment by atari — September 6, 2009 @ 6:22 pm
Hi everyone! I have a 17″ macbook pro which was bought early this year. When i bought it the OS version was 10.5.6, so when the 10.5.7 update appeared i gave it a try. Then my problems started, my airport worked for a few minutes and then it just switched off and was impossible to switch back on. Only reboot could bring airport back to life. I was forced to restore my OS to the 10.5.6 version. Again I tried this new update, the 10.5.8, however the problem still occurs. So i found out this trick, however it didn’t work for me. I am writing this, so that you could help know why i can make it work. I wonders if this fix doesn’t work for new macbook pro, is it wright? I may also say that i have never user terminal before, because this is my first MAC, so the cause to my failure could also be my inexperience. PLEASE CAN ANYBODY HELP?
Comment by João — September 10, 2009 @ 3:39 am
Very nice. Worked well for me on my old G4 Powerbook 15″ 1.33GHz. Thanks for helping out with such a frustrating and unnecessary problem!
Comment by Matt — September 12, 2009 @ 3:44 am
entered pass and then-
sh-3.2# chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
chmod: /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext: No such file or directory
sh-3.2# chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kextkextload -t /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext
chown: /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kextkextload: No such file or directory
? what do I do now?
Comment by Craig — September 12, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
Craig: Just start again from beginning.
Comment by atari — September 12, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
HUH tried this i was lost… Copied and pasted into terminal and i ran outa room?? im so confused…
Comment by Peter — September 13, 2009 @ 7:03 am
Peter: “i ran outa room”, what do you mean? if your harddrive has no more free space, please clear some…
Comment by atari — September 13, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
Is it a good idea to apply this after upgrading to Snow Leopard?
Comment by Peter — September 22, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Peter: I don’t think so, but have a try. You can revert the workaround anytime with this instruction: http://blog.hep-cat.de/?p=4920#Revert
Comment by atari — September 23, 2009 @ 1:43 am
Good thanks for the advice. This fix worked fine for me after 10.5.8 but now after upgrading to Snow Leopard i am back with problems similar to those immediately after the 10.5.8 update. I will report back …
Comment by Peter — September 23, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Someone mentioned that by replacing the IO80211Family.kext with the new file, the problem was fixed? But I can’t find the file I need to replace…. can someone tell me? Finder is no help in finding it, as usual…
The internet is driving me insane; sometimes it just drops the connection and I have to choose the network again, and sometimes airport shows full signal strength but nothing will load. I keep having to turn off and On airport.
10.5.8 has been nothing but trouble for me; I had to reformat once because of it. Argh!!! I hope snow leopard will be better.
Comment by Michelle — September 23, 2009 @ 5:13 pm
Michelle: The finder won’t tell you, because it’s in the system-folder. Just have a try with this instruction and get AirPort running normally under 10.5.8… Or try Mac OS X 10.6
Comment by atari — September 23, 2009 @ 5:46 pm
“If you click on the file named “MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg”, there is no need to install it. Go ahead with instruction”
have the same problem as kathy..downloaded the combo update from apple..but can’t install it..doesn’t meet the requirements so it says..and it is in .pkg not .dmg..any help would be appreciated..i am so freakin’ upset bout this whole wi-fi issue..mine is an iMac..os x 10.5.8..i am willing to try this terminal fix..but i can’t get to it if i don’t install the update first, right?
Comment by jenko — September 26, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
jenko: you don’t have to install the MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg, you just have to mount it. After mounting it, go ahead with Terminal-Instructions…
Comment by atari — September 26, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
hi atari..thanks for the speedy reply..im trying it now..will get back to you as soon as im done with the terminal stuff..thanks again..
Comment by jenko — September 26, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
hi atari..did everything that you said..even fixed the all the permissions (almost 2hrs) then i shut down my imac and when i turned it on again this morning..crossed my fingers:) and so far so good..still monitoring my network connection via iStat Pro..and the fix seems to be working..thank you so much..you saved me a lot more headaches!
Comment by jenko — September 27, 2009 @ 9:11 am
jenko:
Comment by atari — September 27, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
Thanks for the help :S
Comment by João — September 30, 2009 @ 4:14 am
fantastic
Comment by Jose — September 30, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
Can anyone help me. I tried as best as i could to follow the commands, but when i rebooted it said i had no airport card installed. I think i had problems entering the commands in wrong. Can you just select all the text there, copy it, then go into terminal and paste it, then press enter. Then copy the next few lines and paste that in?
Comment by olly — October 6, 2009 @ 4:55 am
I played around for a while and now it is working. Thank you. Fingers cross it last for more than 4 hours.
Comment by olly — October 6, 2009 @ 5:36 am
olly: Line after line should work better, but finally it worked for you
Comment by atari — October 6, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
i may just be very computer illiterate, but i can’t seem to make sense of these instructions… do i need to install the 10.5.7 combo or not?
i’m a little confused and frustrated…
Comment by mel — October 11, 2009 @ 10:23 am
also if i do have to download this, with my current appalling internet, it’s looking at taking 2 days to download….
Comment by mel — October 11, 2009 @ 10:27 am
mel: you don’t install the combo, just extracting some files from there. Apple does not allow to redistribute their files, that is why i do not offer the IO80211Family.kext here, sorry…
Comment by atari — October 11, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
hi
i’m running macbook pro with 10.5.8 and wondering if i can use your workaround to fix problems with wifi connection – it cuts out a lot and is slower than ever before, unless i work in the same room as the router, it’s basically behaving erratically. PC picks up signal fine.
thanks!
Comment by soundsgolden — October 30, 2009 @ 3:41 am
soundsgolden: I think you should definitely have a try, if it does not work you can revert it by using this one: http://blog.hep-cat.de/?p=4920#Revert
Comment by atari — October 30, 2009 @ 5:29 am
Thanks so much! This is the only thing that has worked so far. This will make a difference of whether I use a Mac at work or not.
Comment by Hans — October 31, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
thank you so much! I was already banging my head against the wall with this problem… nothing worked, not even Apple’s patch. Thank you!!
Comment by Bruno — November 4, 2009 @ 1:44 am
I have been testing a bit further, and found that my wifi connection is very very very slow, compared to the past… up to the point of not being able to open google. Other machines connect without any problem. Do you think you can help me?
Thank you
Comment by Bruno — November 5, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Bruno: Need more information to help you, what AirportCard do you have installed? How was the connection working in 10.5.7?
Comment by atari — November 5, 2009 @ 9:18 am
Hi atari, thanks for replying
It was working fine in 10.5.7. Currently the behavior I experience is either a perfect good signal connection, or detecting networks but not be able to connect to them (asks for password and then times out), or not finding any networks whatsoever…
Here are my Airport Card specs:
Wireless Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0×88)
Wireless Card Locale: USA
Wireless Card Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.38.35)
Current Wireless Network: NETGEAR
Wireless Channel: 11
Thanks
Comment by Bruno — November 8, 2009 @ 7:40 am
Bruno, let me recapitulate: First you installed Mac OS X 10.5.8, after that Airport stopped working as usual.
On 10.5.8 you installed “AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro” from Apple, but it did not help.
Now you tried the workaround to get back to an older firmware…
Sounds strange – Does anyone else use the same wireless-network? Do they complain?
Comment by atari — November 8, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Yes that was precisely it… it’s very erratic actually.
I have another computer and an iPhone, and both connect to the wireless without a problem.
That’s why I thought it might be something with the hardware… how can I detect the actual source of the problem?
Comment by Bruno — November 8, 2009 @ 10:50 am
Bruno: Think the Mac OS X Install-Discs have a rudimental hardware check build in. Maybe you’ll have a try…
Comment by atari — November 8, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Hi atari,
I’ve tried the Apple hardware check, simple and extended. No luck… it says the hardware has no trouble.
It’s a very erratic problem… sometimes I get the connection with no problem, other times it detects the network but the browser doesn’t even open google, and other times it doesn’t detect any network at all! Although all other machines at my place detect the wireless connection without a problem.
I don’t know what to do really… Should I reinstall the 10.5.8 again?…
thanks again for your advice
Comment by Bruno — November 11, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Bruno: Sorry, no idea how i should decide…
Comment by atari — November 11, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Ok… thanks for your time anyway
Comment by Bruno — November 11, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
You are welcome!
Comment by atari — November 11, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
patch didn´t work for me- so forget about 10.5.8.
just installed the whole system 10.5 again and updated to 10.5.7 with the combo-update.
internet sharing works fine now.
thanks to apple for the bodacious support!!
Comment by mum — December 6, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
mum: what AirPort card do you use?
Comment by atari — December 6, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
HELP!
Atari, my airport card is now unistalled… and I can’t seem to be able to mount the pkg.
First step works fine:
mkdir /Airport-Reparatur
cd /Airport-Reparatur
But then after I try to decompress the installer package and it says “no such file or directory”. And it says that for all the steps after that…
Please help!
Comment by Antoine — July 9, 2010 @ 11:45 am
Antoine: Please re-download the MacOSXUpdCombo10.5.7.dmg and try again double-clicking it…
Comment by atari — July 9, 2010 @ 1:12 pm