100's of ' System extension cannot be used ' messages and system instability

Ok, I was trying to change the folder background on my home drive in finder.
I Changed the background in the Home drive and then went to 'Show info' and clicked 'apply to enclosed items' in 'sharing and permissions'
Ive had over 300 messages saying
'System extention cannot be used
The system extension "/system/library/Extensions/*****.kext"
was installed improperly and cannot be used
Please try reinstalling it, or contact the products vendor for an update.
examples include
AppleStorageDrivers.kext/Contents/PlugIns/MKE-SR-8171.kext
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBTopCase.kext
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBTopCase.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBTCButto ns.kext
/System/Library/Extensions/BootCache.kext
etc etc
I tried repairing permissions, but that doesnt work. Im constantly getting random permission error messages, my plugins in logic dont work properly and are generating error messages, audio wierdness in logic, all kinds of stuff
oh if i could turn back the clock. What have i done?, and how can i fix it?

Hi, thanks for your reply, and sorry if my description was unclear. I started by changing the folder background here:
Then I went here (apply to enclosed items). You can see on the shot ive taken, permissions state 'you can only read' , and under name 'fetching'.
Then, after a few minutes, i got around 300 of this (**** refers to all the 300 different filenames that came up)
'System extention cannot be used
The system extension "/system/library/Extensions/*****.kext"
was installed improperly and cannot be used
Please try reinstalling it, or contact the products vendor for an update.

Similar Messages

"system extension cannot be used" message upon startup

Ever since I upgraded OS 10.3.9 to Tiger on w/my newly purchased OS 10.4.6 from Apple, my 12" Powerbook G4 displays a yellow triangle containing an exclamation mark beside which is the message
*System extension cannot be used.*
The system extension "/Library/Extensions/VirtualPCOSServices.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update.
I assume this refers to something about Virtual PC (which I no longer use) that I had on my hard drive before installing Tiger, and even though I've since upgraded to 10.4.10, the message continues to appear. Is there anything I can do before reinstalling 10.4.6, or is that indeed the best solution, and will that solve it?
Thanks in advance for any help out there. - Rick

If you are looking in /Library/Extensions for this file as your message seems to indicate, you are looking in the wrong place. Go to your Finder's Go menu and select *Go to Folder...* then type in /system/Library/Extensions
Best of luck.

"System extension cannot be used". And now..?

This is not an HP question...
I recently reinstalled a mini with 10.5.8 and then Snow Leopard. After installing the HP driver for their ScanJet 3670 the installation proceeded to very near the end and then threw up the message:
"System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/hpPlugInInit.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update."
...and then the installation ending with "The installation was successful.", which it wasn't. Following others' advice, I deleted the 'hpPlugInInit.kext' entity and reinstalled the software. Same thing happened again.
I appreciate that this looks like HP's software failure, but would like some views on whether this is, perhaps, more related to the OS and its setup. I don't know what the source of the offending kext is or whether it might be Rosetta-related - the 3670 is not supported under Lion (why it's installed on a SL machine and not my Lion box) and wonder whether this is just old code that is playing up.
Any ideas or solutions, please?

That will happen if the kext is not owned by root and/or doesn't pass code signing verification. If an installer was interrupted then it probably didn't finish its job and you'll need to trash that bundle.

System Extension Cannot Be Used message pop-up

I just upgraded from an iMac power pc to a new iMac with snow leopard. I have an HP Photosmart B8850 printer and uninstalled the previous software driver and installed updated software. The problem is that I get a warning box with the message [ System Extension Cannot Be Used. The system extension “/system/Library/Extensions/hp/photosmartb8800series.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the products vendor for an update.] It appears that Library/Extensions is empty. The printer seems to be working properly. Do I need the system extension? If not, how can I keep the warning box from popping up?

If you are looking in /Library/Extensions for this file as your message seems to indicate, you are looking in the wrong place. Go to your Finder's Go menu and select *Go to Folder...* then type in /system/Library/Extensions
Best of luck.

System extension cannot be used - rtl8187bl.kext

hi,
sometimes when i use system update i get this error message:
title: system extension cannot be used
message: the system extension "/System/Library/Extensions/RTL8187Bl.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update.
i'm pretty sure its a driver for network device (ethernet or wifi), both of them works fine for me, and i have no idea how to update/reinstall drivers under MacOS.
any idea/tip/guess can help,
thank you.

See the following:
Uninstalling Software: The Basics
Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.
Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.
Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.
Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.
Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.
If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, Easy Find, instead. Download Easy Find at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.
There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Here is a selection:
AppZapper
Automaton
Hazel
CleanApp
Yank
SuperPop
Uninstaller
Spring Cleaning
Look for them at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

"System [.kext] extension cannot be used"

Hi -
I'm running OS X 10.6.8 on an iMac.
I just installed an iTunes update, and got the warning 'The system extension "/System/Library/Extensions/IomegaSAM.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. ...'
I'm using a 360-GB Iomega external hard drive for my Time Machine backups.
In case it's relevant, a couple of days ago I had problems with this drive and used Disk Utility to erase the Iomega drive and verify that it was now OK.
The Iomega drive now does seem to be working just fine - it just did a Time Machine backup without any problems.
So - can I simply ignore the "System extension cannot be used" warning and forget about it?
TIA for your answer.
<Email Edited by Host>

Finder > Computer > Macintosh HD > System > Library > Extensions and find any kext files with Iomega in the name and move them to the desktop
Especially IomegaSAM.kext
I have Snow Leopard here and there is no default Iomega files in that folder, so your good to remove those with Iomega in the name.
Reboot.
Must have been a program you ran when you first got the drive, like a backup or something and never used since, it happens.

System Extension Cannot Be Used? How do I fix?

Hello
I recently updated to Mavericks using 10.9.4, and installed a Canon Pro 100 printer. Ever since I did this I am getting the following message.
"System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/IOFireWireMxBt.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update."
Also, what is "IOFirwWireMx.kext"? If I knew what is was, I would try to re-install it, as it suggests. But I don't know what this is referring to. How do I fix this?
Thanks for your help.
Oudlady

I'm afraid there is no simple solution without a backup of the Mac before 10.9 was installed. There are user tips that explain the process, but it will vary for each user depending on what is used on the Mac.
Apple: Restoring a previous OS X version
How to revert OS X back from Mavericks
I have seen that many users complain about 10.9 being slow/ worse than "whatever was installed before".
Personally I find it comparable in performance to other OS's.
The trouble seems to be that users have migrated with many old apps installed from previous OS versions. Old system extensions & other background tasks that can make the OS perform badly. If installed software is not compatible with 10.9 it can cause errors (as the old Maxtor software illustrated).
The basic options are to clean up the OS (find out how to uninstall all the old stuff) or to reinstall the OS without the old apps.
The process usually involves creating an EtreCheck report to show people here what is installed. From there you can either decide to backup your data & reinstall or attempt to clean out some older apps (assuming that is what is causing the trouble).
http://etresoft.com/etrecheck
It helps if you include descriptions of what the actual issues are, e.g. Finder takes x mins to open folders.
You will also want to make a full backup onto another disk. Do you know how to do that?
I'd suggest you mark this thread as solved & then create a new thread so that the topic is clear. Post a link to it from here if you want me & Kappy to see it

System Extension Cannot Be Used: Soundflower Error?

I've had this issue for a long time now and I never knew what started it, it just started happening one day.andomly get
Anyways, I randomly get this pop up message that says:
System extension cannot be used
The system extension "/System/Library/Extensions/Soundflower.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used.
Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update.
There's no reason or rhyme to when it happens. I think maybe the app Boom that boosts volumes sometimes triggers it, but its never 100%. Also I googled around and I've tried some things like that restart the computer and have it run the system check and it didnt fix it
If anyone can point me in the right direction on what this might be I'd be very appreciative.

Open the Script Editor in the /Applications/AppleScript/ folder and run the following:
do shell script "chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext" with administrator privileges
You may then need to restart the computer.
(113146)

HP Laser Printer message saying "System Extension Cannot Be Used"

I am trying to install a laserjet printer but while it was installing, a message came up which read, "'System Extension Cannot Be Used' The system extension, "/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext' was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update." We tried the printer out and it seems to work, however, the scanner does not work.
When I got this Mac Book Pro, 4 or 5 years ago, I had a HP inkjet printer which I can never use the scanning feature because it did not work. I don't remember what the error message was, but it never worked when I tried to use it. I wonder if the problems with scanning have to do with this particular file that is supposedly installed wrongly.
We tested the printer out and it worked fine. But no scanning. It can't find the scanner.
My computer is Mac OS X - 10.6.8. The printer is HP Laserjet Pro 200 color MFP.
Anyone have any idea what I should do to fix this error? Thanks.

Open the Script Editor in the /Applications/AppleScript/ folder, copy and paste the entire following line into it, and press the Run button:
do shell script "chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext" with administrator privileges
If it doesn’t work, choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu, provide /System/Library/Extensions/ as the path, throw the AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext item away, and reinstall iTunes.
(118910)

System extension cannot be used --can anyone help ?

so i spotted that the system library as well as the home library had permissions blocked for the administrator, so i unlocked all enclosed items permissions.
i already had issues being brought to senior advisor attention over 1,5 years now, about hangs and freezes. mostly hangs.
no one so far has been able to fix them.
well now spotting these warnings, after i allowed all permissions inside both libraries, have warnings show up.
i gather these are not prepperly installed softwares, but i cant figure out what softwares they could be, so i can take care of it.
so 4 warnings shows up :
System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/System.kext/PlugIns/Unsupported.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update.
System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/System.kext/PlugIns/Private.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update.
System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/IOPCIFamily.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update.
System extension cannot be used
The system extension “/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext” was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product’s vendor for an update.

There isn't an "administrator" so who did you add and what permissions did you set.
In Get Info, they should be
system read & write
wheel read Only
everyone read only
The posix permissions, owner, and group should be
rwxr-xr-x root wheel
with ACE "group:everyone deny delete"
You may be able to recover by repairing permissions in Disk Utility, but you may have to reinstall the OS.

HT1151 I keep getting an error message when installing new software that says "System extension cannot be used /system/library/extension/IoFireWireWDHID.kext was installed improperly" I have no idea what this means and all of my software seems to install

I keep getting an error message when installing new software that says "System extension cannot be used /system/library/extension/IoFireWireWDHID.kext was installed improperly" I have no idea what this means and all of my software seems to install okay

Hello Valerie Anderson,
I'm Harry from Norton Support team. Please check the information provided in a similar thread here:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/21854775#21854775
Let me know if this helps.
Thanks!
Harry

System extension cannot be used, now no AirPort Card Installed?!?!?!?!

I have had my MBP for some time now and the other day it went into a kernel panic and after having to go through all the processes to recover it including restoring from the time capsule so that it doesn't take over 10 mins to start up an error message came up saying;
"*System extension cannot be used*"
"the system extension '/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleAirPortBrc m4311.kext' was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update"
Now i cant use my airport card at all, it says that there is no airport card installed and I have spent hours on the phone to apple, done the option + command + r + p thing and had to restore my whole system off my TC with the backup disks and all.
Plz plz plz plz help, i just want it back the way it was, this is so annoying
Message was edited by: TBlank

I had the same problem. It happened to me after I updated to 10.5.6. I didn't notice the problem until I rebooted a few days later. I reinstalled the system from disk and then realized that even though it took almost an hour it didn't really install anything. So I deleted the whole /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext and reinstalled the system again. This time it worked

Error: system extension cannot be used

I get the error "system extension cannot be used" and then it says below it:
The system extension "/System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelAC97Audio.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update.
it says the same for:
AppleIntelAC97Controller.kext
BJUSBLoad.kext
CHUDKernLib.kext
CHUDProf.kext
CHUDUtils.kext
EPSONUSBPrintClass.kext
hpPlugInInit.kext
KLog.kext
LexmarkUSBMerge.kext
prlhidhook.kext
prl_hypervisor.kext
prl_netbridge.kext
prl_tg.kext
prlusbconnect.kext
prl_video.kext
prl_vnic.kext
RBIOKitHelper.kext
Soundflower.kext
Wacom Tablet.kext
I have done permissions repair at least 10 times in a row and it still comes up with things to repair but is there another soloution?
Also, It says i have insufficient permissions to get onto my external HD now as well.
Anything will help...

I had the same problem. Then due to another unrelated problem I did a file system check in single user mode and this problem too went away. I am not sure if it will also work for you but no harm to try.
Shutdown, restart by pressing power button. As soon as you hear the chime, press cmd-s. After a while lot of text will roll down the screen, leave the keys. At the prompt, type fsck -fy. Note the space. then hit return. If at the end of the run you get something was repaired, then run it again till you get 'OK'. After that type reboot and you will boot into regular OS X. Then do whatever you did to get this message and see if it goes away.

System extension cannot be used - on startup?

Recently, I had to repair permissions after a error cause me not to be able to login. I did a startup from the disc and got in, but now these error messages come up;
System extension cannot be used
"/System/Library/Extensions/SymIPS.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;
"/System/Library/Extensions/SymIInternetSecurity.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;
"/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleAirPortCrcm 4311.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;
"/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update...
not to mention now it says I don't have airport card and the internet is running slower!
I have completed further repair disk permissions.
What can I do?
Thanks.

HI,
*"System extension cannot be used"*
*"/System/Library/Extensions/SymIPS.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;*
*"/System/Library/Extensions/SymIInternetSecurity.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;*
*"/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleAirPortCrc m4311.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... and;*
*"/System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext" was installed improperly and cannont be used. Please reinstalling it, or contact the vendor for an update... "*
Is this the results of booting from your install disk and using Disk Utility to Verify the drive, or just repair permissions?
Carolyn

"System extension cannot be used" when updating iTunes

Every time I update iTunes through the standard Software Update, I get multiple messages towards the end of the installation saying:
*System extension cannot be used*
The system extension "/System/Library/Extensions/IOFireWireWDHID.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update.
This only happens when updating iTunes. Any ideas? Thank you in advance!

Hello MaxGraphics,
You both may want to read this article before proceeding. It does give you an idea about kext files and how to handle them.
http://www.ihackintosh.com/2009/02/what-is-kextwhere-is-kext-how-to-install-kext /
Hope this helps.

100's of ' System extension cannot be used ' messages and system instability

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