.mac problems since 10.4.8 upgrade?

Question

Ever since upgrading to 10.4.8, I have to constantly reenter my .mac password to receive mail. I'll notice my mail icon bouncing, and when I check it, I get the message that I my password for .mac mail has been rejected and I must reenter it. I do so, add it to my keychain, and it works for awhile. Then for unknown reasons, same message, etc. It's getting really old. I'm curious how many others are having this same experience. I'm about ready to do a warranty "chat" with Apple and officially report the problem, since they don't seem to be doing anything about it.

Answer 1

Hi, John.
1. You wrote: "They don't mention it as related to the 10.4.8 upgrade, but I did not have the problem before that."True. It could be a bug in the Update, it could be a bug in .Mac mail at Apple's end (mail server or other network issues), it could be both. If I were a betting man, I'd probably put a couple of bucks on the latter.
The 10.4.8 Update has been available since 26 September 2006. Their workaround document is dated 6 October 2006, which probably means they were aware of the problem at least on 6 October, but it could also have been a tad earlier and, after trying some fixes, they decided to publish the workaround document while they continue to troubleshoot the issue.
When did you install the 10.4.8 Update?
2. You could check the .Mac Discussion to see if there were a raft of posts about the problem within the days immediately following 26 September that also note the problem not occurring before installing 10.4.8.
3. If it's a major problem — e.g. it's costing you a couple of hours of productivity — you could try a downgrade install to 10.4.7, which would also take a couple of hours. Frankly, I'd say a downgrade would be overkill at the moment, given that Apple's .Mac folks appear to be on the case, but it is an option.
Downgrade installs can be very dodgy. Apple does not recommend them, as they note in the "About 'Downgrade' installations" section at the end of "Mac OS X: Troubleshooting installation and software updates." Additional information about why downgrade installs are problematic can be found in "Applications don't work after reinstalling Mac OS X."
If you want to try a downgrade install to 10.4.7 from 10.4.8, you can see my "General advice on performing an Archive and Install" FAQ. In step (4b), install the Mac OS X 10.4.7 Combo Update, then follow the rest of the steps. Note that:• Downgrade installs are performed at your own risk. While the downgrade method outlined above has worked for many, Apple does not recommend downgrade installations and one cannot account for how variances between individual users' systems may affect the outcome. Again, use at your own risk: you break it, you fix it.
• I would only test third-party applications in Step 5 as Apple apps are likely to run into the issues with the Previous Systems folder noted in "Applications don't work after reinstalling Mac OS X."
• Apple apps should be safe to test after Step 6, but you may still run into problems due to 10.4.8-related changes in preferences files in your Home > Library > Preferences folder. Discarding the preferences files for Apple applications that are problematic after a downgrade install may solve the problem with those applications.Finally, before installing future software updates, you may wish to consider the advice in my "Installing Software Updates" FAQ. Taking the steps therein before installing an update often helps avert problems and gives you a fallback position in case trouble arises.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
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