My list of woes (just got two Extremes)

Question

First, they say you need "Airport 5.0" or "Airport Utility 5.0" or something like this. . Yet I don't. Nor can I find it. I can find the Airport 5.0 Help section though (pages of it anyway).
Second, my Airport Utility 4.2 tells me it can't run extreme, but can basically get me connected. I'm basically connected for internet
Third, I can't find out if there's a firmware that needs to be done, I don't know how to find the current firmware and installing 5.7 comes up with a big fat error.
Fourth, it recognizes my music drive, but won't recognize my iTunes folder. It recognizes a few smaller folders that I need to consolidate or delete, but not the big one with the music.
Fifth, this will sound ridiculous, but the Airport software included with Extreme won't open up!!!! I can open up the pdfs, but the software package says "no program to open it" or something like that. I have all updated systems here.
Sixth, any attempt to download and update any software seems to be useless. I've tried updating these new updates and they mount up on my computer like a drive and do nothing. I've never had that before. Normally, you update a software, it is a simple process, the old is tossed out. These updates act like external drives and do exactly nothing. ?!?
*** is going on with this thing? It looks like the perfect answer and looks like it would be nearly plug'n'play, but there seems to be no support, no software, nothing. What did I just buy? A brick? Should I try to set it up in Windows mode?
I'm getting really frustrated with this whole networking thing. It takes PnP things like USB and Firewire and throws it out so that you have to hire a networking guy or something. Why won't stuff simply recognize and start working?!? I can't get any network devices of any brand to work properly with my Mac and it's getting really irritating.
I guess the big thing is, does anybody have a link to this supposed "Airport 5.0" or anything else that will function with Extreme?

Answer 1

First, they say you need "Airport 5.0" or "Airport Utility 5.0" or something like this. . Yet I don't. Nor can I find it. I can find the Airport 5.0 Help section though (pages of it anyway).
(Note: I have assumed that you have the new 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn).)
The AirPort Utility (v5), which supercedes the AirPort Admin Utility/AirPort Setup Assistant (v4.2), is installed from the included CD that came with the AEBSn. After installation, it is located in the /Applications/Utilities folder. The installation of the new version of the AirPort Utility does NOT remove the 4.2 versions of the software...since these would still be required if you needed to setup either of the older Graphite or Dual Ethernet (Snow) Base Stations.
Second, my Airport Utility 4.2 tells me it can't run extreme, but can basically get me connected. I'm basically connected for internet
The older 4.2 version of the AirPort Admin Utility will NOT work with the new AEBSn.
Third, I can't find out if there's a firmware that needs to be done, I don't know how to find the current firmware and installing 5.7 comes up with a big fat error.
The new AEBSn already has the latest firmware installed. You can find out which version of firmware is running on the AEBSn, by using the AirPort Utility. The most current versions of firmware can be found at this Apple Support site.
Fourth, it recognizes my music drive, but won't recognize my iTunes folder. It recognizes a few smaller folders that I need to consolidate or delete, but not the big one with the music.
Sorry, but I don't quite understand what you're saying here. What doesn't recognize the music drive? Is this "music drive" an external USB drive that is plugged into the AEBSn's USB port?
Fifth, this will sound ridiculous, but the Airport software included with Extreme won't open up!!!! I can open up the pdfs, but the software package says "no program to open it" or something like that. I have all updated systems here.
It sounds like the AirPort software CD may be damaged or corrupted somehow. I suggest trying it again, and if you get the same results, contact Apple for a replacement.
Sixth, any attempt to download and update any software seems to be useless. I've tried updating these new updates and they mount up on my computer like a drive and do nothing. I've never had that before. Normally, you update a software, it is a simple process, the old is tossed out. These updates act like external drives and do exactly nothing. ?!?
Ok, this doesn't sound like it has anything to do with AirPort. You may find that you will have better luck getting this question answered in another Apple Discussion Forum...like the OS X one.