Tons of problems with Snow Leopard

Made this post over at my blog but I figure this would be a better forum for it in hopes we can get some of these issues resolved... it seems like Apple has pulled a Microsoft and released what appears to be a beta version of Snow Leopard! Inexcusable bugs are appearing left and right, and the supposed "improvements" have actually hindered my computer performance and productivity...
This really surprised me. After years of releasing amazing OS upgrades that seemed to make the best OS even better, it seems like Apple has taken 2 steps back with Snow Leopard. I can't tell you how upset I was to realize I was experiencing many problems that I previously only saw on PCs.
After one of the many bugs popped up again on my computer, I got frustrated and started combing the internets for a list of known bugs in the OS and the inevitable slew of Apple users registering their disgust. Unfortunately, my search didn't turn up anything but positive reviews of the OS and very limited complaints on a few message boards. To this end, I'm posting this entry to try and help other users who are experiencing similar issues and hopefully get Apple to clean up this mess of an OS.
Below I've created (and will be adding to) a list of problems I've experienced in OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard. I encourage everyone to list your Snow Leopard issues in the comments as well, in hopes we can create a master list of problems.
I am using a 2 GHz Black MacBook (Core 2 Duo) with 2GB of RAM. Keep in mind Leopard (OS 10.5) was running flawlessly on this more than capable machine. I am currently running the latest Snow Leopard build, 10.6.1. I upgraded 10.5 with the retail version of Snow Leopard, integrating my current apps into 10.6 (did not do a clean install). I've organized my issues below by application. This post is less about third-party applications and more about Apple apps/built-in OS features, as Apple is fully accountable for these pieces.
APPLE APPS
Airport:
• Airport is now incredibly slow getting past the "searching" status message and into what was known as "scanning" status in 10.5 (now called "Looking For Networks…" status message). This issue occurs most often when I revive the computer from sleep. I have to turn Airport off and on again, then wait an inordinate amount of time to get past the useless "Searching…" message.
Volume and Sound:
• I rely on my volume control icon on the toolbar. I change my system volume dozens of times every day (due to my job)... previously, I could click the volume icon then simply roll the scroll wheel on my two-button mouse to adjust the volume. Now, I have to actually move my mouse down onto the volume slider area before my scroll wheel works! What gives? In allowing the user to fine-tune the volume levels, Apple removed this functionality for some reason? This is a real pain for me as the extra second it takes to do this really adds up by the end of the day.
• Sound now starts stuttering for no reason? When I wake my computer up from sleep and I have headphones or speaker plugged in, the audio stutters greatly. I have to unplug then re-plug my speakers or headphones to fix the issue! This is a problem I saw on many PCs due to sound cards not playing with Windows nicely, but was NEVER an issue I experienced using OS X.
• The Mac OS startup chime plays on my MacBook external speaker when I startup, even though I have speakers or headphones plugged in! It also does not matter if I had my system volume on mute when restarting • the OS seems to now decide what volume my system should be at when I start up!
Safari:
• Defaults to 64-bit mode silently, and this breaks most plug-ins (my issue was with download manager iGetter, specifically). I had to manually Get Info on the app, then switch back to 32-bit mode, which it seems Apple has not designed Snow Leopard to support properly?
• Freezes and crashes more often, most often when running Flash video. This occurs when I open multiple videos on YouTube, for example.
• Hogging memory even more than it used to (1GB of RAM to run the app?? Really?)
Stacks:
• Apple seems to have completely removed the functionality or sortable sub-folder listings? For example, if I choose to sort my stack by "Date Modified", the initial list of folders in the stack appear by date, but all my sub-folders appear in Alpha order, and there is no way to change this! Come on Apple, why remove this?
iPhoto:
• Freezes completely when I go to "Export…". My Export opens on the Facebook tab of the dialogue box, and it seems the issue occurs when iPhoto can't find the source image. Rather than an error message though, I get the color wheel of death.
Spotlight/Search:
• When I search from a Finder window, sometimes I get the new feature of sortable results columns to work, but sometimes I don't. Seems arbitrary when it works and when it doesn't.
System Preferences:
• More of an annoyance, System Preferences now has to restart the first time I click on any third-party preference in "Other". Some work, most don't.
Install:
• In previous OS X upgrades, Apple gave me the option to "Backup and Install". This option was not present on Snow Leopard, so not sure what a user can d if they do not have a Time Machine backup and their install fails.
Preview:
• Preview slows down considerably when opening multiple files.
THIRD-PARTY APPS
Entourage:
• Entourage froze up when I tried to simply delete one of my email accounts. The Accounts window went blank and the application froze.
CS3:
• Slower than ever, Photoshop is running at a snail's pace.
I hope everyone can contribute to this string and get Apple to fix these problems.

I can address some of these:
Safari defaults to 64-bit mode silently, and this breaks most plug-ins (my issue was with download manager iGetter, specifically). I had to manually Get Info on the app, then switch back to 32-bit mode, which it seems Apple has not designed Snow Leopard to support properly?
All applications, to the best of my knowledge, will run in 64-bit if they include 64-bit code. With most you'll never notice, but if an application supports plugins, then you have to pay attention to whether the plug-in is available in a 64-bit version. More and more are becoming available, but not all. If you have plug-ins that aren't, you need to set the app - Safari or whatever - to 32-bit mode. This is not a bug; it's necessitated by the conversion to full-time 64-bit support. The developer of iGetter claims that an update for compatibility with Safari in 64-bit mode is under development but no time frame has been given.
Snow Leopard is perfectly capable of running 32-bit apps. You just can't mix them, running a 32-bit plugin in a 64-bit app.
Freezes and crashes more often, most often when running Flash video. This occurs when I open multiple videos on YouTube, for example.
Have you installed the latest version of Flash? Flash is almost always a bit problematical, but I've had no problems running Flash content on any site with SL.
Hogging memory even more than it used to (1GB of RAM to run the app?? Really?)
This may just be an issue of not being clear on how Mac OS X allocates memory. This article may provide some insight:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1342
More of an annoyance, System Preferences now has to restart the first time I click on any third-party preference in "Other". Some work, most don't.
This is normal if a preference pane has not been provided in a 64-bit version.
In previous OS X upgrades, Apple gave me the option to "Backup and Install". This option was not present on Snow Leopard
Actually it was called "archive and install" and was removed as an option as no longer necessary. The normal installation creates all necessary new files and more robustly replaces old ones, so having an archive of the old system folder was deemed to no longer be needed.
so not sure what a user can d if they do not have a Time Machine backup and their install fails.
To restore completely from a full Time Machine backup, you erase the disk using Disk Utility from the menu in the Installer, then choose to restore from a TM backup.
Preview slows down considerably when opening multiple files.
Seems to work OK for me. I've had as many as twenty open with no noticeable slowdown. But you may be opening much larger documents than I have.
Entourage froze up when I tried to simply delete one of my email accounts. The Accounts window went blank and the application froze.
Impossible to offer any advice here without knowing what version of Entourage you're using, whether it's been fully updated, and what type of email account this was.
Regards.

Similar Messages

Problem with Snow Leopard 10.6.8

I recently faced problem with Snow Leopard 10.6.8, and my system started getting shut down before login screen appears. I contacted apple support,and they replaced my Logic board.
Now i am facing problem with track pad, and there is a huge degradation in system performance.
Neither, bluetooth and internet port is working.
Is that a known problem with 10.6.8 ? or does the people who worked upon replacing the logic board messed up something ?
they recommended me to re-install Mac OS which came along with system.
--Manish

Thanks for a super Quick response.
I have tried re-installing the MAC on top of the current installation 10.6.8 and, ( as system is so slow, it took around 5 hours for installation to complete ), yet the problem persisted.
Currently i formatted the Macintosh HD, and i am doing a fresh installation. Hope it does work .. ??
Else, i am not sure, what to go ahead with..
The person who replaced LB, had an external hard drive with 10.6.7 installed on it, when system was booted from that disc , the things starts working normally.
if after the fresh installation, problem persist, i will update.
Also, please let me know if you have some solution for this problem.
--Manish

Epson R2880 printer driver problems with Snow Leopard

I’m running 10.6.4 on a new Mac mini and I’m trying to print to a new Epson R2880. If I let the system choose the printer driver in the print and fax utility, I get a sort of generic print dialogue box without many options, but it prints. If I go into the print and fax utility and manually choose the driver, I get a different print dialog box with all the appropriate print options. I checked and it matches the screen shots for this printer that are posted on the Epson site, so I feel sure this the correct driver. However, when I try to print with this driver, I get this error message. Error:/Library/Printers/EPSON/InkjetPrinter2/Filter/rastertoescpll.app/Contents /MacOS/rastertoescpll failed.
This seems to be a common problem with Snow Leopard and the R2880 Epson printers, and it seems that most people are able to solve it by deleting the printer from the printer queue and resetting the printer queue. But that hasn’t solved my problem.
Here’s what I’ve done:
Manually deleted the Epson folder from the hard drive and trashed it, repaired disk permissions, uninstalled the Epson driver, updated software, downloaded and installed the Apple/Epson driver, deleted the printer from the print queue, and reset the printer queue. I’ve done all of these things several times over. And still I get the same error message every time I try to print from the driver with the print options. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a fix?

Some of the previous users had success when they restarted after deleting the /Library/Printers/EPSON and /Library/Caches/Epson folders. You might also try deleting the /Library/Cache folder. There is a solution posted from someone at Epson:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10909012#10909012
Substitute 2880 for RX580:
Make sure that you have completely removed the Stylus Photo RX580 driver, then install the new driver from System Update:
1. Power off the printer
2. Open System Pref. and Print/Fax
3. Highlight the RX580 printer
4. Click on the ""-"" sign
5. Close Print and Fax
6. Open your Mac's Hard Drive
7. Open the Library Folder
8. Open Printer and delete the EPSON Folder
9. Open the PPDs folder find the Epson Stylus Photo RX580.gz and delete the file
10. Close the PPD and the Printer folder
->11. In the Library folder, open the Caches Folder
->12. Delete the Epson folder
->13. Restart the Mac
14. Power on the printer
15. Click on the Apple Icon and System Update
16. Follow the directions to install the new driver
Hope this helps.

Ongoing, very frustrating problems with Snow Leopard

I've really been struggling to get my machine to work optimally with Snow Leopard. I recently upgraded to 4GB RAM thinking my problem was insufficient memory, but several seemingly intractable problems are persisting.
1) Still having font issues. I am apparently missing a couple fonts, but cannot figure out which ones. The font that Apple uses during the installation of software is bitmapped, as are several fonts in my widgets (Stocks, for example). I've tried manually going through one by one in Font Book, but still can't get the right set, apparently.
2) Firefox and Safari are now hanging like crazy on certain websites, and web browsing is generally sluggish. I recently upgraded by broadband to 6.0mps, so it's not the connection that's the problem. Some sites will not even load, and others are painfully slow.
3) General system sluggishness. I have tried cleaning the cache with Snow Leopard Cache Cleaner, I've tried repairing permissions. Performance is still slow relative to Leopard -- despite my RAM upgrade. For example, it takes forever for the widgets to load. They used to be lighting fast in Leopard.
HELP!

Austinite70 wrote:
2) Firefox and Safari are now hanging like crazy on certain websites, and web browsing is generally sluggish. I recently upgraded by broadband to 6.0mps, so it's not the connection that's the problem. Some sites will not even load, and >others are painfully slow.
Here is a solution to having a sluggish internet experience that has worked for some.
1. Go Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
2. Move the the SystemConfiguration folder to your desktop:
3. Reboot
The folder moved should be recreated upon reboot. You may have to reconnect to your wireless network if applicable. And, you may need to go System Preferences > Sharing and re-enter your computer's name. Check what name is given in sharing before following the instructions. If problems develop, then your can move the original folder back where they it started—overwriting anything recreated.
3) General system sluggishness. I have tried cleaning the cache with Snow Leopard Cache Cleaner, I've tried repairing permissions. Performance is still slow relative to Leopard -- despite my RAM upgrade. For example, it takes forever >for the widgets to load. They used to be lighting fast in Leopard.
There are a variety of possible fixes for general slowness, in addition, to maintenance that is not performed automatically in Sno. Here are some nonmaintenance-related possibilities:
1. If you are running iAntivirus, then uninstall it.
2. Look in Library > StartupItems and in System > Library > StartupItems. Move whatever you find in them to the desktop to see if your problem is resolved. You can move whatever you want back one at a time to test which, if any, is your problem.
3. I Go > System > Library > LaunchDaemons/com.apple.audio.coreaudiod.plist and delete this file. I caution you here that all possible solutions one tries are at his or her own risk.
You'll lose all system sounds in Finder with this possible fix, but restoring the plist and stopping then starting the service seems to put all back in order.
4.
1. Create a new user
2. Test apps to see that they work with no crashing.
3. Drag your data (not your whole home folder) into their proper places in your new user home folder
4. Re-enter your app preferences if you are going to keep using the new user.
5. If you want to use the old user name, then delete the old account; recreate it; and move everything back to the original locations.
6. You will need to fix the permissions, app settings, etc.
5. Go back to 10.6.

Are there any problems with Snow Leopard Server (Xserve) and PPC Clients

Hi,
are there any problems identified yet with Snow Leopard Server, installed on a Xserve and PPC Clients running Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard?
Currently I have a Xserve Intel running Leopard Server and about 12 Mac Minis PPC running Mac OS X Tiger and Mac OS X Leopard. The Xserve serves services like DNS, OpenDirectory, Software Update Server, NetBoot, etc. All users have Home Directories stored on the Xserve.
Now I want to install Snow Leoaprd Server on the Xserve, but I wonder if there are any problems using the PPC Clients? I have read something like this on a german website.
Thanks!

We've actually found that the Server 10.6.3 DVD does an amazingly smooth job of upgrading 10.5.8. We've been upgrading our production servers and nothing has gone wrong yet. Snow Leopard employs an archive and install method of upgrading which results in an install which is very close to a clean install. So it's been very convenient for us because our servers are used as Windows PDCs and it's a pain in the *** to have to re-join all PCs to the domain if we start from scratch.

Premiere CS4 problems with Snow Leopard 10.6.7

I know that this is draging the depths of history but we have eight MackBook Pros with Snow Leopard (no roll back possible) and various CS4 progeams on in the college at which I teach. We have a problem with Premiere in that clips will not play either in the preview, timeline or program areas rendering the whole program useless. I don't think this is a problem that unknown; has anyone found a solution othere than installing 5.5 of course?

That is not good... PPro requires FULL access to the system to work properly... it just is not designed to be run on a limited use account
Also (Mac may be different???) to use some of the functions in Encore in the Win7 world, you not only have to be running the program from an Administrator account, you actually have to right click the program icon and select Run as Administrator from the list of options
Welcome to the wonderful world of computer security settings that get in the way of doing work
To create a dual layer DVD (or a BluRay?), you MUST have Encore set to use the Run as Administrator option
Run as Administrator http://forums.adobe.com/thread/771202?tstart=0

Flash Problems with Snow Leopard Mackbook Pro

I am having trouble with Google Analytics and other websites that use hover states such as NewImageMedia.com's header. It seems the Hover Over stuff makes the Flash go crazy. When I say gow crazy I mean, it shoots the hover over stuff to the right at like 100%+ width and it goes off the page. I updated to 10.6.3 today because I thought that might clear the issue I was having. I used the Flash uninstaller, re-installed, fix permissions, put Safari in 32 bit and am still having difficulties. Also noticed my Parallels 3 doesn't work anymore with which is a shame.
This MBP is brand new, I just got it and installed everything from Time Machine. Is there any way I can just downgrade to 10.5? Would Apple do that for me? I can't keep dealing with these problems that Snow Leopard is having. I have too much work to do.

I want to also note that the issue is in Chrome as well, but Flash works properly in FireFox.

CS2 InDesign problems with Snow Leopard

I recently purchased a new iMac with Snow Leopard. I installed my CS2 and everything seemed okay. Apple said I would have no trouble with CS2 on the new operating system.
InDesign is doing strange things. When I move a text box, the text disappears. I have to click the text cursor over the text and it reappears. Also, starting yesterday, when I export a file to PDF, InDesign crashes.
Other than purchasing CS4, is there a way to fix these problems?
Thank you.

Sorry my email showing no message. What would be doing that?
I called Apple and they told me to install Rosetta, which I did. It helped for a while—I could move a text box and the text would not disappear but I still could not export to a pdf without InDesign crashing. They gave me a number to call for Adobe. I haven't called yet because I know the answer.
This is really a pain. I am working on a 32 page document with photos and lots of text. I always export to a pdf so I can send it out for proofing. I will have to transfer the files to my old computer to make pdfs.
Thanks for all your help.

Problems with Snow Leopard?

Are there problems showing up with Snow Leopard? Such as conflicts , glitches , crashes, etc?

Hi Gerald...
Yes... basically, I'd suggest: don't upgrade
I should have remembered: if it ain't broke, don't fix it (and all I was even hoping for or expecting was for my Mac to operate about the same with maybe a minor 64 bit speed increase).
I have encountered a number of problems, and what is worse, even after getting some of them sorted out (and some not yet) and using SL for about a week, I very much regret 'upgrading' to SL (and will be working on restoring Leopard tonight). I have looked at every upgraded and new aspect of SL, and there is nothing of any significance - I have a dual core processor (relatively new iMac, very basic setup, all new brand name software), which now runs most things in 64 bit, and have found no perceptible speed increase in anything from the basic to the graphic intensive (though I have no games on my machine). In fact, I have noticed quite the opposite - very significant lags, commonly in saving files, opening dialogs and certain operations in many software programs (including Apple OD included programs, other Apple software, and 3rd party software such as Adobe CS4) - even simply saving an image in Safari now takes a painfully long time to simply display the dialog. The 'beach ball' has become a very common site, and a great many of the other lags and slowness occurs without the beach-ball appearing. That, combined with UPS related problems, the system crashing, the system simply hanging when left on overnight, printer driver problems, screen zoom problems, various program crashes, Finder not working properly (doesn't crash but doesn't find consistently/reliably), and general bad experience with SL now making what I consider a very basic/typical/safe Mac setup become unreliable and unstable and slow and sluggish, makes the SL 'upgrade' 0% benefit and 100% detrimental for me.
With (non-snow) Leopard, my Mac was basically perfect, reliable, fast, everything ran right and flawlessly, etc - all the stuff they talk about in their commercials. With SL, Apple has severely disappointed, and added 0 advantages/features and made my Mac slow, sluggish, unreliable and unstable and problematic - just like the PC they compare to in their commercials. I have also been waiting and checking for a 'software upgrade' re the countless problems reported here re SL - nothing has come, or seems to be forthcoming. I simply hope I will be successful in restoring my Mac (through time machine) to it's pre-snow condition.
And, it you do try SL, I'd suggest you do a full image backup (which the OS install does not warn you to do, or do itself) beforehand.

Having problem with Snow Leopard

I updated my mac today using Snow Leopard and now I'm having problem with amsn ans Cyberduck.. Is there anyway to have this fixed?

HI,
The most recent version of Cyberduck is here but it *may not be* compatible with Snow Leopard.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/cyberduck.html
Read where you see; System Requirements
You can go to the developer's site and check for updates.
http://cyberduck.ch/
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

New iMac with OS x Lion. Printing envelopes w/ Address book makes a second blank envelope. Drivers up to date. Have to mark print only first page. Had no problem with Snow Leopard. How to correct.

I recently purchased a new iMac with OS x Lion. Previously was using a four year old iMac with snow Leopard. I have three HP printers with up to date drivers for Lion. When I try to print an envelope from Address Book I have two problems:
1) I have to change the orientation to vertical to get the proper margins, which I never had to do before and
2) It prints a second blank envelope unless I tell it to only print the first page.
Neither of the problems occurred with my previous iMac/w Snow Leopard and it appears to be a Lion/HP software incompatibility. I have worked with a Apple supervisor (Case # 316225300) for hours and finally reinstalled the operating system to no avail.
I do I correct both problems???

Contact HP and ask them to write better drivers for Lion. Find a printer that is more compatible with Lion. I've not printed envelopes with Lion before, though I've had no difficulty with either Epson Artisan 810 or Canon MX700 for regular printing. Sometimes open source drivers also work better than manufacturer drivers. See this FAQ*:
http://www.macmaps.com/printersx.html
While many open source drivers won't give you duplex or printer diagnostics, at least they may work better for other features.
Lastly, I've often found for a more consistent print, saving as PDF, and then printing from Preview can sometimes be the best work around. Someone in the Mac OS X Technologies forum might be able to help you write an automator script to do this in one fell swoop, if you find it works better for your needs.

Airport express printing problem with Snow Leopard

I am no longer able to print to my shared printer after upgrading to Snow Leopard. I get a message that starts with "communication failure the computer is no longer able to communicate with your printer". My network consists of a dual-band Airport extreme and an Airport Express. The dual-band Airport Extreme creates the network and is connected to the internet. The printer (HP LaserJet 1012) is connected to the AirPort Express. The AirPort express joins the dual-band Airport extreme network for the sole purpose of turning the HP LaserJet 1012 into a shared wireless printer. Everything was working fine before the upgrade to Snow Leopard. When I connect the printer directly to my MAC via USB, it prints fine. I can "see" the printer fine through bonjour when it is connected to the AirPort express, but I get a failure whenever I try to print to it. I have tried plugging and unplugging the device. I have effectively redownloaded the print-driver by connecting the printer directly to my MAC. It sounds like a Snow Leopard bug. Any suggestions for a work-around? Thanks.

I upgraded to Snow Leopard and had difficulties connecting to my HP Photosmart 7150 printer through Airport Express. Apple setup found a 3rd party printer driver by Gutenprint, which I downloaded and the printer works. But like it did under Leopard. Under the 10.5 OS, a print command would send a wake up signal to the HP, which automatically turned off after a period of idleness, and then print. Under 10.6, there is no wake up and I need to manually activate the printer. I went to the HP web site hoping to find a "new" driver for 10.6 and HP has posted a message saying it does not and will not be providing print driver for 10.6. It then has a long list of HP devices that cannot or will not print with Snow Leopard. So those with no-printing issues should check your model against the HP driver listing. I believe this is a neat way for HP to force Mac users who upgrade or install 10.6 to buy a new printer for which HP has a 10.6 driver. At least I can print and the only inconvenience that I can see if the lack of that wake up signal. My wife says it won't hurt me if I have to get up and walk to the room with the printer to turn it on!

Facebook uploader problems with Snow leopard

When I attempt to add photos in facebook the uploader appears but only a jpg icon shows in the frames - no pictures. before installing Snow leopard I use to get a request for facebook to use a java applet. I would say yes and the pics would load perfectly. I do not get the message with Snow Leopard. Any ideas?

HI,
Try this... In the Add More photos window, underneath that window look where it says: Try the Simple Uploader just under the word Cancel. It's much easier to use with Facebook on Safari.
Carolyn

Problem with Snow Leopard on new macbook pro?

OK here's the problem
I just bought a new unibody macbook pro with 17 inch screen because I had previously got a 15 inch and am now selling as I realised it doesn't have an Expresscard slot which I want to help me mix music.
The computer came with Lion and because I use all kinds of software and lots of freeware I actually want to continue using my old operating system (10.6.7) so everything runs as it did straight away.
So I installed the OSX disk that came with the 15 inch MBP on the new 17 inch MBP, and it ostensibly worked..
But now the shortcut buttons like volume and brightness don't work, no matter whether I check or uncheck the box in System Preferences about "standard function keys".. and when I click on Trackpad it claims "No Trackpad found"
Bit miffed..any ideas what's going on?
thanks
J

jcloth wrote:
Bit miffed..any ideas what's going on?
The grey disks come with hardware drivers that are specific to a particular Mac model.
You also cannot boot from OS X install disks that are earlier than what the Mac came with from the factory (in this case Lion)
Your in luck that you have another Mac, because all you need is a Firewire cable to (first step) hold T boot the new Mac's hard drive to the desktop of the older Mac.
But you need the Snow Leopard retail install disks (white, not grey) to (second step) c boot off the older Mac so you can Disk Utility Erase and format HFS and install Snow Leopard on the new Mac.
Snow Leopard will boot off some 2011 Lion Mac machine because the hardware drivers exist on Snow Leopard disks, just have to have the right disks and the grey disks from another Mac doesn't do it.
You may want to take a look at this thread, there are instructions to combine the 10.6.3 and the Combo Update into one disk and more help.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3264421?start=0&tstart=0
Once you get Snow Leopard working on your machine, be sure to make a Carbon Copy Cloner or two to a HFS external drives as you have no boot disks.

External display problems with snow leopard

I just upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard on my Macbook and it's created lots of problems with my LCD external display:
- The display won't work at its native resolution (1680x1050) - it will flash up an image for 1/10 of second and then go black. I can only get it to work at a lower resolution, which looks AWFUL.
- If I try to start up my Macbook with the lid closed and the display connected, the display won't work at all (it jams on the start up screen). It only works if I keep both of them running
I never had these problems when using Leopard. I've searched lots of forums and found that many people are having similar problems with external displays. Apple still haven't fixed the bug after repeated efforts from people to get if fixed.
Here are some threads (now closed) on this if you're looking for solutions:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2132912&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2136455&tstart=1
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2132837&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10084332
Common suggested fixes are:
- Force OS X to use LCD font smoothing (does not work for me)
- Clear the PRAM on start-up (does not work for me)
- Delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist (does not work)
- Change energy management setting to high performance (only works on graphics cards in Macbook 15" and 17").
From reading these forums it appears that this is a well-know bug. Has anyone else got any suggestions to fix this? And why hasn't Apple fixed this yet after so many people bringing it to their attention? It's clearly a bug that wasn't in Leopard.

I'M FED UP WITH APPLE! They've always been a little shady, but the last half of 2010 took the cake!
First it was the iPhone 3g "upgrade" to IOS4 which was garbage and killed my ability to use the 3g until I figured out how to crack the software, wipe the thing clear then reinstall the original software. Next up was purchasing the iphone 4 as a Christmas gift for someone running tiger on their mac, only to find out that the iphone 4 doesn't work on tiger when they tried to sync their contacts - and then having to rush out and purchase snow leopard so that they could enjoy my gift. Then I install Snow Leopard (note - I purchased the family pack) onto my own leopard-running(10.5.+) powerbook only to have the external LCD display I've been using for years suddenly stop working.
Oh, okay, to be fair, it works IF I RESIGN MYSELF TO SET it to "mirror image" (which defeats the purpose of having multiple displays) and drop the resolution down to a pathetic, unsharp, nearly distored setting that is almost painful to look at knowing that this monitor was just A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO showing me crystal clear images.
Then I exhaust myself trying to find a fix only to discover that APPLE in their infinite brilliance (AKA - their torture of loyal customers) knows of the issue - worked it out - then created an update that created the issue all over again. I'm so done! No more macs. I'm going back to the evil land of PCs. At least there, you know you're getting crap, it doesn't sneak up on you after getting you to trust it time and time again.

Tons of problems with Snow Leopard

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