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Snow Leopard Security Update breaks Rosetta support; Apple aware of issue

Friday, February 3, 2012 · 4:36 pm · 49 Comments

“The separate Security Update 2012-001 download for Snow Leopard users is breaking apps that depend on Rosetta,” MacNN reports. “Rosetta allows PowerPC-based apps to operate within Snow Leopard. Programs such as Eudora 6, Acrobat Pro 7, Quicken 2007, and Office 2004 will reportedly crash, freeze, or exhibit other unexpected behavior, such as failing to print documents.”

“Apple is said to be aware of the issue, but there is no timeline on a patch. People who need apps working earlier have two options, the most extreme of these being reinstalling Snow Leopard and updating to v10.6.8 while rejecting Security Update 2012-001,” MacNN reports. “An unofficial app called RosettaFix may solve some problems by replacing files updated by 2012-001 with previous versions, but glitches persist in apps like Eudora 6, Acrobat 7, Photoshop CS2, and AppleWorks 6.”

More information and links in the full article here.

Categories: News

Tags: Rosetta, RosettaFix, Security Update 2012-001, Snow Leopard

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Comment Feed

49 Comments

Mac n' Cheese

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 4:47 pm · Reply

It got me…can’t run Quicken 2007 on my first gen MacBook.
- Greg L
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 8:24 pm · Reply
  
  And it got me. NOW I understand why my old venerable, easy-to-use copy of Sound Studio stopped working.
  
  Thank Heaven (i.e. Apple) for Time Machine. I merely rebooted off my emergency partition, selected my entire /Library folder, and restored with the version from three days ago.
  - Spellman
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 11:38 pm · Reply
    
    Today’s 1.1 version of the security update fixed the problem for me, which I didn’t realize I had until reading about the problems others were having and testing it with Word 2004.
JR

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 4:59 pm · Reply

Can anyone – even a zealot MDN-reading fanboy – believe that this problem never came up in Apple’s testing of the security update? Can you dream that the Apple engineers sent out this update thinking is ok, only to be surprised at the hayhem it has caused around the planet for Rosetta users? No, read the Apple Discussions forums. The problem is universal. And I’ve had four Macs affected. No, people, we live in a world where Apple values MONNEEEE more than user convenience. This is Apple’s Bolshevik way of moving all us slow-coaches away from Snow Leopard. For me, reliance on Rosetta-apps was one of a couple of things that have prevented me from upgrading to Lion. (The other is Lion’s bugginess – I don’t upgrade usually until 10.X.6, and life is easy). If you think this is a genuine error by Apple – rather than an Apple plot to move everyone on to Lion, you live in fantasyland where there is no greed, wars, famine, death and the almighty pursuit of the dollar over the needs of customers.
- AAPLGuy
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:14 pm · Reply
  
  OK, take off your tinfoil hat and reinstall 10.6.
  - Tflint
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:17 pm · Reply
    
    Not all Mac users are computer technicians. That’s the whole point of Apple. I’m not in the computer repair business but my phone has been ringing off the hook with friends begging me to come to their homes and offices to get their Macs running again!
    - AAPLGuy
      
      Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 1:22 pm · Reply
      
      And a fix is in place less than 24 hours after the original issue was reported here.
      
      http://macdailynews.com/2012/02/04/apple-releases-snow-leopard-security-update-2012-001-v1-1-to-correct-rosetta-issues/
- castelbuono
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:43 pm · Reply
  
  I get the frustration, but you lose me on Conspiracy Lane.
- 8^þ
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:22 pm · Reply
  
  Remember the Careless Caveat: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by mere incompetence!
- quasimodo
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:47 pm · Reply
  
  fully agree. consistent lack of attention to detail and user requirements is OBVIOUS (lion, fcp X, 10.7.3 ..) the technologically challenged (marketing mavens and beancounters) have taken over decision making at APPLE.
  - omalansky
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 9:46 pm · Reply
    
    Another moron chimes in.
    - quasimodo
      
      Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 5:48 pm · Reply
      
      But surely you have more to offer than just letting us know that you’re chiming in?
      - omalansky
        
        Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 10:06 pm · Reply
        
        That was so funny that I almost fell out of my highchair. Bleep you, asshole.
        
        quasimodo
        
        Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 11:54 pm · Reply
        
        Well, guess that answers the question. Didn’t anyone ever tell you name-calling and gratuitous insults are hardly a valid form of argument? If you’re going to try and be rude, at least do it with a bit of style! ‘Nuff said.
        
        omalansky
        
        Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 1:27 am · Reply
        
        Why would anybody want to waste time on valid arguments with a pea-brain like you?
- Greg L
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 8:50 pm · Reply
  
  I agree with AAPLGuy. Perhaps he needs TWO tin-foil hats, man.
- omalansky
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 9:45 pm · Reply
  
  It’s unfortunate that this bug slipped through the net, but you’re spouting pure rubbish. Give it a rest.
ken1w

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:06 pm · Reply

Apple messed up. The primary reason a Mac user would continue to run Snow Leopard at this point, with Lion now at 10.7.3, is to have continued access to Rosetta and old PowerPC-based apps. So a large portion of Snow Leopard users are probably affected. Apple has plenty of testers for the “latest and greatest” release, but I think they need some more for legacy support.
V. Harel

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:26 pm · Reply

Found this on MacinTouch.
It worked for me.

The answer has been found (provided you have Time Machine).
I had the same problem in MS Word. Tried everything listed here and no dice. So then a friend went looking for the answer and found it on the Apple Discussion Board.
Here’s the path you need to follow:
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/
ImageIO.framework is the item that needs to be replaced by an earlier copy January 31st will do, but to be sure I replaced the one from January 30th.
You are not done yet. Go to Disk Utilities and Repair Permissions, and then Restart.
That will do it.
By the way you can thank Chriz555 who posted this solution on Apple’s Discussion board at:
Security Update 2012-001 crashing on PPC file dialogs
- castelbuono
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:04 pm · Reply
  
  I uploaded a zip file of ImageIO.framework (prior to the Security Update) to my MobileMe account. Download available at https://files.me.com/geminiawakening/u93agb Password (case sensitive) is MDN. Download link expires in 2 days.
  
  Follow V. Harel instructions for the install (thanks for the post!).
  
  Good Luck!
- Paul Johnson
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:06 pm · Reply
  
  Followed your instructions to the letter on my MacBook Pro and it didn’t work. Word 2004 still won’t save documents or quit without a force quit. This is the same fix as the education.it patch, and it’s not enough to solve the problem. Better to do the 10.6 reinstall and updates minus the 2012-001 security update.
  - castelbuono
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:10 pm · Reply
    
    Have you seen this?
    
    https://discussions.apple.com/message/17490158#17490158
    - Derek Currie
      
      Friday, February 3, 2012 - 11:53 pm · Reply
      
      IOW: The update has just been updated to v1.1. Apply it and you’re done.
  - 8^þ
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:24 pm · Reply
    
    For MS Word to start working again, you have to send a dollar to Gates and 50¢ to Ballmer…
J. Scott

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:47 pm · Reply

ken1w hit the nail on the head. I run my own business and am unfortunately dependent on a legacy app that I use daily. There just isn’t a suitable replacement at this time. That is why I am, for the time being, stuck in Snow Leopard.

This is a MAJOR screw-up that has already cost me a full day’s work to correct and who knows what other problems may arise from the fix.

This is a big PR blunder in my book and Apple needs to issue a fix ASAP!
- Michael Dlugos
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 5:58 pm · Reply
  
  Why is it Apple’s problem to fix an issue with a “legacy app?” Why does’t the software company that produces your app make a version that is compatible with Apple’s latest operating system? Why are you whining at Apple instead of beating the makers of your “legacy app” to get off their lazy asses and make a version that works with Apple’s latest operating system?
  - Elias
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:05 pm · Reply
    
    What do you do when the company that refuses to give you an updated app is Apple? My dad uses an Appleworks spreadsheet everyday. He’s tried Numbers, but it doesn’t have all the functionality Appleworks does, so he’s stuck with Snow Leopard until either Apple makes Numbers more in line with Appleworks, or Rosetta is offered as third party software.
  - Paul Johnson
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:11 pm · Reply
    
    A number of PPC applications have been discontinued, like MacLinkPlus. The whole reason for creating Rosetta in the first place was to allow us access to legacy apps for at least the hope that we could translate old files into a form that could be read in new applications.
  - ken1w
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:12 pm · Reply
    
    Come on now… I’m the first to come to Apple’s defense, but Apple mess up here. Apple broke something that was not broken, not just for one or two apps but for a wide range of apps, through a “Security Update” that should have no such effect. Apple itself acknowledges responsibly for “legacy” support, or it would not provide any updates for Snow Leopard. When such an update is released, Apple is responsible (through adequate testing) for ensuring it does not cause a widespread problem, such as this one.
  - quasimodo
    
    Friday, February 3, 2012 - 9:19 pm · Reply
    
    halfwit. Apple “fixed” what wasn’t broken by breaking it. Just like they did with “save as”.
    Get it through your head. There are SERIOUS issues in Apple’s current approach and these are the results. Get used to it because they don’t seem to care enough anymore. Too dazzled by Imoney pouring in.
    - Oblongotya
      
      Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 3:10 pm · Reply
      
      Being back “Save As”! I’m too stupid to use “Duplicate”. And I want a floppy drive!
- omalansky
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 9:47 pm · Reply
  
  If you had a proper backup, you would have been up and running within an hour. End of story. Apple made a mistake, but don’t blame them for your own lack of due diligence.
Mike

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 6:11 pm · Reply

It’s understandable that Apple needs to continue to move forward, but breaking legacy support shows either:
a) Apple is getting sloppy, or
b) Apple is getting greedy and resorting to underhanded planned obsolescence tactics to force upgrades.

Apple, do the right thing and offer Rosetta as a stand-alone program for a modest price, or sell it to a 3rd party to market it, or open-source the code. But don’t do a) or b).
Tflint

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:10 pm · Reply

Thanks Apple. You are getting a bill for $59 to pay the Apple service provider who rescued my iMac after your upgrade crashed it, plus mileage for two 20 mile trips to and from the shop, plus $150 for a new Microsoft Office, and what the hell are you going to do about all my inaccessible Quicken files?
castelbuono

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:25 pm · Reply

Security Update 2012-001 v 1.1 has just been released via Software Update. Apparently this fixes the issue. Any takers?
- Paul Johnson
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 10:36 pm · Reply
  
  I agree. Just tested v 1.1 Security Update 2012-001 installed over the old version. Worked OK with both Word 2004 and MacL:inkPlus, both PPC/Rosetta programs. Thank God!
Idiots!

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:31 pm · Reply

It always amazes me that so many supposedly intelligent people just automatically install these updates as soon as they come out. And, it utterly baffles me that so many apparently don’t back up. If you simply take the time to do a SuperDuper clone you can boot from it and continue to function. A person who relies on their Mac for business and pulls a stupid stunt like this will get no sympathy from me.
- castelbuono
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 7:48 pm · Reply
  
  …boot from it [and then restore the older version of the OS].
  
  I agree. I always clone the HD before any systems update
- omalansky
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 10:48 pm · Reply
  
  SuperDuper automatically clones my startup drive every morning. The backup takes less than 10 minutes and I don’t have to lift a finger. Computer users who don’t back up have no one to blame but themselves when disaster strikes.
84 Mac Guy

Friday, February 3, 2012 - 8:36 pm · Reply

Let’s not forget the old adage that applies quite well to software updates (and new software):

- Procrastination pays
- Derek Currie
  
  Friday, February 3, 2012 - 11:55 pm · Reply
  
  OR:
  
  - If you don’t want to get bloody, stay off the bleeding edge.
Bandit Bill

Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 12:05 am · Reply

I agree.

How difficult is it to plug a hard drive and click “Use as Back-up Disk”?

I personally use TIme Machine and SuperDuper. I never do an update before backing up.
- quasimodo
  
  Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 5:42 pm · Reply
  
  But why should anyone have to? The single most cogent reason for people staying with snow leopard is rosetta legacy support. Putting out an upgrade that breaks this is, at best, slack. Raise the bar Apple! It blows me away that Apple can make a mistake like this and then is praised for fixing their own created mess as if that makes everything OK.
  - omalansky
    
    Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 10:01 pm · Reply
    
    Why should anyone have to backup their data? Are you serious?! Why do you look both ways before crossing a busy street? Everyone should always make regular backups, whether they are updating their system software or not; but it is especially important to make a full backup before reinstalling or updating OS X. If the installation process were to be interrupted for any reason (e,g, a power outage or a hardware failure), the contents of your Home directory could be lost. You are just looking for a way to blame Apple for your own cluelessness.
    - quasimodo
      
      Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 11:49 pm · Reply
      
      Is english your 3rd or 4th language? Did you go to stupid school or were you just born with lack of ability to comprehend?
      Where did I say anything about backing up? It’s a given that a proper backup strategy is followed. The point (yet again) is that APPLE screwed up and caused people to spend unnecessary time because of it. What part of this can you turn a blind eye to and twist the situation to APPLE GOOD – EVERYBODY who’s not an uncritical fanboy BAD? Get a life or better yet join a fundamentalist church, talk in tongues and swallow snakes.
      - omalansky
        
        Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 1:23 am · Reply
        
        You should learn how to read, dimwit. Bandit Bill said: “How difficult is it to plug a hard drive and click “Use as Back-up Disk”? To which you replied: “But why should anyone have to?” Or was that some other hunchbacked halfwit?
        
        quasimodo
        
        Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 6:49 pm · Reply
        
        not what I replied to. posted wrongly (yet again) by MDN
Neil

Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 12:03 pm · Reply

Update is now available from Apple as of today 2/4/2012
kayan

Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 1:18 pm · Reply

Apple is kind of a victim of Snow Leopard’s success. They took an awesome feature-rich OS (Leopard) and made it even better without making any jarring changes (aside from dropping PPC), and now many people are really comfortable using it.

Lion is great and I’m sure it’s the future and all, but Snow Leopard is the best operating system in the world right now. It’s rock solid, dependable, and easy to use if you have spent any time with it or Leopard. Apple is going to have to do more than “accidentally” breaking Rosetta if they want people to update. The new OS more than just slightly better Snow Leopard to really entice people into updating.