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MBP Whine -- Getting the Mirror-widget hack to work again

J

jb84

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 24, 2006
20
0
Sydney, Australia
Apple's recent 'Keyboard Update' contained a new version of IOUSBFamily (2.5.0) which fixed the "bug" in the way USB resources are released when, for example, the Mirror widget is closed or the Photobooth is force-quitted. I did not notice any deficiencies before the 'Keyboard Update', so I grabbed the old version of IOUSBFamily from a backup and replaced it.

I've uploaded the old version (2.4.6) here, if you want to give this a try:
http://fxoz.com/IOUSBFamily.kext.dmg.zip

Make a backup of the existing IOUSBFamily.hext, then copy the downloaded version to /System/Library/Extensions, then run the following command in Terminal, then reboot.

sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext

The Mirror widget/Photobooth force-quit hacks will work again.

This will enable you to eliminate the whine without incurring the battery life penalty that results from trashing the power management completely.
 
Great, you are my hearo. Now if someone could just write an app to open comic life at system startup and quit it automatically, the whine issue would be gone. :cool:
 
I'm bumping this thread back to the top because everyone who owns a whining macbook or macbook pro should know about it. jb84's instructions work perfectly and are simple to follow. I nominate him for post of the year for this thread.

You neither have to live with the whine nor cost yourself processor power and battery life to eliminate it! Thanks a million, jb!
 
I just did this on my system however now when I boot it gives me a message about not being able to use this particular version of IOUSBFamily.kext. I'm runing 10.4.7. Whats weird about it as the system still works and my usb devices seem to be working just fine as well.
 
mrweirdo said:
I just did this on my system however now when I boot it gives me a message about not being able to use this particular version of IOUSBFamily.kext. I'm runing 10.4.7. Whats weird about it as the system still works and my usb devices seem to be working just fine as well.
Click to expand...

Did you download v240.4.3 from Apple's website? (ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Development_Kits/Mac_OS_USB/IOUSBFamily-240.4.3-log.dmg)

Make sure you install the one without the "log" in the file name...they both work, but one makes your log files huge.

I run it on my MBP no problem, and I have 10.4.7. Maybe you installed one for PPC instead of x86? If you didn't get the one from the Apple site, I highly suggest getting it from there instead. I know the original poster is only trying to help, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
 
mmmcheese said:
I run it on my MBP no problem, and I have 10.4.7. Maybe you installed one for PPC instead of x86? If you didn't get the one from the Apple site, I highly suggest getting it from there instead. I know the original poster is only trying to help, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

I got the file from the place jb84 linked, and it works great. It's definitely the right one. But if you do get it from apple, make sure you get the intel version and NOT the "log" version, like mmmcheese said.

I also use this trick on 10.4.7 (macbook) and it works perfectly. So make sure you have the right file and also that you've followed the steps in the terminal exactly.

FWIW magicnoisekiller sometimes works for me and sometimes doesn't. It don't know why... it's weird. But the mirror widget and photobooth hack always work, so that's good enough for me. :)
 
QCassidy352 said:
I got the file from the place jb84 linked, and it works great. It's definitely the right one. But if you do get it from apple, make sure you get the intel version and NOT the "log" version, like mmmcheese said.
Click to expand...

Both files are in the same dmg (just in case people didn't know). My previous post links directly to the correct IOUSBFamily package.

I also use this trick on 10.4.7 (macbook) and it works perfectly. So make sure you have the right file and also that you've followed the steps in the terminal exactly.
Click to expand...

I didn't have to do anything with the terminal, I just installed the package and rebooted.

FWIW magicnoisekiller sometimes works for me and sometimes doesn't. It don't know why... it's weird. But the mirror widget and photobooth hack always work, so that's good enough for me. :)
Click to expand...

For me, magic noise killer works fine. There have been a couple of times where it didn't seem to work when I first boot up, but opening and closing photobooth and then opening magic noise killer worked. I've only done this about twice though, it's worked every other time. I don't have this auto-load on boot though, because I prefer to turn it off when I'm on battery (just open photobooth and then close it, and this disengages magic noise killer).

Anyway, if you're having problems....try reinstalling the kext again (even if you think you have the right version, re-download it and try again). Let us know how it goes.
 
mmmcheese said:
For me, magic noise killer works fine. There have been a couple of times where it didn't seem to work when I first boot up, but opening and closing photobooth and then opening magic noise killer worked. I've only done this about twice though, it's worked every other time. I don't have this auto-load on boot though, because I prefer to turn it off when I'm on battery (just open photobooth and then close it, and this disengages magic noise killer).
Click to expand...

yeah, that's how it usually works for me. I don't mind just force quitting photobooth though.

why don't you use it on battery? I thought one of the nice things about these tricks (magicnoisekiller, photobooth force quit) was that they had no negative impact on battery life.

anyway, I love this trick! :D it makes me so much happier with my macbook.
 
QCassidy352 said:
why don't you use it on battery? I thought one of the nice things about these tricks (magicnoisekiller, photobooth force quit) was that they had no negative impact on battery life.
Click to expand...
Are you sure, anyone?
 
QCassidy352 said:
yeah, that's how it usually works for me. I don't mind just force quitting photobooth though.

why don't you use it on battery? I thought one of the nice things about these tricks (magicnoisekiller, photobooth force quit) was that they had no negative impact on battery life.

anyway, I love this trick! :D it makes me so much happier with my macbook.
Click to expand...

I don't have any hard numbers, but I have found that it does impact battery life a bit...20-30 min approx. I haven't done any scientific studies or anything, but this is what I have found. This is the same issue that MS had with USB 2 devices causing battery drain...Apple fixed it with the keyboard update, and as a result, you can't use the hacks to make the "whine" go away.
 
I have a silly question: How do I undo this fix? Yes, I'll sound like an idiot, but I heard this "whine" coming from what I thought was my MacBook. I tried to install this fix only to find out it was the lamp next to my desktop making the noise. I made a backup of the original IOUSB file, but I can't copy it back into the Extension folder. It keeps saying I don't have access privledges. How do I set them back to what they were before I did that console command?

Yeah, sometimes I'm real smart-like. :D
 
benthewraith said:
I'd just like to point out that as of 10.4.8, this trick no longer works. I guess I'm going to have to get my logicboard replaced soon. :(
Click to expand...

It works for me. The same steps as always.
 
benthewraith said:
I'd just like to point out that as of 10.4.8, this trick no longer works. I guess I'm going to have to get my logicboard replaced soon. :(
Click to expand...
You really should. The benefits of getting the new logic board, besides getting rid of the whine, is the decrease in overall temperature levels.
My MBP is now laptop usable.
 
farqueue said:
i have this whine on my macbook.
So should i replace the logic board?:confused:
Click to expand...

i would like to second this..i have hte same problem :X

ahh..its not really a 'whine' per say..as maybe just a really loud fan..like its going nuts ..max..consistently.when i run 'videos' through mozilla..

argh

ONLY complaint really but yah.
 
Hey guys,

My whine was fixed on the 5th time sending it to apple. First 4 times it came back the same, but the 5th time (after apple actually admited to the whine and said to contact them if you did have the wine) i sent it in and now its silent.
 
benthewraith said:
Interesting, I lost the ability to type and move my mouse. :S
Click to expand...

I experienced the same thing after I updated to 10.4.8 and tried to install the old IOUSB. I had to restore my MBP to the install disc and I've now updated to 10.4.8 again and am dealing with the whine with QuietMBP. But I'd much rather use the PhotoBooth trick, is there any way to get this trick working again?

And on the same note, I've had my Logic Board replaced three times, and the last time they did it, they put the newer version one in, but it still makes the whine, albeit much less than before.
 
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