Troubleshooting Mac Issues After Latest OS X Update: Proven Solutions and Personal Insights

Everyone makes mistakes, and even tech giants like Apple occasionally release software updates that cause unexpected problems. The recent OS X Lion update has left many Mac users facing significant challenges.

According to reports from TUAW, Apple's support forums have been flooded with complaints. Users report that after installing the latest OS X update, applications either fail to launch or crash during use, often displaying a cryptic "CUI" error message on their screens.

Fortunately, these issues can be resolved with some effort. If you haven't updated your OS X yet, it's advisable to hold off until Apple releases a fix. For those already affected, here’s what you need to do: download the 1.2 GB combo update directly from Apple's official website—not via Software Update. If you encounter a 404 error, try refreshing the page as this is a known Safari glitch. It's best to install this update in Safe Mode by holding down the Shift key during startup.

If Safe Mode doesn't start, there’s a workaround using a second Mac with Lion installed. Boot your Mac in Target Disk Mode and install the combo update directly from the second machine. Alternatively, you can use Recovery Mode by holding the R key during startup to reinstall Lion along with the update without losing your data, as Time Machine backups remain intact.

For adventurous users who choose to install the update despite warnings, ensure you back up all your data and only use the combo update downloaded from Apple's site. Installing via Software Update is likely to cause the issues described, as evidenced by numerous user reports.

Personal Experience

Previously, I always updated my system using the combo update. However, after switching to the latest MacBook Air and OS X Lion, I grew accustomed to updating via Software Update. When I installed the latest OS X update early yesterday, I encountered no problems throughout a full day of intensive use. In fact, the system ran smoother and apps launched faster. Before updating, I followed several important steps that may have helped avoid the common issues.

First, I uninstalled MacFuse, a third-party filesystem support tool known to cause conflicts with Lion, especially since the developer discontinued support. MacFuse is often used for NTFS support but can create unexpected problems. You can check if it's installed by looking for the MacFuse panel in System Preferences. I removed it using AppZapper, as Lion's built-in uninstaller is ineffective.

Next, I repaired disk permissions using Disk Utility, then ran the free Onyx utility to check the startup disk. Using Onyx, I repaired permissions again (Maintenance → Permissions → Execute), ran system maintenance scripts (Maintenance → Scripts → Execute), and cleared caches (Cleaning → Execute) with default settings. After rebooting and closing all applications, I proceeded with the OS update via Software Update.

Currently, my system operates without any issues. However, I recommend that fellow users install the update via the combo updater after performing the maintenance steps outlined above to minimize potential problems.

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