Connection Drops, Not Finding Networks

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Connection Drops, Not Finding Networks

Hello,

I have been struggling with my wireless connection in my black MacBook lately. Its a very strange behavior, but I will try to explain it and hope someone can help me with it.

So I connect to my wireless network, every time I start my MacBook it connects automatically. The issue is when viewing a YouTube video or playing any flash game, suddenly the connection drops and if I try to connect to it again it doesn't find it. It doesn't find any network at all. I turn AirPort off and on again, but it still doesn't find anything. The only way of getting it to work again is by getting it into sleep mode or restarting it.

As none of the network related solutions I found online have worked, I got some console log info that may help to know what could be going wrong:

When playing a web-based game:
5/4/11 3:54:13 PM kernel wl0: fifo 0: data error
5/4/11 3:54:13 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (39,1691)->(3a,5045).
5/4/11 3:54:13 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (3a,1691)
5/4/11 3:54:26 PM kernel AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
5/4/11 3:54:27 PM configd[44] network configuration changed.

Playing youtube video:
5/4/11 4:07:45 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (93,56ad)->(95,41cf).
5/4/11 4:07:45 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (94,56ad)
5/4/11 4:10:29 PM kernel wl0: fifo 0: data error
5/4/11 4:10:29 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (1ba,1f3d)->(1bc,f21).
5/4/11 4:10:29 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6a28200]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (1bb,1f3d)
5/4/11 4:10:42 PM kernel AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).
5/4/11 4:10:44 PM configd[44] network configuration changed.

I hope someone can give me a hand on this.

Thanks

MacBook 1,1, Mac OS X (10.6.7), Black

Posted on Apr 5, 2011 8:14 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 6, 2011 9:11 AM in response to juancardila

Looks almost like the crashes are somehow being caused by a corrupted audio buffer of some kind.

Have you tried repairing the permissions and verifying the disk yet? Resetting the PRAM (which will reset some audio settings back to default)?

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Answer 2

juancardila Author

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Apr 6, 2011 7:17 PM in response to mberardinelli

mberardinelli thanks for your response. I have already tried a bunch of things:

-Installing 10.6.7 combo update
-Fix permissions
-Verify disk
-Resetting the SMC
-Zapping PRAM
-Dragging my System Configuration folder out of your library onto the desktop (I found that posible solution around the web)
-Created a new user to try with a fresh account

I really don't know what else to try. If you have any other suggestion I would appreciate it.

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Answer 3

Apr 7, 2011 4:14 AM in response to juancardila

If the same issue occurs on the fresh user account that you created, that means that the issue is system-wide and is either a problem with the OS or the hardware. Unfortunately the only thing really left to try would be backing up all of your data, erasing the disk and reinstalling OS X. Then, right after a fresh install and Software Updates, give it a try. If the same thing happens at that point, I'd say you're looking at a hardware problem.

If you still have both install discs that came with your Macbook, you can look at them to see which one is labeled to contain Apple Hardware Test. You can pop that disc in and reboot your Macbook and hold down the "D" key after the startup chime to boot into the hardware diagnostics and run the "Extended" test (might take a couple of hours).

Is your Macbook still under warranty? You can check for that here: https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do

If it's still under warranty, you could always take it into a Genius Bar and have them check it out.

Message was edited by: mberardinelli

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Answer 4

juancardila Author

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Apr 7, 2011 6:12 AM in response to mberardinelli

I will look for those install discs to try running the test before having to erase the disk.

I will get back to you when I run the tests.

Thanks

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Answer 5

juancardila Author

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Apr 30, 2011 6:14 PM in response to mberardinelli

Alrigth so it took me a while, I couldn't find my discs so I had to wait for a friend to lend me them.

So I finally ran the Extended test, which returned a "No trouble found" message. So it seems its not a hardware issue. Also, as a way of testing I booted on Windows with BootCamp, and after a while I never experienced the network loss I get on Mac OS when viewing YouTube videos or gamming.

Oh, and unfortunatelly my MacBook is no longer under warranty.

I hope this new info helps in getting closer to a possible answere. Any ideas are well appreciated.

Thanks

Message was edited by: juancardila

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Answer 6

May 4, 2011 11:57 AM in response to juancardila

It seems like you might be looking at some type of driver or kernel extension corruption on the Mac OS side (since it all seems to work fine in Windows). Probably the easiest solution would be to back up all of your data and reinstall Mac OS.

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Answer 7

Andryan

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2011 12:47 PM in response to juancardila

I have the exact same problem with my 1.83GHz MacBook running 10.6.7.

I had this problem before with 10.6.3 (I think), another version update (1.0.6.5?) fixed it, then now it's broken again (just before I installed latest AirPort Utility 5.5.3 and Security Update 2011-003). This is so frustrating.

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Answer 8

Jun 17, 2011 12:56 PM in response to juancardila

Try opening network utility and while connected to the network start doing an unlimited number of pings and let that run while you are watching the youtube video and see if it lets you stay connected. In the network preferences try creating a network location.

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Answer 9

Andryan

Level 1

4 points

Jun 17, 2011 1:07 PM in response to Andryan

I think this is caused by the IOAudioStream errors, because this only happens when I play Angry Birds on Chrome.

Jun 18 03:01:00 Richter kernel[0]: wl0: fifo 0: data error

Jun 18 03:01:00 Richter kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0x4640a00]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (86,205f)->(8d,1a52).

Jun 18 03:01:00 Richter kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0x4640a00]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (8c,205f)

Jun 18 03:01:09 Richter kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).

Jun 18 03:01:44 Richter kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0x4640a00]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (28,2cc2)->(2e,db5).

Jun 18 03:01:44 Richter kernel[0]: IOAudioStream[0x4640a00]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (2d,2cc2)

Jun 18 03:01:44 Richter kernel[0]: wl0: fifo 0: data error

Jun 18 03:01:53 Richter kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).

Is there a way to uninstall software updates on Mac OS X SL?

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Answer 10

Jun 17, 2011 1:12 PM in response to Andryan

Airport updates have caused this to happen before, to undo it you might have to reformat the hard drive which you probably don't really want to do.

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Answer 11

Jun 23, 2011 10:47 PM in response to chrisfromhopewell

I had this problem and did exactly that. Backed up and then erased (using the "partition" option) the HD and reinstalled snow leopard. Everything was fine BUT after installing software updates (which included airport 5.5.3) the network again failed to connect. Horrified, I repeated the process and am now going to hold off on software updates. I'd also recommend (and am myself going to do this) backing up with time machine before any software updates so that going back is easy should there be any problems.

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Answer 12

Jun 24, 2011 2:40 AM in response to daveevan1

Most updates are good to download and beef up the security on your machine.

When software update finds updates, click more info and install the ones that you want to install. I install all of them and I'm fine. I have also updated to 10.6.8 and my mac is working fine. There are 2 ways to install this update: you can download it here http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1400 or you can get it via software update. Software update downloads faster so that's what I recommend.

Chris

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Answer 13

Nov 7, 2013 4:01 PM in response to chrisfromhopewell

I'm also having this issue... all conclusions lead to the driver being broken after installing updates relating to either Java or specific security updates. After looking at my update history I find nothing suspicious other than the recent safari or security update.

I'm running 10.6.8 with the latest combined update (1.1). I have never had wireless issues until recently updating through software update this past week or so. Whatever was released during this time has broken my airport. It doesn't matter what I use, every app that has network traffic will eventually lead to airport disconnecting and not showing any of the available wireless networks.

How is this not fixed by apple yet? It's been about 1-2 weeks with this issue now. I think we need to figure out a way to 'downgrade' the airport/broadcam driver to the previous version... but i'm not finding any luck finding the last version before the current.

Here is the console culprit in question:

11/7/13 5:37:08 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6324900]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (283,1324)->(286,c01).

11/7/13 5:37:08 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6324900]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (285,1324)

11/7/13 5:38:18 PM kernel wl0: fifo 0: data error

11/7/13 5:38:18 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6324900]::clipIfNecessary() - Error: attempting to clip to a position more than one buffer ahead of last clip position (37c,2601)->(380,420).

11/7/13 5:38:18 PM kernel IOAudioStream[0x6324900]::clipIfNecessary() - adjusting clipped position to (37f,2601)

11/7/13 5:38:28 PM vmnet-bridge[135] Dynamic store changed

11/7/13 5:38:28 PM vmnet-bridge[135] Adapter: en1, Inactive

11/7/13 5:38:29 PM kernel AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 4 (Disassociated due to inactivity).

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Answer 14

Mar 9, 2016 5:32 AM in response to Cory Schaal

Did the issue get solved?

I have a similar issue (Re: Re: WiFi, USB and webcam issues (bus related?)) where I get the fifo 0: data error, but on OSX 0.11.3 (15D21). Any assistance or information on how you solved your issue would be appreciated!

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