Update to 10.6.8 broke my optical audio - any help?

yes, yes! please upload

Apple is a bit paranoid about people uploading (part of) their software from any other place than their own servers.

And they are not totally wrong about that, since the potential for "malware" of a kernel extension is huge.

And since we are in an Apple supported forum...

As long as you are not yet on Lion, Pacifist 2.6.4 works and you can install the AppleHDA.kext from the 10.6.7 Combo update you can download at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1361, as per sebabo instructions.

Then make a copy of the replaced /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext and follow the instructions.

Do NOT make the copy from a non-installed AppleHDA.kext extracted directly by Pacifist into some regular folder, since for whatever reason, the size of the extracted AppleHDA.kext is much lower than the size of the properly installed AppleHDA.kext, and it does not seem to work when used as a Lion replacement.

I am sorry it forces you to download 1 GB for 12 MB useful, but better safe than sorry, right ?

You are right for the file size! What was correct when I tried to replace the Lion AppleHDA file with 10.6.7 AppleHDA!

Thanks for your reply!

I will try it again!

I got a big problem because Pacifist is not compatable with Lion!

I have the same problem. My temporary solution is to run everything through the 'system audio out' and therefore everything is stereo, but at least I don't have to reboot between aplications.

Come on Apple sort it out!

This worked perfectly for me, although I modified it a bit using a mix of sebabo's tricks and your technique.

The system affected for me is my mid-2010 mac mini server (the actual specialized server model, with the 2 500gb hdd's instead of an optical drive). I actually never noticed the 10.6.8 problem before upgrading to Lion, because I did 10.6.8 > Lion in the same day.

I have a MacBook Pro with PGP WDE encryption on it as well, and it was running 10.6.8. I didn't want to go through a 19 hour decryption until I knew Lion worked proper. Lucky for me, I had a perfectly good Snow Leopard to work with.

I got the 10.6.7 Combo update and Pacifist, and loaded them onto the 10.6.8 MBP. I downgraded my AppleHDA and then copied it over to my (now-Lion) mini server.

I used your techniques (Kext Helper b7) to load the new (old) extension.

The only issue I have now is VLC - when I select HDMI (Encoded Output) it freezes up. However, using Plex, I can go from Dolby or DTS surround right into a file with a MP3 2.0 track. I've tried MKV's, M4V, AVI, XVID, DIVX - all seems to work with Plex. But none of it seems to work with VLC. iTunes gives weird results playing back 5.1 stuff. I am not sure what my settings should be in Audio Devices > my mini is hooked via HDMI into a Harmon/Kardon AVR 2600 (it does everything, up to Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio). If I select Encoded Digital Output it moves system output to the built-in speaker. If I select 6ch-24bit some things do surround and some don't. Plex seems to be doing stuff reliably though.

I don't know if that helps anyone, but there you go.

Has anyone tried a clean Lion Install? I have a new 13" i7 and my HDMI enabled LCD TV is not being recognized as an audio source, my 2010 13" 2.4 is on 10.6.7 and is working fine...

after going through some issue updating to lion I had done a clean install but I didn't really need to. however I still have this issue.

but have you reinstalled lion from scratch? try resetting PRAM and SMC (may differ from one model to next) a few times

My Lion install was a clean install on a brand new hard drive, and I can't get my surround to work except in XBMC.

Yeah, that's what I meant when I said a clean install.

will try these other suggestions you gave.

Minotaur - don't sweat about the big download - I found just the kext file you need at:

http://hotfile.com/dl/84331058/0ed56fb/AppleHDA1.9.9f12.zip.html

Just hit the regular download and wait 15secs and then it's yours at only 1.5 Mb. I used this file and it fixed my problem, so it's a legit file.

Hope this helps you out mate.

Cheers

@Jeremy: Do you know that the file will be compatible with MacBook Pro Early 2011?

BTW, thank you so much for the file!

so I do sabo's thing with this file and it should all work in lion?

I can confirm that it works with a clean installation of Lion on a 2009 mac mini and the latest version of PLEX with audio on a Denon AVR. I just been playing around trying to recreate the audio loss and I can't. Everything works perfectly. Thanks for nothing, Apple!