Update to 10.6.8 broke my optical audio - any help?

And the problem is still there with Lion...

Same problem for me. I'm using a Mac Mini as a media centre and this issue is incredibly frustrating...

Add me to the list of Apple victims. MacMini 3.1 (circa 2009) - optical out works intermittantly now, depending. Won't work with iTunes and system sounds but does work with DTS 5.1 audio from videos I have. Really bad form on apple's part. I have a time machine backup so I'll roll things back. I'm amazed this wasn't picked up in the QA since it borks basic audio functions.

I'm having the same issue with my Mac mini 2010 when switching from AC3 to strereo. All sound disappears (also in the apple programs) until rebooting the computer. I've 'solved' it by turning off the Dolby digital and dts receiver option in the preferences of Plex. Such a shame to lose the dts sound but restarting the computer constantly is really no option for me and i don't want to start messing around with the system files Apple really has to fix this fast!!

Like you i use my Mac with Plex. I was able to grab the older version of the AppleHDA.kext from my time machine backup and restored full functioning audio. The funny thing for me before the fix is that I lost system sounds and basic audio functions like iTunes playback but my DTS audio worked fine.

Me too. iMac 24 (Late 2009) - built-in audio I/O missing, Firewire & USB adudio I/O devices show up OK.

Issue RESOLVED for me today with the help of AppleCare. After trashing com.apple.soundpref.plist from both system/library and user/library, resetting PRAM, booting in safe mode the problem persisted. THEN, we unplugged the power cord from the computer for 10 seconds to "reset SMC" and, voila! everything is back in order - built-in audio I/O is baaaccck.

FWIW, I also tried some of the suggestions from this thread (e.g., replacing AppleHDA.kext, repair permissions, etc) to no avail.

Also, FWIW, on repairing permissions after replacing the AppleHDA.kext, I noticed most of the entries being "repaired" were related to AppleHDA.kext AND there were numerous Java-related items being "repaired". Considering I installed both MacOSXUpd10.6.8 and JavaForMacOSX10.6Update5 at the same time just before the audio I/O issue appeared, I wondered if there might be some connection/relation to the Java update, too?!?

Hope this helps.

Hi,

i did following:

- reinstalled the 10.6.8 update (so new AppleHDA 2.0.5 installed)

- repaired permissions (many AppleHDA & java problems repaired)

- removed com.apple.soundpref.plist from both system/library and user/library

- reset PRAM

- reset SMC

- repaired permissions

- reset PRAM

- reset SMC

Still no stereo out after digital audio out.

Didn't work for me.

Still waiting for an apple OSX-Update

Nope

Didnt work for me either

Guess we are SOL on Apple doing anything about this :-(

same here... did all the procedures but no results.

Problem is still there in Lion.

In Lion GM AppleHDA.kext version is 2.1.1, while the version is 2.0.5 in 10.6.8 update. This means that both versions are bugged and problem is not fixed in Lion.

The problem was there before the most recent Java update.

Update: Apple Dev has confirmed the bug, let's looking forward to a fix from apple soon!

This is a follow up to Bug ID# 9709179. After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering. This issue has been filed in our bug database under the original Bug ID# 9680241. The original bug number being used to track this duplicate issue can be found in the State column, in this format: Duplicate/OrigBug#.

Thank you for submitting this bug report. We truly appreciate your assistance in helping us discover and isolate bugs.

Best Regards,

Developer Support

Apple Worldwide Developer Relations

I got a copy of v1.9.9f12 from an iMac I hadn't updated. It wouldn't work at all until I used the command you suggested:

sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions

Now the Mini works again with both types of audio without a reboot.

Thanks!

Hi all - my mac-mini server running with eye-tv has the same problem. Where can I found a copy of v1.9.9f12 which works. We installed the system new - without an old 10.6.7 backup. We only have 10.6.8 machines here. Is there anywehre a download link or a package we can use and "downgrade" that part. ?

Thanks fb