Airport Utility unable to read AirPort Extreme Config

Question

Level 1

19 points

Airport Utility unable to read AirPort Extreme Config

I have a brand-new Airport Extreme, 5th generation. I am trying to configure it using AirPort Utility, but utility is unable to read the device configurations. I bought the Extreme to fix what I thought was a failed old AirPort Express. The Express one day stopped working. After resetting it, AirPort Utility was unable to read the device configurations, just like the new Extreme.

I have an iMac 8,1 with an AirPort Extreme card, OS 10.6.8, AirPort Utility 5.5.3 and Airport has 7.5.2 firmware aboard.

I am at my wits end on this one. Any suggestions?

At the moment, Utility persists in claiming that there is an Extreme base station connected, even though I have unplugged the power.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 4GB RAM

Posted on Oct 8, 2011 2:45 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,078 points

Oct 8, 2011 2:52 PM in response to jimtorr

Power off your Mac and the AirPort Extreme

Temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the AirPort Extreme

Power up the Mac and then the AirPort Extreme

See if AirPort Utility will read the configuration on the AirPort Extreme

If yes, configure the AirPort Extreme as needed

Unplug the Ethernet cable after the Exreme has been updated

If still no luck....

On your Mac, open Macintosh HD >Applications > Utilities

Locate AirPort Utility and delete it

Download AirPort Utility again from here and install again:

AirPort Utility 5.5.3 for Mac

Try again

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Answer 2

jimtorr Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 8, 2011 2:55 PM in response to jimtorr

Sorry, I should have added that I set up a WiFi network, and the iMac does connect to the AirPort Extreme over WiFi. I am also connected with an Ethernet cable.

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Answer 3

jimtorr Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 8, 2011 3:14 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I deleted the old AirPort Utility and intstalled a fresh 5.5.3.

I powered down my Mac and the AirPort, leaving the Ethernet cable connected.

I turned on the Mac and the AirPort, and tried utilities again.

No luck, configurations still not read, even though Utilities sees the Airport Extreme.

On a side note, I have also never been able to connect to the Mac App Store. Problems connected, or coincidence?

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,078 points

Oct 8, 2011 5:45 PM in response to jimtorr

The only option left at this point is to perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Extreme and then try again.

Pull the power plug from the back of the AirPort Extreme
Wait a few minutes
Hold in the reset button and keep holding the reset button in for another 10-12 seconds while you plug the power back in to the AirPort Extreme
Release the reset button after the hold period and allow 25-30 seconds for the AirPort Extreme to restart

If still no luck, you will need to contact Apple Support or take the AirPort Extreme to an Apple store to let them take a look.

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Answer 5

worksafe

Level 2

180 points

Oct 8, 2011 6:26 PM in response to jimtorr

See if this article and any of it's tips might be able to help.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20117247-263/fixing-airport-problems-in-os- x/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=MacFixIt

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Answer 6

MauiKD

Level 1

6 points

Oct 9, 2011 10:21 AM in response to jimtorr

I had the same problem when setting up my Airport Extreme Base Station (5th generation) this past week. I had to use a second MacBook Pro to setup the Airport Extreme. I thought I was being clever by telling the Airport Extreme Base Station that the new equipment was a replacement for existing hardware, which copied all the settings from my old Time Capsule. I finally called Apple Support. When I opened System Preferences, then Network, then Advanced, I was told to delete any old configurations for network access. When I did that, my MacBook Pro was able to connect to the Airport Extreme Based Station, and then set up new saved network configurations. Hope this helps.

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Answer 7

jimtorr Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 23, 2011 10:01 AM in response to Bob Timmons

I took it in to the genius bar. They traded it for a new one, on the off-chance that it could be a bad unit. I had them test the new unit before I left the store, just to eliminate one variable. The 'genius' suggested that if I still could not connect, I should re-insall OS 10.6, update to 10.6.8, and see if it worked then.

I did the re-install after the new Extreme unit still would no connect, and that exposed something broken in the file structure, because after I finished the iMac internal disk would not boot.

I booted from the install DVD, re-installed 10.6.8 on an external disk, then booted from that. Everything worked fine from the external disk. The AirPort connected right away and I configured it with no problems at all. Evidently the file-structure problem had been present for some time, and was causing all kinds of problems on my Mac.

Now my only problem is rebuilding my desktop and applications. I tried restoring my old user file from Time Machine, and that just took me back to the same old thing. No internet connection, no AirPort, no iTunes store and no Mac App Store. All instant refusals, except the AirPort which searches interminably if you let it.

I restored the Mac to the fresh user file, and everything was fine again. This morning I tried restoring just my old desk top. Mixed results. Safari connects, Airport connects, but iTunes store and Mac App store will not connect.

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