"An error occurred while updating the configuration"

I have the exact same problem, same model, everything. It was working perfectly until two days ago, when I unhooked it and tried to move it to another room. For some reason it would not recognize on the network, so I reset it, and now it won't allow me to update the configuration file. Have you gotten any reply to your original post? Does Apple monitor these forums?

Interestingly enough, I just tried resetting the password from a different computer, an old iBook G3. Update went flawlessly. Perhaps there is a compatibility problem with the new Core Duo architecture and the older Airports????

I found the same problem updating a Graphie Airport with a 17" MBP. No worries with the old G4 867. Interestingly the G4 867 will connect to the Graphite AirPort, but the MBP will not!

MBP now connecting to Graphite AirPort fine? Just impatient I guess.

I've also encountered the same problem with an older dual ethernet airport.

I first started having problems with the original one about 8 months ago, and after spending a ridiculous three hours on the phone with AppleCare they sent me out a refurbished replacement. That one worked fine for about 5 months, but then started dropping the signal again, before becoming "unfindable". I went through the same processes, (soft reset, then hard reset etc.) which sometimes solved the problem. I eventually I took it to an Apple Store and of course, it worked fine once I got there. Strange thing is, I took it home and it continued working without incident...for a month. When it happened again, I decided to forgo all the the diagnostic work and just take it back to the store. Sure enough, it fixed itself again, then broke again a few weeks later (now).

Unfortunately, I just had knee surgery and can't get down there now, (which was getting ridiculous anyway), so I went through everything again for the first time on the MBP. I ended up getting the "An error occurred while updating the configuration" message, and after reading this thread started up the old TiBook. The reconfig worked on there, but it still isn't visible on either computer. In fact, it then becomes inaccesible even through LAN on the TiBook through either the AirPort Admin or the dropdown, though it did appear on the MBP via AirPort Admin. However, it says the software on the airport cannot be uploaded or changed due to out of date software on my computer, and suggests I go to apple.com/support to update my computer's software, which is already current. It does however say that I may be able to change the settings and so forth, which I was able to do. Unfortunately, it still does not show up anywhere else on either computer, no matter how much I tinker with the settings.

Any ideas? I suppose I'll just stick with built-in ethernet till I am mobile again.

MacBook Pro 15 Intel Duo Core 2.16GHz 2GB/100GB Serial ATA drive@7200rpm Mac OS X (10.4.7) '02 Titanium Powerbook G4 1GHz 1GB/60GB/Superdrive (currently awaiting a new hard drive)

It seems unlikely that anything significant is happening between your house and the Apple Store, so I'm guessing that unplugging the thing and pulling it off of your network is what is fixing it. Next time, just unplug the thing and take it with you somewhere other then the house, and see if that fixes it. The one other possibility is that hanging it on a different network is what is fixing the thing, which is somewhat more problematic, however you might try powering down your cable or DSL modem for a couple of hours while you are walking the airport, that might fix any sort of network weirdness.

deBohun,

Thanks for the info. I have actually tried unplugging the airport as well as the cable modem for various lengths of time (anything from a minute to several days and different combos between the two, as well as each individually), without any luck. I've also moved it around the house while doing this, but never anywhere further, so I'll give that a try.

At any rate, what could possibly cause the airport to need to be walked in the first place, and could it be rectified?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 15 Intel Duo Core 2.16GHz 2GB/100GB Serial ATA drive@7200rpm Mac OS X (10.4.7) '02 Titanium Powerbook G4 1GHz 1GB/60GB/Superdrive (awaiting a new hard drive)

Unfortunately I am getting the same problem with a base spec macbook (white, 1.83 ghz dual 512mb 10.4.7) and a snow, dual ethernet airport.

I can select the base station after a hard reset using a wired lan connection but when I attempt to update the firmware I get an error message "An error occured whilst updating the configuration".

I can't get past this so if anyone has any further suggestions I would be very grateful.

Well, I regained mobility (see above posts), and was able to take my dual ethernet base in. They had all the exact same problems I did, (reverted to using a Powerbook after the Macbook wouldn't upload firmware, et cetera), and eventually came to the conclusion that the hardware was failing and that I was out of luck.

I ended up buying an Airport Express, which, by the way, is great! I am really happy with the airtunes abilities as nowmy power cord is the only one I need. Good luck everyone.