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Wacom Graphire not working with Mavericks

So I recently picked up an older Wacom Wireless Graphire Pen Tablet (CTE-630BT) and I have not been able to set it up on Mavericks 10.9.2. I have been able to get the express keys to work, but the pen has not been detected.


I have tried installing many of the given legacy drivers on Wacom's U.S. and European sites including:


5.3.3.-3

5.3.3.-2

5.3.0.-3

6.2.0.-w4

6.3.7.-3


and after many attermpts on each of these, and a couple others possibly, (using the Wacom Utility to remove them, reseting my tablet a few times. I am

If there is anyone out there with any insight, I would be quite grateful. Thanks!




edit: Also, the tablet didn't come with a USB Bluetooth receiver, I was just using the internal one on my rMBP.


Message was edited by: Blumptrous_Shart

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2), Wacom Graphire Wireless CTE-630BT

Posted on Mar 27, 2014 12:56 AM

Reply
28 replies

Dec 8, 2017 9:23 AM in response to Blumptrous_Shart

This worked for me in Sierra (macOS 10.12.6) with a Graphire4 (CTE-640):


  1. Download the legacy driver as indicated in Re: Wacom Graphire not working with Mavericks, but the link has changed to http://cdn.wacom.com/U/Drivers/Mac/Consumer/530/PenTablet_5.3.0-3.dmg
  2. Installed, but could not open Bamboo preference pane, even with System Preferences.app in 32-bit mode
  3. Modify the ~/Library/Preferences/com.wacom.pentablet.prefs file and set TabletMode to 1.
  4. Tablet mode enabled!

Jan 14, 2018 8:15 AM in response to Blumptrous_Shart

I finally solved this.


TLDR;

I managed to get my Wacom Intuos GD-0912-U first generation tablet working in High Sierra, with a fully functional Wacom Preference Pane, by using a newer driver and preference pane (6.3.15-3), and hacking the preference pane file with the Info.plist replaced in the package with the Info.plist from the old preference pane

(6.2.0w4).


Explanation;


I have an old first Wacom Intuos first generation (GD-0912-U) tablet, and ran into the same problems when I upgraded to Sierra / High Sierra.


After a lot of reading and trial-and-error, I now have a fully working old Wacom tablet, with a fully working Wacom preference pane in System Preferences.


I read all solutions in this and other threads, and specifically here;

https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/210737/272181


First, the following steps got me a more or less working tablet:


1. Using a legacy driver, in my case 6.2.0w4, downloadable on the Wacom website:

http://www.wacom.com/en-gb/support/product-support/drivers


2. Export/backup the Wacom preference file from another or older computer with the right settings with the Wacom Tablet Utility in Applications > Wacom-tablet.

Import/restore these setting with the same Wacom Tablet Utility.


The above works, you have a working tablet, but without Preference pane to change these settings.


3. The solution for a working Preference Pane for previous MacOS versions was to open System preferences in 32-bit mode, as described in the above link.

Unfortunately this does not work in Sierra and High Sierra.


I managed to get a working Wacom Preference Pane with the following trick/steps:


1. Downloade the old driver that works. With my Intuos1 tablet, in my case version 6.2.0w4

- Install the driver

- Look up the preference pane file in the Library

Libray/PreferencePanes/wacomtablet.prefpane

or it might be here in your User library;

~/Libray/PreferencePanes/wacomtablet.prefpane

- copy this prefpane file to your Desktop.


2. Download a newer driver, that does work in High Sierra. In my case version: 6.3.15-3:

http://www.wacom.com/en-gb/support/product-support/drivers

-Install this newer driver.


3. Open the old prefpane wacomtablet.prefpane file copied to your Desktop with: right-click > Show Package Contents. Navigate to /contents/Info.plist

Copy this file, or keep window open.


4. Navigate to your the prefpane of the newer driver:

Libray/PreferencePanes/wacomtablet.prefpane

or

~/Libray/PreferencePanes/wacomtablet.prefpane

Open it with: right-click > Show Package Contents.

Navigate to contents/Info.plist

Replace this Info.plist file with the one you copied from the old prefpane in step 3.


Just be sure you keep the newer prefpane file and replace Info.plist with the Info.plist from the old prefpane.

You can check versions of the prefpane file with Cmd-i if you get confused.


5. Restart computer


6. Open System preferences. The Wacom preferences pane now shows and opens, but acts weird.

7. Close System preferences.

8. Change System preferences to 32-bit mode (with a click with CMD-i on the System preferences app).

9. Open System preferences

10. Make some changes in the Wacom preference pane.

11. Close System preferences.

12. Revert the 32-bit mode opening by deselecting the 32 bit mode option.

13. Open System preferences and the Wacom preference pane: Voila: fully working preference pane, without any weirdness.


Steps 6-13 are crucial, without the 32bit switching and back, the prefpane does not work correctly.


In my case with the mentioned to driver versions, I have a fully working prefpane. All options/settings are working and can be saved.


Notes;

- I imagine this hack may work for other driver combinations, but I am not sure, just try it out.

- I read somewhere that next versions of MacOS may not have the 32 bit option anymore, so steps 6-13 will may not work anymore after High Sierra. In that case, I imagine that the hacked preference file still may work, but only the future will tell. I am not sure what causes the hacked prefpane only to work correctly after the switch of System Prefs to 32bit and back is performed. Maybe in a new MacOS version the copied, hacked prefpane will just work. Just be sure to keep a copy of the prefpane and drivers to be safe.

- I got this idea to hack the preference pane here:

https://magicutilities.net/unrelated/75-wacom-preferences-and-os-x

where this fix is described for a Graphire 3 - CTE-430. But without the 32bit System Prefence switch weirdness.

Jun 11, 2014 3:40 AM in response to Blumptrous_Shart

Hi, I have the same issue... I have Graphire 4 and was pretty satisfied with it until Maverics. Recenty I wrote to Wacom user support and got this reply:



Thank you for your e-mail.

I am terribly sorry for we no longer provide any driver version that would allow you to use your Graphire 4 tablet with the latest Mac system version. The technology gap between these two items is unfortunately too large.

In case you are interested in upgrading your old tablet in order to enjoy a 20% discount on the purchase of some of our newer tablets, you have the possibility to fill in a form allowing you to get a discount voucher.

Here is the direct weblink to reach the page for this "Old for New" offer:
http://eu.shop.wacom.eu/Old-for-New



Graphire 4 is 2007 I guess. Wow, that's as if my iPhone 3G (2008) couldn't even connect to my MacBook anymore because of Maverics... I can't believe that realitevly simple positioning HW is so hard to make new drive for. So disapointed by Wacom. So much 😟

Oct 26, 2014 9:41 AM in response to Blumptrous_Shart

I worked with the pen tablet driver 5.33-3 fine on Maverick with the Graphire4 (CTE630BT). Since i updated to Yosemite my tablet is working as it did but the prefpane is moved to incompatible software. Now i can't make any new preferences or adjustments to the hotkeys but they function still as how i configured it on Mavericks.

Because i can still use my tablet i'm scary to try to install another (older or newer) driver ... The newest driver for Yosemite fails to install (Pentablet 535-4).

Anyone who has an advice what to do?

Jan 13, 2015 2:29 AM in response to jprazak

I got the my Wacom Graphire ET-0405-U tablet working on my MacBook Air with System 10.10! I installed the driver, then the tablet worked though as everyone has mentioned, I couldn't open control panel to set my preferences.


I copied the Wacom preferences file from my iMac running System 10.6 to the corresponding folder on the MacBook Air. After restarting all my preferences were there, such as "mouse mode" instead of "tablet mode", right click for normal click (I grew up with Mac mice that have just one button), speed, etc.


I hope this helps...


Enjoy,

David Henry

Jan 15, 2015 6:03 AM in response to davidphenry

Driver 5.3.0-3 runs OK on OSX Yosemite 10.10, but the preference pane doesn't work out of the box, however:

- you can still use your old preferences (they are in ~/Library/Preferences/com.wacom.pentablet.prefs and com.wacom.touch.prefs)

- the preference pane can be run by running the "System preferences" application in 32-bit model. In the finder, go to /Applications, right-click on the System preferences application, get info, and check "run in 32-buts mode". Once you set your preferences, close the app and uncheck the 32 bits box.

Jan 15, 2015 9:20 AM in response to devernay

Thanks for the advice (reminder) about running preference panes and applications in 32-bit mode! The Wacom driver I installed in Yosemite for the Graphire tablet is version 6.1.5-2, and your tip about opening System Preferences in 32-bit mode indeed works. Before reading your not I moved the preferences file from my iMac running System 10.6 to my MacBook Air in Yosemite, and that worked fine for me, I had the tablet preferences as they were on the iMac.

All the best,

David

Jan 25, 2015 5:02 AM in response to E. Esmeijer

I'm glad this helps, and I'm happy I was able to get my Graphire working with my Macbook Air because it has a wireless mouse also, thus obviating the need for another mouse that would occupy another USB port. I find it unfortunate that Wacom hasn't updated the drivers for their older tablets for newer versions of Mac OS, or failing that, providing advice on how to make them work, such as I outlined above...

Jan 25, 2015 5:54 AM in response to davidphenry

Well David,


I would not blame Wacom for -not- supporting a low-end-product like this one, and afaik: first introduced 2006.

This is not a product for professional use and as an incidental user I am quite satisfied with the present solution.

Therefore I do congratulate the Apple-community for concocting a solution like this which in fact is an extremely easy one.


Sidenote:

Although I am satisfied with this solution, not all configuration items of the control panel are available, e.g. the tablet buttons.

Still my tablet functions as one would expect, as I like working with my Graphire 4 (CTE-440) together with programs as The Gimp, Inkscape or GraphicConverter.


To end with:

Well, to be clear: it's a workaround, even being a simple one. Have been looking for a solution since my transition to Yosemite. Starting some week ago I would have been contended to allot this one to E-bay or something a-like for 'next to nothing to old songs'. Now I'm happy again. 😁


Greetings,


Erik.

Wacom Graphire not working with Mavericks

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