system extension cannot be used AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext

Hello All-

I had the AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext problem when downloading iTunes 11.4.

I found help here: https://www.discussions.apple.com/message/26574841#26574841

See Lanny’s post, I did as he suggested.

1st- Close iTunes.

2nd- Delete the system extension "AppleUSBethernetHost.kext" from here: //System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBethernetHost.kext

3rd- go to iTunes 11.4 download here: https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

click on the Download Now link.

4th- Find the downloaded iTunes11.4.dmg file, open it, now open the Install iTunes.pkg

After the re-install as above I got the successfully installed window and no “pop up”

improperly installed AppleUSBMultitouch.kext warning window.

I just tried the procedure Rhobes posted and it didn't change anything...

iTunes still will not open/hangs up,

Console shows the following:

9/11/14 10:58:03.000 AM kernel[0]: hfs: unmount initiated on iTunes on device disk1s2

9/11/14 10:58:05.921 AM xpcproxy[836]: assertion failed: 13E28: xpcproxy + 3438 [D559FC96-E6B1-363A-B850-C7AC9734F210]: 0x2

9/11/14 10:58:19.840 AM iTunes[838]: Failed to create replacement string (LISTED A GAZILLION TIMES)

I'm having same problem working out how to deal with the card that was on my desktop this morning...

(MacBook OSX 10.9.4. iTunes 11.4)

re "AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext". Have been trawling through all the comments and suggestions.

Hoping you assist with clear instructions on how to trash the the faulty iTunes "kext" and reinstall.

So far can't follow other suggestions on this site!

Some have had success with older .kext, some have not. Others have tried the Download version rather than the App Store version and still have issues.

If you have a Time Machine backup prior to 11.4, I suggest that is the safest route to take and restore 11.3.x, because it worked for your specific OS X installation.

If Time Machine restore is not an option, instead of trashing just the kext, I suggest throwing away iTunes into Trash, emptying trash, rebooting, and re-installing via the Download route (not the App store route). I suggest verifying the MD5SUMs of the files downloaded. Please make sure that trashing iTunes from Applications does not include anything related to your content. The content location is in iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced.

Making an extra TM backup, if possible, containing 11.4 will not hurt since it will be an incremental backup.

Of late 10.9.4 (WiFi), MBA EFI (EFI 2.9.x for 2011 models), iTunes 11.4 are updates which Apple could have regression tested better. The marketing push for versions (perhaps to match/support iOS8/Yosemite/iPhone6 are driving such updates, but stability is questionable at best).

The updates are now akin to Java, Windows, Android, etc. 😢

I've read the solutions posted by a number of people way more expert than me, and seen they may not necessarily fix my problem. Even tried a couple of them. I'm now more sure than ever that I'll wait for Apple to sort this mess out. After all, they created it by letting a poorly tested release out the door. Suggest everyone contacts Apple here: Feedback

and lets them know we're each impacted by it. I have already. Apple don't monitor these discussions so if we don't tell 'em, they'll never know!

Coola Boola wrote:

Apple don't monitor these discussions so if we don't tell 'em, they'll never know!

Feedback is the official route, but the discussions are also visible to Apple. My experience indicates that Apple Support does keep an eye on discussions.apple.com.

I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.8

I fixed this problem by:

deleting /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext,

deleting the iTunes app,

running Software Update, which reinstalls iTunes

I don't know if either of the deletes were superfluous, but they're easy to do and the problem seems to be fixed.

To everyone saying they deleted the .kext file, uninstalled iTunes, then reinstalled iTunes and encountered no error messages -- you're not encountering the error because you deleted the original .kext file so when the encryption process takes play during the installation, there is no "AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext" to be encrypted because you've essentially modified your iTunes setup so it moves on to the next file. So yes you avoided any error messages, but I believe the .kext file is needed in order for you to sync any iOS device to your iTunes library. You can try finding the same file with a modified date earlier than September 2014 and see if that'll work, but it didn't for me. I had tried your method and iTunes still would not sync with my iPhone via Bluetooth or thru Wi-Fi. iTunes *will* recognize your device and everything will seem like it is fixed, but the option to sync is still unavailable. Doing the deletion and reinstallation method does prove to remove any error messages, but I don't believe it's really "fixing" the overall problems iTunes 11.4 is creating.I still think the best bet is to restore your computer to before you made the 11.4 upgrade and wait for an 11.4.1 version to come out that address the bugs.

To clarify:

Reinstalling iTunes using Software Update also installed the kext file. I checked the Time Machine backup and the kext file installed by Software Update has a later timestamp than the one backed up. I also synced both my iPad (ios 7) and iPod (ios 6) successfully. I used only the wifi sync on the iPad, but tried both wifi and USB on the iPod and both worked for me.

"So yes you avoided any error messages, but I believe the .kext file is needed in order for you to sync any iOS device to your iTunes library."

Uh, when you download iTunes 11.4 from the Apple downloads page and install it from the .dmg file it came in, I'm pretty convinced that the AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext kext gets installed as part of that process.

If on the other hand you are implying that the 3 Code Signing files (which were present in the previous version of AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext but are not in the iTunes 11.4 version) are still needed and that the iTunes 11.4 version of AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext is missing them, leaving an incomplete installation of the .kext, that's a whole 'nother argument (and a potentially interesting one).

Greg Earle wrote:

"So yes you avoided any error messages, but I believe the .kext file is needed in order for you to sync any iOS device to your iTunes library."

Uh, when you download iTunes 11.4 from the Apple downloads page and install it from the .dmg file it came in, I'm pretty convinced that the AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext kext gets installed as part of that process.

If on the other hand you are implying that the 3 Code Signing files (which were present in the previous version of AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext but are not in the iTunes 11.4 version) are still needed and that the iTunes 11.4 version of AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext is missing them, leaving an incomplete installation of the .kext, that's a whole 'nother argument (and a potentially interesting one).

It was my direct experience that the Software Updates install of iTunes 11.4 differed from the installation via DMG downloaded from the Apple site. During Software Update, the popup error message was displayed and the extension contents were missing things. Deleting the extension and installing from the downloaded DMG produced no errors, but the contents were still on the slim side. Restoring the kernel extension from the iTunes 11.3 days and then installing from the downloaded DMG produced a kernel extension with full code signing contents. Syncing my iPhone works fine.

So, yeah, I'll agree that it's an interesting conversation. Something is dramatically different in how Software Update installed iTunes versus the stand-alone installer.

"If on the other hand you are implying that the 3 Code Signing files (which were present in the previous version ofAppleUSBEthernetHost.kext but are not in the iTunes 11.4 version) are still needed and that the iTunes 11.4 version ofAppleUSBEthernetHost.kext is missing them, leaving an incomplete installation of the .kext, that's a whole 'nother argument (and a potentially interesting one)."^Yes, it definitely could be an interesting discussion. Do you think that could be the case?

After you delete the .kext file and then reinstall iTunes 11.4, it should technically reinstall the .kext file (which seems to be the cause of the error). The fact that the error doesn't pop up after you've deleted the .kext must mean that you're deleting something in the setup process, thus erasing some information from your iTunes. Right?

I tried the "delete .kext file, uninstall iTunes then reinstall" process and it didn't work for me which is why I'm thinking there's more to it in this puzzle.

Same problem here… I hope that Apple will fix this with a 11.4.1 release 😟

I called support. I am a pc convert and so messing around in the weeds of mac world isn't for me for multiple reasons ...yet. ;-) 2 support calls and first level acted as if never heard of it. 1st one had me reload my os, then reload iTunes update. Same error.

2nd guy must read same script as 1st because always repeatedly what the problem is I am having. I always say having the system level usb extension error...they say, BUT, REALLY, what PROBLEM? Apparently it is not ok to say the install error and nothing else...yet, but the error can't be ok and look on apple's support site or internet in general to read all the other posts.

They say those people have too much time on hands and get excited over these little things. My local apple store "genius" bar said never heard of it as of yesterday and to call support because ether will help; not. :-( Error scenario is reproducible on a system used for basics and kept up to date; so I ask why it is not a problem to be looked at and fixed?

Against wishes of 2nd guy, I got a senior level person who said has only 3 other customers and if not causing a tangible issue other than possibly mistakenly throwing an error, I may have to live with it. Seriously?! I said I came from MS world and as an engineer using many non-mac os', it was never acceptable to tell a customer who just paid a lot of $ to buy our product to live with it; it's not harming anything. I said I don't use my mac for a whole lot at this point, but I need assurances I am not going to be seeing the blasted error every time I update iTunes and that it will not inadvertently cause some other issue down the road because start using that function....and occurs when I no longer have support with my luck. They said won't happen if not hearing about it now. Uggh.

So somebody seeing an issue beyond the update error please report it. They apparently aren't hearing from anyone with a "real" problem according to phone support.

Also, if can show me an easily reproducible issue that I can try on macbook pro retina w 10.9.4 that it causes a non corrupting issue...I can then report it. I have no time-machine backups yet and won't get to that for a few days (yeah I know...kicking self already...so no help there please). I have a ticket opened and support info if I can find an issue. (I can backup iPhone to iTunes (didn't sync yet..need to dump some photos/videos off it first).

oof. OK, so my problem is a little different. I can't use my Epson printer!

I'm running OS10.6.8. The interface for the printer works, I can pick all the print settings, but when I hit 'print', nothing happens. This error came up when I did the upgrade, and I ignored it. Then I just re- downloaded the drivers for my printer /scanner / copier, and when it was installing it gave me that same "system/library/extentions/appleUSBEthernetHost/kext" installed improperly message.

I'm terrified to try to fix anything myself! I do have the Time Machine, but am still afraid to fiddle with it.

Haven't even turned on my ipad, so have no idea what might be going on there ...

I need my printer and scanner! Help!

Paula