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AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext error on installing iTunes update

OK I'm starting to think there is a problem deep inside my computer's main brain. I have had a problem with an external drive and Time Machine and today I'm getting weird errors regarding this ethernethost thing when I back up iTunes.

The thread for the Time Machine thing is here: Re: Time Machine fails - cannot make backup folder

I think the repair keeps failing and the computer doesn't know it because something is "missing". Please excuse my ignorance on this subject. I'm just relating as best I can.

OK so up until today, I've had NO issue updating iTunes. Today I get this error:

Now, this looks familiar because just this morning I had to look up how to tether my iPhone 5 to the laptop (macbook pro). I had to go out and needed to make sure I had internet somehow in case there was none where I was. WHY did I need to look this up you ask? Because I've never been able to tether my phone on the iMac and thought I would have a problem so I did research before a test. It's easy-peasy. plug it in and turn it on and there you go. On the laptop anyway.

Now, the iMac was originally Snow Leopard and I really regret updating to Mountain Lion. It's slow and piggy now and take ages to wake up. Yes, I turned off allowing hard disks to sleep too. Did my research on that.

Anyway, while looking for the instructions to tether the phone, I found a site with familiar string of wording and I recognized it when the error popped up:

http://blog.iphoting.com/blog/2012/09/04/fixing-broken-iphone-usb-tethering-on-o s-x/

So I followed the instructions on the page and here is a copy of what the info in the terminal says:

Last login: Wed Sep 10 13:50:19 on ttys000

computer:~ me$ $ sudo rm -Rf /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext

-bash: $: command not found

computer:~ me$ $ sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext

-bash: $: command not found

computer:~ me$

I changed the computer name and my name for my own peace of mind.

So when following the steps and installing the iTunes like it says, after I ran the command they gave, I got the same error in the screenshot above.

iTunes installer said the thing installed correctly as well as the install on the App Store in the updates tab.

Could these be connected?

My phone still does not show on the iMac and nothing showed like they said in that link.

Any ideas Mac people?

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 10, 2014 11:51 AM

Top-ranking reply

Loner T

Level 9

59,513 points

Posted on Sep 10, 2014 11:59 AM

Your rm command never succeeded. You have an extra "$" when you copy/pasted it from the link you mention. It needs to be run without the "$" from the website. Sudo prompts you for your password.

The kextload also failed similarly.

View in context

59 replies

madrich

Level 1

124 points

Sep 20, 2014 3:02 PM in response to antdude

Are you saying that you deleted the file and reinstalled iTunes and you still have the kext error?

Sep 21, 2014 9:03 AM in response to Royal_Scam

would it be safe to just wait for an update to fix this issue? i don't feel comfortable doing any fixes on my own.

antdude

Level 2

159 points

Sep 21, 2014 9:18 AM in response to AnimeAngel

AnimeAngel wrote:

would it be safe to just wait for an update to fix this issue? i don't feel comfortable doing any fixes on my own.

Yes, if you can wait. Too many users are having problems with this issue. Apple has to fix it.

Sep 21, 2014 9:28 AM in response to AnimeAngel

Please do yourself a favor and find my previous post. Check the links and give it try. Follow the directions. It's a very easy fix. I did not use Terminal.

The key was to download iTunes from the Apple site instead of using Software Update. I did not trash my existing iTunes app. You MUST find and delete the offending "kext" file first. After installation, you'll note a creation date that's different, from the old one to the new.

Backup first is always a good idea.

Good luck!

Eric Root

Level 10

684,603 points

Sep 21, 2014 9:44 AM in response to antdude

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

Don515

Level 1

9 points

Sep 21, 2014 1:29 PM in response to AnimeAngel

If you are able to locate the file "system/library/extensions/AppleUSBEthernet.Host.Kext" and put it into the trash, then download iTunes 11.4, you can easily fix this problem! I did it.

mandorla

Level 1

9 points

Sep 21, 2014 8:01 PM in response to Don515

My problem was not with iTunes but with my Dymo Labelwriter 450. I did a software update and then got that notice about appleUSBthernetHost.kext. I had to uninstall the Dymo software and all its files. Then using the terminal method suggested trashed the file. Reinstall the Dymo software. Bingo! My label printer is working again. I did not have the problem with iTunes other people had but it cropped up with the Dymo printer. Weird but consistent in how things work in the Apple universe.😁

svinvest

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2014 12:27 PM in response to mandorla

I went through all the steps of deleting the kext file, redownloading and installing iTunes 11.4 from Apple's site, and running the sudo command in Terminal. My laptop has the Intel Core Duo (32 bit) processor. I noticed that Greg Earle said this fix only works on 64 bit processors. Anyone get a fix to work on a 32 bit machine? Thanks.

Sep 22, 2014 2:03 PM in response to svinvest

"Anyone get a fix to work on a 32 bit machine?"

Given that the 11.4 install only puts a 64-bit version of the kext in place, the only 'fix' would involve using an older, Universal version of the kext - which would put you in tricky territory as far as mixing components from different versions.

I've already supplied AppleCare senior people with information for Apple Engineering twice, this must be a tougher nut to crack than it first appears.

svinvest

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2014 9:56 PM in response to Greg Earle

Would this problem prevent syncing over Wi-Fi? I tried to set it up, but got the same results, songs, podcasts & playlists show up, but no files transferred. Or should it work over Wi-Fi and I have a second problem to deal with?

kulyk

Level 1

16 points

Sep 24, 2014 4:22 PM in response to Greg Earle

this solution worked perfectly - thank you

Sep 24, 2014 11:59 PM in response to Twitchin Kitten

I'm having all kinds of issues with this. Since I upgraded itunes, I have not been able to read any of my external hard drives. I get the same error about appleusbethernethost.kext not being there. I'm runnign on a super old macbook that should have been retired years ago. OS is x32 bit for sure. I would love to just nuke it and start over, but unfortunately I don't have my original install discs.

kulyk

Level 1

16 points

Sep 25, 2014 12:54 AM in response to Greg Earle

i followed great notes and it worked great using a 17 inch i5 mac book pro 8 gb ram

running 10.9.5

thanks to greg for his notes

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"iTunes recognizes the device but it will not sync with the device. So in essence, the syncing between your phone and your iTunes has been cutoff with this iTunes update. It may still show up on your iTunes, but you cannot update the information on your device without corrupting it."

This is simply not true. I have fixed 2 different machines (a Mac Pro/10.6.8 and a Mac mini/10.8.4) with this error and my Mac Pro has no problems at all syncing to my 3 iDevices.

If you're adept with Terminal.app you don't even have to reboot to fix it.

sudo kextunload AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext
open /System/Library/Extensions
move AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext to the Trash
Re-install iTunes 11.4 (from the 11.4 .dmg (downloaded from Apple)
sudo kextload AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext

worked fine for me on both systems. I really don't understand why this is so difficult for people ...

dba2271

Level 1

19 points

Sep 25, 2014 1:35 AM in response to jnorto1986

According to a separate post, if you are running on a 32-bit machine the problem is 64-bit files in the 11.4 install.

This post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6527594 contains a solution by CWA2 on how to remove 11.4

It's not that simple and I am still reading thru them myself. There is also a link to download 11.3.1 to help with the rescue on this post:

iTunes 11.4 not showing in Mac App Store Updates Good luck.

svinvest

Level 1

0 points

Sep 25, 2014 10:54 AM in response to dba2271

I am guessing Apple must have quietly fixed something. I have a core duo 32 bit machine and I reinstalled iTunes 11.4 today without deleting the kext file. After reinstalling, I restarted the machine and connected my iPhone 6 with the USB cable and it seems to be syncing correctly now.

AppleUSBEthernetHost.kext error on installing iTunes update