Townewolf
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Q: Keep getting "an unexpected error occurred" when Airport Utility tries to examine my A1264 N Airport Express.  Using Airport Utility 6.3.6 and El Capitan.

Keep getting "an unexpected error occurred" when Airport Utility tries to examine my A1264 N Airport Express.  Using Airport Utility 6.3.6 and El Capitan.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Oct 5, 2015 1:35 PM

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Townewolf

Q: Keep getting "an unexpected error occurred" when Airport Utility tries to examine my A1264 N Airport Express.  Using Airport ... more

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Oct 5, 2015 1:40 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 10 (104,842 points)
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    Oct 5, 2015 1:40 PM in response to Townewolf

    More confirmation that the bugs in Yosemite have continued with El Capitan.

     

    On your Mac......

     

    Open System Preferences (gear icon on the dock)

    Open Network

    Click on WiFi to highlight it

    Click Advanced at the lower right of the window

    Click the TCP/IP tab

    Make sure that the setting for Configure iPv6 is set for Link Local Only

    Click OK

    Click Apply in the next window

     

    Then, click Ethernet to highlight it in the same Network window above and repeat the same steps as above

     

    Restart your Mac

     

    Power off the AirPort Express

    What a minute

    Power the Express back up

     

    Try AirPort Utility again and report on your results

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 1:54 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Thanks Bob- I had tried this earlier but neglected to hit "apply".  anyway, did as you directed but not Airport Express does not show up at all.  Ack!

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Oct 5, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 10 (104,842 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 5, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Townewolf

    Power off the entire network......all devices.....in any order that you want

    Wait a minute

    Start the modem first and let it run 5 minutes

    Then start the next device connected to the modem and let it run a full minute

    Keep starting devices one at a time about a minute apart until the network is back up

     

    If the Express appears, iPv6 needs to be set correctly on the Express as well.

     

    If it doesn't, the Express will need to be reset back to default settings and then set up again.

     

    Lots of issues like this over on the El Capitan support forum as well. 

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Yeah- still not showing up at all.  What's weird is that I have another identical Airport Express which has no problem joining network (it was part of the network before the El Capitan upgrade).  This "new one" i picked up on eBay to extend wifi range on other end of house.

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Townewolf

    Well, it just showed up all of a sudden.  Still getting the "An unexpected error occurred. Try again." message.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Oct 5, 2015 2:27 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 10 (104,842 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 5, 2015 2:27 PM in response to Townewolf

    Unfortunately, all that you can do is try a few more factory default resets on the Express.

     

    I'm sure the seller said that the Express was working perfectly, but that may not be the case. After a dozen unsuccessful tries or so, you may have to declare the Express defective. 

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 2:27 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 2:27 PM in response to Townewolf

    At lease now it gets to "joining airport express".  It's hard to see, but I think perhaps it's erring out on my other Express.  How would I set the iPv6 for it?

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Townewolf
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    Oct 5, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Townewolf

    Well, that's not it.  Unplugged old Express.  Airport Utility errors after it says "examining other base stations on your network".  Is it something with my Time Capsule maybe??

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Oct 5, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 10 (104,842 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 5, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Townewolf

    Now we're grasping at straws.

     

    Power off the entire network

    Start the modem and let it run a few minutes

    Start the Time Capsule

     

    Does the Time Capsule work OK?

     

    If yes, start your "old" AirPort Express. Work OK?

     

    Try the Ebay Express. If it does not work, I think you have your answer.

  • by Townewolf,

    Townewolf Townewolf Oct 5, 2015 2:52 PM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 5, 2015 2:52 PM in response to Bob Timmons

    Bob, it is definitely an El Capitan issue.  I reset ALL network connections and items to "automatic" from "local-link only".  I then grabbed my daughter's macbook air, which is still running Yosemite, and ran Airport Utility.  It connected right up to the new Express and was I able to configure it from there.  Once I did that, it appeared on the Airport Utility on my machine; on the network and ready to go. 

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Oct 5, 2015 6:00 PM in response to Townewolf
    Level 10 (104,842 points)
    Wireless
    Oct 5, 2015 6:00 PM in response to Townewolf

    Thanks for the update. You would think that after 3 years, Apple could get this error fixed, but we are seeing a number of the same types of reports from users in the last few days.