Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

6 Dec 2010 17:26:02

Steve Ryder

I have just, after many exhortations from Euan and others, joined TalkTalk. I felt bad about deserting my previous ISP, but TalkTalk seem to be delivering the goods and so far I am pleased with their performance and service.

My previous Netgear router was apparently not suitable for the TalkTalk service, so I am now using a new D-Link router provided by TalkTalk. This was very easy to set up - on the iMac (OSX 10.4.11) I made a cable connection with the router and it worked immediately. The problem comes if I now open the Network panel under System Preferences. Immediately a box appears "Your Network Settings have been changed by another application" together with a blue "ok" box. Clicking this closes the box, only for it to immediately reappear. Getting rid of it entirely (and leaving System Preferences in the process) requires considerable manual dexterity, and my attempts to add new locations and inspect the settings in the Network panel seem doomed to failure, being blocked by this "unhelpful" box.

Is the router trying to take over the iMac? How can I regain control over the Network settings?

Steve

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

6 Dec 2010 20:31:36

Tony Sullivan

Have you tried disconnecting the router from the iMac (Cable and wirelessly) completely and tried to reproduce the problem? If this works and it lets you into the Network Settings, you can see what the 'new' settings are... and possibly change them. Or at least note them for use later if the problem persists.

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

6 Dec 2010 22:04:38

Mick Burrell

This was a known bug in 10.4 but I thought it had been cured by a later security update - I haven't seen this for some time. Do you get offered any security updates if you run Software Update? If not, see this post from September 2008 on the Apple Discussions forum:
Apple Discussions

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

7 Dec 2010 10:07:22

Steve Ryder

Thanks both.

I had a look on the thread mentioned by Mick, and a helpful article which appeared therein. The remedy is simple, and does not require the throwing away of system files etc. I now seem to have regained control over the Network settings. Problem solved.

I don't seem to have any security updates outstanding from Software Update, but do recall installing an update a few months ago.

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

7 Dec 2010 10:20:23

Mick Burrell

I think I'm right in saying that Tiger is no longer being supported so there probably won't be any more security updates.

I'm not aware of any reason a Netgear router would not work with Talk Talk in fact I know of two that do so don't throw it away.

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

7 Dec 2010 16:25:09

Steve Ryder

Mine is the DG834g v2. According to the TalkTalk website only versions 3 and later are compatible.
Do Mac people ever throw anything away?

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

10 Dec 2010 23:02:19

Mick Burrell

I can't see any reason why a v2 wouldn't work but then they should know.

Re: Network Preference Panel Peculiarities

20 Dec 2010 18:48:42

Steve Ryder

Well Mick, they should, but apparently they don't.
I have just reinstated the Netgear router, and it seems to be working fine.
(I did this so that I could still connect to my Apple Laser Writer 4/600 PS via an Asante talk ethernet link.)
So now I have another printer available, and will just have to keep an eye on the router's performance.
They say that firmware version V4.01.28 is the earliest one which works, mine is V3.01.38, which seems to be the most recent which can be installed on the v2 router.