![]()
After several users reported in previous post about USB mouse stopped or stuck in Mac OS X Snow Leopard after 10.6.6 update in VMware. There are few extra strings suggested to add in Virtual machine’s configuration file, but it did not work. This guide shows how to fix when USB mouse stopped working after Snow Leopard 10.6.6 software automatic or manual update in VMware workstation/Player.
The reason for not responding USB mouse is, 10.6.6 update replaces the IOUSBFamily.kext and IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext in system. These new kext files causing the issue on hackintosh methods. We need to replace these files to older version after 10.6.6 update before restart the system.
This can be done in two methods. Whatever you do, make sure to do it before restart the Snow leopard virtual machine after 10.6.6 update.
First Method – Manually Backup and Restore
After you installed Snow leopard freshly from this method or with pre installed image as mentioned here, copy (backup) these two IOUSBFamily.kext and IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext files from /System/Library/Extensions to some other folder. Make sure this time your USB mouse, storage and other devices are working fine with these file versions.
Now, run the software update to 10.6.6. When it prompts for restart, DO NOT RESTART. Copy these two files from earlier location and replace (Paste) them to /System/Library/Extensions.
I always suggest taking a snapshot in VMware or taking a system backup in Mac Time Machine. Now restart the virtual machine. I’m sure you will not have USB mouse not working problem anymore in SL 10.6.6 now.
The latest 10.6.6 update installed following version of IOUSBFamily.kext.

I replaced this file with older version of IOUSBFamily.kext which came with 10.6.3 (My USB mouse was working fine that time)
I did the similar step to IOUSBMassStorageClass.kext too before restart the system.
Second Method – Install from Package
If you are not comfortable with first method on finding, copying and restoring these files, then this installation package will do the job for you. This method replaces only IOUSBFamily.kext file to earlier version of 10.6.
Before start the software update, transfer this file to Snow Leopard virtual machine or download it inside VM. Do the software update to 10.6.6 and DO NOT RESTART now.
Run the IOUSBFamily-378.pkg package. Installation steps are very straight forward.
Restart the system after this installation.
The IOUSBFamily-378.pkg replaced the IOUSBFamily.kext to following version.

This version is also helping to solve USB mouse issue after 10.6.6 update in VMware.
What to do if you already updated?
Unfortunately, I don’t have correct solution for this. Try below two methods.
1) Restore to previous Snapshot.
This is a solid fix. If you have a snapshot before updating, while USB devices working properly, then restore to that. Later, update to 10.6.6 and replace USB kexts files.
2) Start with –f option.
I’m not sure with this method. In case you don’t have snapshot, then start the Mac VM with –f option.
Press F8 in first Darwin boot black screen which will take to next screen where you can start the Snow leopard with extra switches. Type –f and press ENTER.

Most of the time this will bring USB option again. Install the package or replace kexts files mentioned earlier and restart VM.
I’m sure one of above steps will be helpful to fix USB mouse problem in VMware Snow Leopard after 10.6.6 update.
I highly expect your comments on successful or failure outcome by these steps. Subscribe to our feeds or newsletter to stay tuned with Sysprobs for more hackintosh on desktop virtualization software tips.
Have fun.


Phenom II says
My sytem specs :
Asus M4N78Pro
AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
3GB DDR2 RAM
Nvidia Asus GeForce GTX 550 Ti
The VMware installation was fine untill I updated it to 10.6.7. After combo update the mouse stopped working and I tried all the methods mentioned in this post.
The mouse used to work only with -f boot but it was laggy and i also lost the Vmware direct input after combo update.
I was on this for 2 days and finally tried Michal’s way and it worked like a charm, all you need to do is install combo update and just before reboot run multibeast. Then only select IOUSBFamily.kext rollback from multibeast.
You can download multibeast from http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewforum.php?f=125 and run it after combo update and just before reboot.
Thank you all, OS X on VMWare is running very smooth and also it is pretty fast!!!!!
Downloading X-Code now, hope that runs smooth!!!!
Alec says
I haven’t been able to get the IOSUBFamily.kext to install. When I update the software to 10.6.7 it asks me to reboot before it actually installs the update. Then when I restart it installs the update without giving me a chance to install the older kexts. I tried to make a script through Kext helper and then convert it to a shell and put it as a startup item, but I just get permission issues and of course my USB mouse and keyboard do not work. How can I run a startup script that will install the older working kexts when I can’t use my mouse or keyboard? I also tried multibeast, but that only works before the update installs. Any help here would be appreciated. This project has killed several afternoons. Thanks!
Phenom II says
@alec
just download the multibeast from http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewforum.php?f=125 and install only the IOSUSBFamily from it right after updating the snow leopard to 10.6.7 and then reboot. it worked for me, hope it does for you. good luck!!
Alec says
Thanks Phenom II! I downloaded the combo update for 10.6.6 through safari and not through the software update (which tried to install 10.6.7 and automatically restarted not giving a chance to resinstall the kexts) and then ran multibeast before the restart. I guess i could’ve installed the combo update of 10.6.7 through safari download, but oh well.
I have a new problem though! Ill check to see if there is another topic covering it, but my audio is pretty choppy. Almost as if it is skipping. Has anyone come across this? Does anyone know of a solution?
BB says
Hi All,
I updated to 10.6.8 by the combo update. Before update I created an alias for the terminal and put it on the desktop. Then copied the two files for the USB to my home directory. After the install and reboot, I opened the terminal from the desktop, logged in as root by su and copied the files from my home directory back and rebooted and it worked fine.
Thanks for all the helpful tips here.
midix says
“Copy these two files from earlier location and replace (Paste) them to /System/Library/Extensions.”
On 10.6.8. in VirtualBox 4.1. (the host machine has i3 CPU) when I copy files over the new ones, operation succeeds (after I enter my login data) but at the end it gives an error that extensions were not properly installed and will not be used and after rebooting the mouse is stuck again
If I try the pkg file, everything works fine, but then I cannot use native VirtualBox EFI booting – I get kernel panic, something related to IOACPIFamily.
What is wrong with 10.6.8. on VirtualBox 4.1.? Why I have a choice – nonworking mouse and booting from EFI versus working mouse but no EFI boot? And still crashing “About My Mac” – I thought 10.6.8. supports i3 CPUs…
Can I have it all on VirtualBox 4.1.?
Lucky Singh says
@midix
@David James
I had exactly the same problems in Virtual Box as you guys.
I was able to solve the problem with multibeast!
I downloaded it from tonymacx86 and the only thing i marked was USB Rollback. Everything else was left unchecked.
After a system restart everything was working fine.
DavidJames says
I have the same problem as midix (im using 10.6.8) If I copy over the kext file the I get the error. these files have not been properly installed. Does anyone know a way to alter the file that will not cause that error. thanks.
neon says
Hi, i’ve run the the IOUSBFamily-378.pkg package on post installation and everything went fine.
Lucky Singh says
Try multibeast! Check the post above
GBO TEch says
Strange I got it working by doing the following: (This is after the Update and Mouse was not working)
Went in the Virtualbox manager and under settings for Snow Leopard (Name of my virtual system), I checked the “Enable EFI” box. Then I rebooted with the iBoot ISO as first boot device, this is the ISO I used to initially install SL on my system), and hard drive second. Restarted SL and it booted right to desktop and the mouse was then working.
B-rad says
Thanks GBO TEch, checking the “Enable EFI” box worked for me.
Steve says
Thanks for this fix, it also cured an issue concerning switching mouse left/right hand.
Tom says
I use the First Method – Manually Backup and Restore, but the mouse also cannot move, too! Please help me. Thank you!!!
Semi says
You might be able to fix this even after you’ve already updated to 10.6.6+.
As far as I am aware of, the keyboard usually keeps working in this situation. What I did is mounting the Snow Leopard DVD, and starting up a terminal, to release the power of text only command line.
To do this, you need to change the image in your DVD to the Snow Leopard one; wait for a bit to let it mount, then press “Command+Shift+U”, which directs you to the Utilities folder, then use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Terminal”, and press “Command+O”, which opens a Terminal Window. After that, I think you just need to copy these two files from the /Volumes/*your snow leopard dvd*/System/Library/Extentions to the corresponding place on hard disk.
Hope this helps.
Jeffrey says
Whoa. I was using VirtualBox, and I just updated. So, I had to delete my SATA, and redo EVERYTHING again, and install the stuff. What a waste. ._.
Charlie says
Press F8 works while restarting