Mac OS X 10.3.2: Menu Bar Items Blink On and Off

When you are using certain languages, connecting to an AFP server may cause your menu bar items to blink (disappear and reappear every few seconds).
Symptom

Menu bar items blink, such as the clock, AirPort menu, Input menu (flag), and Volume menu.

If Crash Logging is enabled, a log for "SystemUIServer" is generated each time the menu extras disappear.


Note: The Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) is known by service names such as Apple File Service, AppleShare, and Personal File Sharing. It may be offered by Apple or third-party operating systems.

Solution

Update to Mac OS X 10.3.3 or later.

Additional information

The menu bar items will stop blinking when you eject, or disconnect, the AFP server.

This happens when certain languages are selected as the primary language in International preferences. The affected languages use Cyrillic, Greek, Central European, or Modified Roman characters. These languages are:

Published Date: Oct 7, 2016