MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 Problems

[sesnir]

My coworker was having this issue, so I ran Onyx and went through the motions:

- Repaired permissions
- Ran maint. scripts
- Rebuilt caches

After the reboot it seems to be back to normal now...

[Andy6387]

I have started a thread on the apple support website regarding this issue, please go post your experiences if you are having the same issues...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....6003&stqc=true

[MM07]

I installed my new 500g WD Scorpio Blue. I have had no issues yet.

I installed the 1.7 firmware on the old 160g HD a few days ago.

[captain-rossco]

I kept getting spinning disc every 10 mins or so after the firmware update. I did PRAM reset, has sorted me back out and i'm now back up to blazing speed!Result.

Regards
CR

[benrockwood]

Hi there,

How to reset PRAM,

Thanks
Ben

[friareunuch]

This may seem a stupid question, but if I were to buy a computer online today, would it come with the SATA firmware upgrade?

Could I avoid this problem by just not doing the firmware update, in the hopes that Apple will fix it in the next couple weeks?

[MacDawg]

Originally Posted by benrockwood

Hi there,

How to reset PRAM,

Thanks
Ben

Look here: resetting the PRAM

FWIW I have the Scorpio Blue with no problems


Woof, Woof - Dawg

[nizmoz]

I am having the same problems. The Firmware obviously is causing this. 10 hours to install OS-X, after many attempts before failing and after a PRAM it's working now but taking forver and I hear the HD clanking every once in a while. The HD is known to be good as it was in my last laptop with no issues.

Took 5 hours to do a Time Keeper reinstall as well. I am putting the factory OEM HD back in tonight till Apple fixes this issue.

[panzer06]

Am I correct in assuming this is only an issue on the latest MBP systems? Because I have not seen a firmware update for my late 2008 UMBP. If so, perhaps the Firmware 1.7 update SATA 3.0 cure is worse than the 1.5 disease.

Cheers,

[jlamarp]

Well, I just got off the phone again with Apple Technical Support regarding this issue.

Basically they told me that Apple is not responsible for maintaining compatibility with 3rd party aftermarket hardware with their firmware updates. So, since my WD Scorpio 500GB was not shipped with the computer if the firmware update rendered it virtually useless, I'm just outta luck until Apple issues the next firmware release, which may or may not even fix the problem!

It's NOT possible to roll back a firmware upgrade, so the only solution they could offer is to put the 500GB in a USB enclosure and use it externally.

Wow, this is the LAST time I'll trust an Apple firmware upgrade!!!

[fixmdude]

Originally Posted by jlamarp

Well, I just got off the phone again with Apple Technical Support regarding this issue.

Basically they told me that Apple is not responsible for maintaining compatibility with 3rd party aftermarket hardware with their firmware updates. So, since my WD Scorpio 500GB was not shipped with the computer if the firmware update rendered it virtually useless, I'm just outta luck until Apple issues the next firmware release, which may or may not even fix the problem!

It's NOT possible to roll back a firmware upgrade, so the only solution they could offer is to put the 500GB in a USB enclosure and use it externally.

Wow, this is the LAST time I'll trust an Apple firmware upgrade!!!

Did you try reformatting the 500 GB and starting over after the firmware update and PRAM reset?

[SilentCrs]

Just a comment: can people please please PLEASE stop suggesting "repair permissions" for all Mac problems? It's become the "reset PRAM" and "re-seat the logic board" of the Intel era.

Fact: This was an EFI update.
Fact: The update itself occurs under the OS. That's why the machine reboots to the grey screen to do the update.
Fact: Nothing permissions related in the OS has anything to do with how the EFI gets flashed, once you get up to that stage.

"Repair permissions" is a throwaway "answer" that, at the very least, wastes the time of the person trying it. Before spouting "answers", make sure your answer is relevant to the problem that is trying to be solved.

[jlamarp]

Originally Posted by fixmdude

Did you try reformatting the 500 GB and starting over after the firmware update and PRAM reset?

I've tried each of the following, with no success:

- Archive and Install
- Reformat the hard drive and do a clean install
- PRAM/SMC resets
- Cloned the working 250GB HDD to the WD 500GB HDD. Problem still exists

Obviously, something with the EFI firmware upgrade is causing issues with the WD 500GB drive, as it worked flawlessly prior to the firmware upgrade.

[Diode]

Originally Posted by jlamarp

I've tried each of the following, with no success:

- Archive and Install
- Reformat the hard drive and do a clean install
- PRAM/SMC resets
- Cloned the working 250GB HDD to the WD 500GB HDD. Problem still exists

Obviously, something with the EFI firmware upgrade is causing issues with the WD 500GB drive, as it worked flawlessly prior to the firmware upgrade.

What are your jumper settings on the drive? Perhaps you could try Ennabling / disabling SSC and RPS

See more info here:

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc....reated=#jumper

[glavoie84]

Since the EFI Firmware Update to version 1.7, I'm also experiencing frequent beach-balling for 20-30 secs doing almost nothing on my new MacBook Pro 13". I'm still using my stock Fujitsu 160GB hard drive. I hope it will be solved soon...

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 addresses an issue reported by a small number of customers using drives based on the SATA 3Gbps specification with the June 2009 MacBook Pro. While this update allows drives to use transfer rates greater than 1.5Gbps, Apple has not qualified or offered these drives for Mac notebooks and their use is unsupported.

If they are not offering SATA II drive, why does my STOCK Fujitsu 160GB hard drive shows as SATA 3Gbps in system informations since the update?

[Diode]

Originally Posted by glavoie84

Since the EFI Firmware Update to version 1.7, I'm also experiencing frequent beach-balling for 20-30 secs doing almost nothing on my new MacBook Pro 13". I'm still using my stock Fujitsu 160GB hard drive. I hope it will be solved soon...



If they are not offering SATA II drive, why does my STOCK Fujitsu 160GB hard drive shows as SATA 3Gbps in system informations since the update?

Resetting the PRAM should fix the issues with the stock drives. Restart your mac and hold down CMD-OPTION-P-R until you hear two reboot chimes.

There seem to be TWO different issues affecting users after the update:

1) Random beachballs that "freeze" the computer - this seems to be fixed with resetting the PRAM

2) Inability to do anything or even boot your mac - this seems to be with the WD Caviar Blue hard drives and Seagate (Don't know the brand or model of the Seagate)

[glavoie84]

Originally Posted by Diode

Resetting the PRAM should fix the issues with the stock drives. Restart your mac and hold down CMD-OPTION-P-R until you hear two reboot chimes.

There seem to be TWO different issues affecting users after the update:

1) Random beachballs that "freeze" the computer - this seems to be fixed with resetting the PRAM

2) Inability to do anything or even boot your mac - this seems to be with the WD Caviar Blue hard drives and Seagate (Don't know the brand or model of the Seagate)

I did reset the PRAM after the update but it didn't help...

[nizmoz]

Sounds to me that any HD that supports 3.0g speeds is causing issues as the laptop is trying to run at those speeds now. If you put one in that only supports 1.5, then it will probably work fine.

[MM07]

Originally Posted by nizmoz

Sounds to me that any HD that supports 3.0g speeds is causing issues as the laptop is trying to run at those speeds now. If you put one in that only supports 1.5, then it will probably work fine.

My WD 500g Scorpio Blue supports it and it is working fine.

Maybe it is certain brands (i think someone suggested this earlier).

[g3funk]

People, please do not re-install...jees, unless you want. Download Onyx (google it) and run it. It takes a second to startup and goes through some preliminary stuff but once you get to the options screen do these two things.

1) Clean up and repair your permissions
2) Dump all the cache that is pre selected by Onyx.

After the second part is done, restart your computer like it recommends and BOOM! All good.

[nizmoz]

LOL, on a fresh install, partition, and everything created from scatch it still has a problem and permissions are not the issue.

Originally Posted by g3funk

People, please do not re-install...jees, unless you want. Download Onyx (google it) and run it. It takes a second to startup and goes through some preliminary stuff but once you get to the options screen do these two things.

1) Clean up and repair your permissions
2) Dump all the cache that is pre selected by Onyx.

After the second part is done, restart your computer like it recommends and BOOM! All good.

[ElZeus]

I have the early 2008 mbp 15inch, I installed the efi 1.7 update earlier this week, didn't seem to have any problems with the stock 250gb HDD.

I have since then installed the WD Scorpio blue 500gb HDD and after a fresh install and a clone attempt the HDD is very sluggish. The best way I noticed to get it to stutter was by playing an itunes song and then opening safari or FF OSX will begin beach balling and the music will stutter. I have tried resetting the PRAM and repairing permission neither have worked. :-\

The 500gb hdd does show up in osx as sata 1.5 but I'm not sure if the early 2008 models had the 3.0gbps speed.

[Diode]

Originally Posted by ElZeus

I have the early 2008 mbp 15inch, I installed the efi 1.7 update earlier this week, didn't seem to have any problems with the stock 250gb HDD.

I have since then installed the WD Scorpio blue 500gb HDD and after a fresh install and a clone attempt the HDD is very sluggish. The best way I noticed to get it to stutter was by playing an itunes song and then opening safari or FF OSX will begin beach balling and the music will stutter. I have tried resetting the PRAM and repairing permission neither have worked. :-\

The 500gb hdd does show up in osx as sata 1.5 but I'm not sure if the early 2008 models had the 3.0gbps speed.

You realize the firmware wasn't targeted for your machine right? It was only for June 2009 macbook pros.

[g3funk]

Originally Posted by nizmoz

LOL, on a fresh install, partition, and everything created from scatch it still has a problem and permissions are not the issue.

Did you try Onyx? If not then please refrain. I have tested this with many of the new updated macs (I do mostly Mac consulting). It has been tested on different HD's (WD Blue 500 gig / 320, WD Black 320, X-25M) and the beach ball thing completely goes away. Worth a serious try.

[nizmoz]

Originally Posted by g3funk

Did you try Onyx? If not then please refrain. I have tested this with many of the new updated macs (I do mostly Mac consulting). It has been tested on different HD's (WD Blue 500 gig / 320, WD Black 320, X-25M) and the beach ball thing completely goes away. Worth a serious try.

Again that is not going to help when the software is having trouble even installing the O/S. That tests the structure of the HD after it's been installed to see if it is proper.