Apple Releases Flash Storage Firmware Update for 2015 MacBook Pros

[DustinLH00]

I purchased my Mid 2015 MacBookPro about a month ago. And I think I did face the problem.

I started having very strange and occasional/random delays when I moved some files around. For instance, when I moved a document from Folder A to Folder B the moved file facing the problem would appear in Folder B after a 1-2 sec. delay, AFTER the file had been removed from Folder A and regardless of the size of the file. Sometimes the files would just vanish in the process.

For example, I had to move a few PDFs from one folder to another. The files were wiped out from the source folder but only some of them ended up in the destination folder, albeit intact. A bunch of them simply vanished. I actually resolved this problem by pulling them back from my TM backup. But that incident did bother me and made me believe that something was wrong with my drive. I even ran a simple HD check on my drive to make sure it was ok but that did not reveal anything.

This file destruction happened to me only a few times. And most of the time the problem arose when I was moving the files to/from a 256bit encrypted disk image, rather than during the normal manipulation of the files. I have not faced any system failures yet and I am not sure if any other file got messed up or not. The delay problem was more frequent but it did not always corrupt/destroyed the data.

These problems disappeared after the update. I now wonder, however, if I need to go through a clean install or not...

Interesting, thanks for sharing!

 

[Zakzilla]

One of the scarier updates I've seen. But it seems necessary, so here we go...

EDIT: Update took like 30 seconds and everything went smoothly

 

[317342]

Installed, no problems. I ran black magic speediest this morning and am seeing no performance degradation that I'm aware of. (screenshot link)

For the curious, I did have two minor issues that appear to be addressed with this update:
+ Boot loop. This happened about once every so often where I would boot the computer, sign-in, then it would re-boot, and I'd sign in again. Strange.
+ Data corruption. This happened with one file/song (!!!) in my iTunes library, even the backup was bad (so I know it was the computer). I had to pull a cold storage backup from my old Mac made right before I got the new MBP, and the file was fine.

 

[Zakzilla]

Installed, no problems. I ran black magic speediest this morning and am seeing no performance degradation that I'm aware of. (screenshot link)

For the curious, I did have two minor issues that appear to be addressed with this update:
+ Boot loop. This happened about once every so often where I would boot the computer, sign-in, then it would re-boot, and I'd sign in again. Strange.
+ Data corruption. This happened with one file/song (!!!) in my iTunes library, even the backup was bad (so I know it was the computer). I had to pull a cold storage backup from my old Mac made right before I got the new MBP, and the file was fine.

I'm getting similar read speeds, but my write speed is less than half of yours (image attached).. I wonder why. I do have FileVault 2 enabled, you think that's having an impact? If so, that's a significant performance hit.

 

[Broken Hope]

I'm getting similar read speeds, but my write speed is less than half of yours (image attached).. I wonder why. I do have FileVault 2 enabled, you think that's having an impact? If so, that's a significant performance hit.

He might have a larger SSD than you, the larger the size the better the write speed.

 

[epmatsw]

Can either of you elaborate on this? What symptoms occurred? How did you know to reformat?

Pretty much the same as the other guy. Noticed some weird behavior and slowdowns, so I restarted. Immediately after login, the computer would just shut down. Repeated a few times, tried PRAM resets, etc. No dice. Booted to the recovery partition and tried first aid using the Disk Utility, got a message about it being unrecoverable, told me I should back up my disk and reformat. I assumed it was a FileVault issue until I got this update the next day :/

 

[317342]

I'm getting similar read speeds, but my write speed is less than half of yours (image attached).. I wonder why. I do have FileVault 2 enabled, you think that's having an impact? If so, that's a significant performance hit.

I have FileVault 2 enabled, too, so I am unsure why your write speed is slow. Try in Safe Mode?

 

[getalot681]

I have revision number BXW1PA0Q and still I don't have this update.
This is veeeery weird.

Check the serial number for your SSD. This update only applies to serial numbers that have G4, G5, G6, or G7 as the 8th and 9th digits. I also have a BXW1PA0Q (that I have installed in a Mac Pro) and luckily mine is G1.

 

[rishiomedia]

I have a 15" MacBook Pro 15" which I purchased the 1st day it was available in the Apple store (around may 20ish 2015). I didn't find the update in the app store so I went to the direct link and downloaded it. I tried to install it but it says my Macbook doesn't need this update. Anyone know what's going on?

 

[MacHead84]

When I try to run the update it tells me that my rMBP mid 2015 doesn't need it.

Should I worry?

 

[Dargoth]

When I try to run the update it tells me that my rMBP mid 2015 doesn't need it.

Should I worry?

Yes. You'll have to extract the files from the installer and install them manually. Obviously Apple goofed and left you out. < trolling, sorry...

 

[ebichu]

Check the serial number for your SSD. This update only applies to serial numbers that have G4, G5, G6, or G7 as the 8th and 9th digits. I also have a BXW1PA0Q (that I have installed in a Mac Pro) and luckily mine is G1.

thanks for the info. My rMBP mid 2015 also has BXW1PA0Q, but my serial number had G3 for those digits. I was wondering what was the criteria for the update since it wasn't targeting my computer either.

Out of curiosity, how did you (and other people here) find out these details about board ID, SSD revision number, and the serial numbers? Didn't see much info on the download page for this update.

 

[MacTech68]

thanks for the info. My rMBP mid 2015 also has BXW1PA0Q, but my serial number had G3 for those digits. I was wondering what was the criteria for the update since it wasn't targeting my computer either.

Out of curiosity, how did you (and other people here) find out these details about board ID, SSD revision number, and the serial numbers? Didn't see much info on the download page for this update.

Software Update has a '.dist' (distribution) file that details what each updates apply to. When you use software update these .dist files are the ones that get checked for which updates apply and which do not.

 

[johannnn]

This Update NOT All rMBP Mid 2015 15" Model, Only BoardID Mac-06F11F11946D27C5 and Mac-06F11FD93F0323C5.
You can check BoardID follow command
ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep board-id

I get "board-id" = <"Mac-06F11FD93F0323C5"> on my mid 2015 15" yet no update in App Store.....

 

[317342]

Check the serial number for your SSD. This update only applies to serial numbers that have G4, G5, G6, or G7 as the 8th and 9th digits. I also have a BXW1PA0Q (that I have installed in a Mac Pro) and luckily mine is G1.

Mine is G8 and I received the update.

 

[YYVWF8CR]

It doesn't work when I download it, but it obviously is for my rMBP. That's why I have no clue what is going on

If you are certain that the update is for your 15" MacBook Pro but it does not install, then I would strongly recommend not to tinker with the firmware update and seek help from Apple Support.

 

[f0ku5]

If you are certain that the update is for your 15" MacBook Pro but it does not install, then I would strongly recommend not to tinker with the firmware update and seek help from Apple Support.

It is for my rMBP, but people are saying different things. The fact is that I didn't get that update, but what I can do...