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Apple Releases MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update to Test for Data Loss Issue [Updated]
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For those people who have problems installing or it says it installed but it appears again in Software Update.
1. Firmware needs your Mac plugged into the wall outlet, it won't install if it is on battery, this is for safety, if the battery is nearly dead (and not plugged in) you'll could end up with a bricked Mac.
2. If you tinkered with your System the Firmware might not update.
3. Run Repair Permissions in Disk Utility.
1. Firmware needs your Mac plugged into the wall outlet, it won't install if it is on battery, this is for safety, if the battery is nearly dead (and not plugged in) you'll could end up with a bricked Mac.
2. If you tinkered with your System the Firmware might not update.
3. Run Repair Permissions in Disk Utility.
Same experience here. It didn't restart on its own but once I hit the power button and logged in, Software Update told me that the firmware was successfully updated.
My 128gb SSD failed last month, and ever since I've been running ML off an external hard drive.
I made a Genius Bar appt for tomorrow. Funnily, my OWC replacement arrived in the mail *today*, since I ordered it before learning about this new program.
I tried to install the firmware update (not knowing if maybe it could be forced to the controller without the drive being 'live') and it said it wasn't needed on this machine. Hopefully the SSD I had was the Toshiba (it says "33kb Sandforce" in Disk Utility), and it'll be covered tomorrow by Apple.
If it isn't covered I guess I'll just install the OWC drive. Otherwise I'll try and return it, since i haven't yet opened it.
I made a Genius Bar appt for tomorrow. Funnily, my OWC replacement arrived in the mail *today*, since I ordered it before learning about this new program.
I tried to install the firmware update (not knowing if maybe it could be forced to the controller without the drive being 'live') and it said it wasn't needed on this machine. Hopefully the SSD I had was the Toshiba (it says "33kb Sandforce" in Disk Utility), and it'll be covered tomorrow by Apple.
If it isn't covered I guess I'll just install the OWC drive. Otherwise I'll try and return it, since i haven't yet opened it.
Hi, could somebody tell me how to find the type of drive I have? I recently got the drive replaced by Apple so I don't know whether it will be a new one or it needs to be replaced.
Thanks
EDIT: Found out myself.. Disk Utility
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Wow, way to go Apple... Last week I got the drive replaced and now I have to go back in again to get it re-replaced...
Thanks
EDIT: Found out myself.. Disk Utility
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Wow, way to go Apple... Last week I got the drive replaced and now I have to go back in again to get it re-replaced...
Sandforce needs to go out of business pronto. It pretty much helped OCZ to be a swearword when it comes to SSD reliability and after somewhat rehabilitating its tarnished reputation this happens again.
Why can Sandforce not understand that reliability is more important than benchmark speeds when it comes to data storage? It only seems to concentrate on the latter.
I won't go near any storage drive or notebook equipped with such that is handicapped by a Sandforce firmware.
Why can Sandforce not understand that reliability is more important than benchmark speeds when it comes to data storage? It only seems to concentrate on the latter.
I won't go near any storage drive or notebook equipped with such that is handicapped by a Sandforce firmware.
I am almost in the same exact situation as you, except I opened the OWC and am using it already.
I can confirm these revision numbers. You can check them in System Information (just type it into spotlight) -> Hardware -> SATA/SATAExpress > choose Intel 7 Series Chipset or your drive (APPLE SSD XXX) -> see Revision
The update didn't disappear in my mac app store either, so I deactivated FileVault (didn't help), cleared nvram, repaired disk permissions in recovery mode and installed the update through the 'manual' installer (which you can dowload right here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1690). I also disconnected all accessories (external keyboard, mouse, two displays).
Finally it rebooted for three times and turned itself off. As the installer says: wait for at least one minute after shutdown, then turn it on by pressing the power button.
Good luck guys!
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What beats me is the lack of articles all these fine magazines has posted, considering the Toshiba SSD was reported failing again and again. No techie mag writer did notice enough to write an article - until now.
How dumb I must be to regard those magazines to be like sniffer-dogs, that would bark at once something might be afoul.
NOW I believe they are just lap-dogs, reacting to cookies from on high.
At last a moderator at least is getting the thread organized.
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Thanks! I had done the update this morning and it reported it was successful. After reading this thread I checked the revision number and found it was still TPVABBFO. I then downloaded the installer you referenced, ran it, and again while it reported successful the rev number had not changed. Also, in both of the above attempts I was asked to reboot but never did it shut down on its own and give me the chance to wait a minute. On the third attempt I disabled FileVault, rebooted, and then used the installer. That worked and I now have the new rev number!
Well, who knows ? Do some tech people understand what the firmware update does to the SSD drive ? Can it be that if the program does only find certain damage to the SSD, a new firmware just prevents further deterioration to the point of failure ?
I will not rush with the update until I will read some analysis, insight in the problem and what the update actually does to the drive. For now, just regular backups and wait, I have 3 years from the purchase..
Went yesterday to get my drive replaced. Mine failed about 3 weeks ago 2 months out of warranty. They are replacing it free of charge but they didn't have any of the drives in stock. The genius told me they are in short supply. So she said we should have a replacement in 3-5 days. Thank you apple for acknowledging these faulty drives.
There's a reason Apple uses them as a supplier. No one doubts that they make good equipment. That said, Toshiba used the SandForce controller, as did Intel and a lot of others in 2012. Since then, Marvell, LAMD, and Indilynx controllers have gotten more popular. SandForce had a reputation for speedy transfers using compression, but also lately has had a bad reputation for reliability and poor processing of encrypted data.
Nope... it was only the 64GB or 128GB Toshiba units in the 2012 model year Macbook Air.
Good news. I had mine fail 51 days out of warranty, about 2 months ago. I forewent the $600 to replace it through Apple and got one from OWC for $200 including an installation kit. Even at the time the Apple rep told me that this was a frequent issue with this specific year & model.
Do you guys know how easy it is to get a refund for what I paid to OWC? I have documented visits to Apple recognizing the drive failure, but chose to go the cheaper route for replacement. I'll accept a drive replacement but I would be much happier if they would just give me my $200 back.
Do you guys know how easy it is to get a refund for what I paid to OWC? I have documented visits to Apple recognizing the drive failure, but chose to go the cheaper route for replacement. I'll accept a drive replacement but I would be much happier if they would just give me my $200 back.
I don't know that they'll do this. My assumption was that the refunds were only for parts supplied by and installed by Apple. I could be totally wrong on that.
FWIW I had the same experience as the above poster- took in my MBA today, they ordered the replacement SSD. Told me it could be anywhere from a couple days up to 10 days, but that they'd email me when it arrived and it could be done same day if I were willing to make back-to-back Genius Bar appts. So, I'm happy about that. Now I'm going to email OWC and make sure they'll refund me for my unopened replacement drive which I just got in the mail.