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MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 Problems
- Thread starter jlamarp
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Fixed!
I bought my 15" MBP back in July 09 and I upgraded the hard drive to a Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM (ST9500420ASG) this past weekend.
I was also getting the beach ball/temp freeze every so often. It seemed to be most prevalent when reading/writing large files (over 800 MB).
I also found a thread on the Apple support forums indicating the Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 and/or the Performance Update 1.0 would fix this.
I downloaded those updates, but it would not let me apply them, as I was on SL 10.6.2 with all of the latest updates applied.
So I downgraded my EFI version from 1.7 to 1.6 as per the instructions in this thread and it fixed it. No issues now.
One thing to note is that my hard drive firmware is 0002SDM1, which is the OEM firmware. I believe the Hard Drive Firmware 2.0 update (which updates to 0007APM2) may solve this problem without needing to downgrade to EFI 1.6. But unfortunately, I haven't found a way to forcibly update the hard drive firmware.
I bought my 15" MBP back in July 09 and I upgraded the hard drive to a Seagate 500 GB 7200 RPM (ST9500420ASG) this past weekend.
I was also getting the beach ball/temp freeze every so often. It seemed to be most prevalent when reading/writing large files (over 800 MB).
I also found a thread on the Apple support forums indicating the Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 and/or the Performance Update 1.0 would fix this.
I downloaded those updates, but it would not let me apply them, as I was on SL 10.6.2 with all of the latest updates applied.
So I downgraded my EFI version from 1.7 to 1.6 as per the instructions in this thread and it fixed it. No issues now.
One thing to note is that my hard drive firmware is 0002SDM1, which is the OEM firmware. I believe the Hard Drive Firmware 2.0 update (which updates to 0007APM2) may solve this problem without needing to downgrade to EFI 1.6. But unfortunately, I haven't found a way to forcibly update the hard drive firmware.
Isn't this issue really strange, I installed the same drive, with the same OEM firmware, in my 2.53GHz Macbook Pro 2009 and have no pauses, or lags, unlike with a WD 5,400rpm drive that had them so bad it was completely unusable. This machine also came with the 1.7 firmware. I am beginning to think the actual cause is something else entirely, perhaps cable? or cable shielding? No evidence to support this concept except the multiple cases of different results posted by users.
Interesting. I originally thought it had something to do with Apple's updates (Hard Drive firmware 2.0 and/or Perf. Update 1.0) not being applied fully because the hard drive was not in the system at the time I installed those updates.
When did you upgrade your drive?
Just noticed the Hd drive version is slightly different, I have the ST9500420AS model (without onboard motion sensor) not the ST9500420ASG model (with onboard motion sensor). Could that be why this drive works?
Long after doing those updates. Tried both HDs in Late Dec. 2009. The system is a fresh install of 10.6 followed by all the updates (combo downloaded and installed first, followed by all suggested by the software update preference pane). The initial Toshiba 5,400rpm 250GB disk was too small, so I first tried a WD 500GB 5,400 rpm drive without the motion sensor, horrible choice, even typing in word was unusable. The disk seemed to pause before any user action, selecting text, copying a file, everything. Then I tried the Seagate again the model without the motion sensor and it works perfectly.
All of this conflicting information on the boards must mean we are looking in the wrong place for why some drives work in some machines and not in others.
I am fine now that I have found a drive that works in this model, Macbook Pro 2.53GHz with one video card, but many have had a hard time finding a compatible drive.
I'd just like to show my appreciation to the person that uploaded the firmware downgrader, and the people that contributed to the thread.
Downgrading has fixed the problems I was having with a brand new SSD.
Whilst I appreciate it caps the speed, it's still an order of magnitude faster than my old HDD.
Here's a reboot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQnV7ogwTos
Downgrading has fixed the problems I was having with a brand new SSD.
Whilst I appreciate it caps the speed, it's still an order of magnitude faster than my old HDD.
Here's a reboot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQnV7ogwTos
ok so it's been 9 months since i got my mbp thought i would chime in with a fix to my beachballing issue.
turn out manufacturers for hdds tend to set the power savings features of aftermarket hard drives a little too aggressively
the HDAPM fix i applied solved my random beachballing issue due to my western digital drive
http://mymacfixes.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-do-i-stop-clicking-noise-from-hard.html
link to easier to use installer package:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10081798#10081798
turn out manufacturers for hdds tend to set the power savings features of aftermarket hard drives a little too aggressively
the HDAPM fix i applied solved my random beachballing issue due to my western digital drive
http://mymacfixes.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-do-i-stop-clicking-noise-from-hard.html
link to easier to use installer package:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10081798#10081798
I have tried a Fujistu, Hitachi, Western Digital and Seagate Drive with no luck.
Hi Folks,
This is a very annoying issue, the weird thing is, I ran the WD640 Gig drive for two months before I got the grey screen of death. The drive is just fine, works fine when booted from an external USB or Firewire housing.
I have made a video on Youtube documenting my experience.
Currently my Mac is at the Repair Center - They want to do some additional testing on it, but it's pretty obvious the issue is the unresolved Firmware problem.
Here's the video
I refuse to be stuck with the 160 OEM drive.
This type of crap happens every time I purchase a MBP, last time it was Random Shut Down Syndrome and they denied that as well.
Hi Folks,
This is a very annoying issue, the weird thing is, I ran the WD640 Gig drive for two months before I got the grey screen of death. The drive is just fine, works fine when booted from an external USB or Firewire housing.
I have made a video on Youtube documenting my experience.
Currently my Mac is at the Repair Center - They want to do some additional testing on it, but it's pretty obvious the issue is the unresolved Firmware problem.
Here's the video
I refuse to be stuck with the 160 OEM drive.
This type of crap happens every time I purchase a MBP, last time it was Random Shut Down Syndrome and they denied that as well.
Regarding the Seagate 500 gb 7200rpm drive
This Segate Drive is the one I have, it worked for about a month, failed, they sent me new one and the MBP will not recognize it http://bit.ly/brjSzP:confused:
This Segate Drive is the one I have, it worked for about a month, failed, they sent me new one and the MBP will not recognize it http://bit.ly/brjSzP:confused:
Annoying!
So i got my 15" MBP brand new back in July 09..
I haven't installed the EFI 1.7 Yet.. and i am still running the OEM hard drive that came with it.
I am planning on getting an SSD eventually..probably within the next few months..
However im annoyed of the pop up every few days recommending me to upgrade the EFI
Anyway to turn this off?
Or does anyone recommend upgrading? will I have to downgrade again when i get the ssd?
So i got my 15" MBP brand new back in July 09..
I haven't installed the EFI 1.7 Yet.. and i am still running the OEM hard drive that came with it.
I am planning on getting an SSD eventually..probably within the next few months..
However im annoyed of the pop up every few days recommending me to upgrade the EFI
Anyway to turn this off?
Or does anyone recommend upgrading? will I have to downgrade again when i get the ssd?
Same ? here. I have refused to install the new firmware. Is there any reason to do so and can you make as something you don't want so the pop ups go away?
Cheers,
MacBook Pro 15inch 5,3 with OCZ CRUCIAL SSD
Hi All
I have been experimenting with an OCZ and a CRUCIAL M225 which has refused to work in my brand new MACBOOK 5,3 15inch MID2009
I have tried
- EFI 1.6 and 1.7
- SSDs (OCZ and CRUCIAL)
- SSD in SDD bay and in the OPTIBAY
And i can tell you this will not work (well it doesnt work for me) IF
- you have EFI 1.7 running at 3GB/s
- SSD or other drive that can push the 3 GB/s channel
- and you use the HDD bay
I personally think the cable is the problem, as i can get this to work fine on the OPTIBAY controller port.
Am going to try to insulate the cable on the HDD bay, some users have reported success with this. But if you are looking for a solution in the interim, looks like the options are
- roll back to EFI 1.6 (files can be found online - contact me if you cant find them - this works!)
- buy an OPTIBAY hdd kit to put the HDD where the DVD drive is (this also works!)
- insulate the cable with foil/insulating tape. Am going to do this on the weekend.
I am getting 230MB/s READ, 161MB/s WRITE on the EFI 1.7 at 3GB/s. You can see the full write up here
Hope this helps people who were pulling their hair out like i was trying to get this to work.!
Hi All
I have been experimenting with an OCZ and a CRUCIAL M225 which has refused to work in my brand new MACBOOK 5,3 15inch MID2009
I have tried
- EFI 1.6 and 1.7
- SSDs (OCZ and CRUCIAL)
- SSD in SDD bay and in the OPTIBAY
And i can tell you this will not work (well it doesnt work for me) IF
- you have EFI 1.7 running at 3GB/s
- SSD or other drive that can push the 3 GB/s channel
- and you use the HDD bay
I personally think the cable is the problem, as i can get this to work fine on the OPTIBAY controller port.
Am going to try to insulate the cable on the HDD bay, some users have reported success with this. But if you are looking for a solution in the interim, looks like the options are
- roll back to EFI 1.6 (files can be found online - contact me if you cant find them - this works!)
- buy an OPTIBAY hdd kit to put the HDD where the DVD drive is (this also works!)
- insulate the cable with foil/insulating tape. Am going to do this on the weekend.
I am getting 230MB/s READ, 161MB/s WRITE on the EFI 1.7 at 3GB/s. You can see the full write up here
Hope this helps people who were pulling their hair out like i was trying to get this to work.!
Attachments
Looking forward to seeing if you are successful after insulating the cable. If it works I might give it a shot.
Let us know how you get on!
EFI 1.6 rollback works!
Reporting success with the EFI 1.6 rollback:
Summer 2009 15" MBP, 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB stock.
Upgraded to Western Digital Scorpio Blue 640GB, WD6400BEVT Dec 2009, Thailand.
I was pissed to have the beachball problems. Should've known something was up when the OS install took unusually long. Rolled back to EFI 1.6 and now it appears to be working.
Reporting success with the EFI 1.6 rollback:
Summer 2009 15" MBP, 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB stock.
Upgraded to Western Digital Scorpio Blue 640GB, WD6400BEVT Dec 2009, Thailand.
I was pissed to have the beachball problems. Should've known something was up when the OS install took unusually long. Rolled back to EFI 1.6 and now it appears to be working.
i'm getting exactly this! i've done everything but i can't get the downgrade to work!
macbook september 2009 15in 2.53gh
replaced the stock 250 gb drive with seagate 7200rpm 500gb drive (ST9500420AS)
beachballs from hell every 2 minutes, completely unusable
did the 1.6 downgrade from 1.7 and "i love apple again"
works like its supposed to, and so easy to downgrade, no need to visit apple store.
yay
no off to install Windows in boot camp
replaced the stock 250 gb drive with seagate 7200rpm 500gb drive (ST9500420AS)
beachballs from hell every 2 minutes, completely unusable
did the 1.6 downgrade from 1.7 and "i love apple again"
works like its supposed to, and so easy to downgrade, no need to visit apple store.
yay
no off to install Windows in boot camp
I am about to open a box on a Corsair 256. Has this been fixed with the latest 1.8 EFI? Or should I just not bother opening this box and saving myself 700 bucks.
Does this problem affect the current MBPs?
What drives will work--which won't still?
Does this problem affect the current MBPs?
What drives will work--which won't still?
Just to add my experience: I upgraded the hdd on my mid 2009 MBP 15" three weeks ago.
Results: beachball on the screen sometimes
The system is perfectly usable, but this issue is annoying .
I just tried the downgrade to 1.6 EFI, thanks to the guide found on this thread.
Results: beachball still present, maybe less frequently (not sure about that).
I don't know what to do: "back" to 1.7 EFI again ?
Results: beachball on the screen sometimes
The system is perfectly usable, but this issue is annoying .
I just tried the downgrade to 1.6 EFI, thanks to the guide found on this thread.
Results: beachball still present, maybe less frequently (not sure about that).
I don't know what to do: "back" to 1.7 EFI again ?
I have a very similar setup (the hdd is the 500 Gb version), but the beachball is still present sometimes.
Did you completely solve the issue with the rollback to EFI1.6 ?