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MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 Problems

I am trying to downgrade my EFI from 1.7 to 1.6 after reading many threads regarding the WD 750GB and the spinning beachball which I am getting constantly.

I have a 15" mid 2009 macbook pro and I downloaded the downgrade file from this link http://hotfile.com/dl/109001076/5dfaf39/aluminum.macbook.pro.recovery.dmg.html that i found earlier in the thread.

After I choose my USB drive on bootup it just reboots immediately after and starts OSX normally. I do not get any type of progress bar that shows the firmware is downgrading.

Is there something else I can try?

Edit: Nevermind, I figured it out. Power cable must be plugged in for it to work. Doesn't work off the battery.
 
Last edited:
philly33flyers said:
I am trying to downgrade my EFI from 1.7 to 1.6 after reading many threads regarding the WD 750GB and the spinning beachball which I am getting constantly.

I have a 15" mid 2009 macbook pro and I downloaded the downgrade file from this link http://hotfile.com/dl/109001076/5dfaf39/aluminum.macbook.pro.recovery.dmg.html that i found earlier in the thread.

After I choose my USB drive on bootup it just reboots immediately after and starts OSX normally. I do not get any type of progress bar that shows the firmware is downgrading.

Is there something else I can try?

Edit: Nevermind, I figured it out. Power cable must be plugged in for it to work. Doesn't work off the battery.
Click to expand...

are you on 1.6 now?
 
This Worked

After updating my RAM to 8 GIG and putting the Seagate 750 Hybrid Solidstate drive in my MacBook Pro I was getting the GAY PIZZA all the time. I downgraded my firmware to 1.6 and it worked. Thanks for this. :D

Also, I didnt restall os x. I have been running OSX 10.6.8

Seagate Momentus XT ST750LX003 Hybrid 750GB

ST750LX003-1AC154:

Capacity: 750.16 GB (750,156,374,016 bytes)
Model: ST750LX003-1AC154
Revision: SM12
Serial Number: W20047V8
Native Command Queuing: Yes
Queue Depth: 32
Removable Media: No
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk0
Rotational Rate: 7200
Medium Type: Rotational
Partition Map Type: GPT (GUID Partition Table)
S.M.A.R.T. status: Verified
Volumes:
Capacity: 209.7 MB (209,715,200 bytes)
Writable: Yes
BSD Name: disk0s1
Seagate 750:
Capacity: 749.81 GB (749,812,400,128 bytes)
Available: 99.34 GB (99,337,162,752 bytes)
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /



Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro5,4
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP53.00AC.B02
SMC Version (system): 1.49f2
Serial Number (system): NO FN WAY
Hardware UUID: 262725EE-54CD-5B03-A1A7-BB9CBECB24E6
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Disabled
 
Hi SkippyFresh, glad to hear from u. U can try to change the hdd flex cable for it to run at full speed, mentioned in my post #713. Cheers.:)
 
I didn't see that one.

kulcha said:
Hi SkippyFresh, glad to hear from u. U can try to change the hdd flex cable for it to run at full speed, mentioned in my post #713. Cheers.:)
Click to expand...

There were so many posts. I didn't see that one. Yeah, if I can just change the cable I would rather do that and have my speed back. I look for it. now. :cool:

----------
kulcha said:
I ordered i7 15" HDD flex cable, no problem now on EFI 1.7 with SDD in HDD bay and another HDD on optical bay. Hope this helps for those who are still on EFI 1.6.
Click to expand...

Can I get one at my local Frys or should I order it online?

Thanks again for this.
 
i7 15" HDD flex cable

Can't find this cable. Went to frys, they didn't carry it.

Please point me in the right direction. Thank You! :)
 
Hi everybody,

i had also some major trouble running an crucial M4 512 GB in my MBP 15" mid 2009. I downgraded from EFI 1.7 to 1.6 and downgraded the ssd firmware back to 0309. The ssd is no working but i got the beach balls once in a while. Under Win7 on the bootcamp partition i encountered rarely system freezes from where i have to hard boot the system.

It all started when my MBP didnt boot from the stock hdd. Even with disk util from the SL DVD couldnt find the hdd. After ordering an crucial m4 and endless forum searches i ended up buying an external enclosure. Finally i got my old hdd back and the ssd worked fine aswell.

Now here i read something about exchanging the data cable which i ordered 2 days ago. I ordered one for the mid 2009 MBP 15"

Now my question, would u guys recommend the original cable or a newer one like the 2010 cable...? And will it be possible to run the ssd with EFI 1.7 without anoying beach balls?

Many thanks

MBP 15" Mid 2009
8 GB RAM
EFI 1.6
Crucial M4 512 GB firmware 0309
OSX 10.7.4 Lion
Win7 Ultimate Bootcamp
 
I can confirm what kulcha said. Changing the hdd cable makes EFI 1.7 compatible to Crucial M4 (still on 0309). This morning i exchanged the old one with a new one.
The new one is for a 15" mid2010 MBP unibody.

It works for me....!!!!!

MJ
 
Mickey700 said:
I can confirm what kulcha said. Changing the hdd cable makes EFI 1.7 compatible to Crucial M4 (still on 0309). This morning i exchanged the old one with a new one.
The new one is for a 15" mid2010 MBP unibody.

It works for me....!!!!!

MJ
Click to expand...

happy to hear from you :D
 
My MBP is still working stable and fast even on intense disk ops while playing youtube vids etc :)
The cable brought life back to my Mac!!!
 
Anyone looking for 1.6, I've just used this link to get it http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Solid-S...-GHz-Mid-2009/m-p/58702/highlight/true#M18141

Does anyone have a part number for the cable?
I'm trying to put off upgrading this laptop for the next couple of years, but I'm not happy with the 1.5gbps speed that I've got on 1.6, especially as I'm looking at another larger capacity SSD, I want to get the potential out of it!

I've got the SSD in the main bay, and the seagate momentus XT in the optibay, should I swop this over and try 1.7 again?
What is the part number for the replacement SATA cable? Has anyone got a UK source for these?
 
@yetanotherdave

As far as i know (from kulcha and myself) the exchange of the cable made the use of EFI 1.7 available for us. It is not guaranteed that i´ll work in your case. You may try it at your on risk if you like to spend 30 pounds for that cable. I you have a MBP Pro mid 2009 till mid 2010 you could google for it.

Im from germany i bought mine from here http://www.comtecedv.de/presta/product.php?id_product=812

Maybe tha´ll help.

MJ
 
Mickey700 said:
@yetanotherdave

As far as i know (from kulcha and myself) the exchange of the cable made the use of EFI 1.7 available for us. It is not guaranteed that i´ll work in your case. You may try it at your on risk if you like to spend 30 pounds for that cable. I you have a MBP Pro mid 2009 till mid 2010 you could google for it.

Im from germany i bought mine from here http://www.comtecedv.de/presta/product.php?id_product=812

Maybe tha´ll help.

MJ
Click to expand...


Thanks, I've swopped the drives around (ssd in the optibay) and re-upped to 1.7, (knowing I can easily go back to 1.6) if it goes wrong. Only had time to use it for 10 minutes, so far no beach ball, I'll have to see how things go from there...

As the SSD in the optibay, which the connector goes straight onto the logic board, is there any need to swop the cable?

I also noticed that the negeotiated link speed is only 1.5gbs on the optibay, but that seems to be normal from google. If the cable works, I'll probably swop the drives back round to get and get the 3gbs out of the SSD.

Honesly, apple should be swopping the cables out whenever any of these affected models come in for any service, as they are pushing the 1.7 update on people through software update!
 
I cant help you with the optibay stuff cause i dont have one. Im currently not at home but if i could provide the part nr of the cable. But if you google for Macbook Pro mid 2009-2010 hdd cable you might find one.

Again it will be a trial and error.
 
Too bad this cable upgrade wasn't available a year ago. I basically sold my 2010 and bought a 2011 (I really wanted to wait for IB before upgrading), in frustration with trying to get my 2010 to work with a Sata III SSD.
 
ddurmus said:
I just changed the hdd cable on my 2009 macbook pro with a 2010 hdd cable bought from ifixit.com....
Click to expand...

Hi. I would like to highlight this post as I'm considering upgrading my HDD cable as well. I'm using 13" MBP Mid-2009 and on iFixit I can find 2 similar cables on offer:

(i) For Mid-2009 & Mid-2010

(ii) Early-2011 & Late-2011

They look similar, although not sure whether fully compatible. If I were to place an order which one is the better one so that I can get the benefit of the faster data rate and use EFI 1.7.

Mansur

P/S: I'm very new here, and in fact this is my first post :)
 
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