SMC Update killed my computer!!

I just downloaded and installed the smc update from automatic updates. However, when the computer restarted it remained with a blank screen for 20 minutes. I tried to restart it but now the bottom power light under the track pad lights for a second and nothing happens. The computer seems dead now. I have everything disconnected and tried resetting the SMC, but to no avail.

Please help!

Powermac G4 Laptop, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on May 28, 2009 11:01 PM

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204 replies

May 29, 2009 1:32 AM in response to Dean HK

worked on this for a few hours now. It killed my Powerbook. Automatic updates found the smc update and told me to quit all aps, so I did. Then I clicked on the install button and the computer turned off and seemed to restart but all I had was a black screen for more than 20 minutes. I tried to restart it but now its totally dead.

Tried to reset the smc and the pram...nothing. Holding the power button now just get the sleep light under the track pad to light m,momentarily, or flash a few times then stop./ I can hear the disk attempt to start then end with a click....

Any ideas?

May 29, 2009 6:33 AM in response to Dean HK

This firmare update killed my Macbook Pro 15" 2.4 GHz. Same problem: Screen is black, I try to boot into firewire target disk mode holding "t" key and then connect to my PowerMac to backup my files. Yes, I can see the hard disk of my dead Macbook Pro on the desktop. I backup successfully. Now I go to call Apple Support for help.

May 29, 2009 10:43 AM in response to jgma

Uh, I ran the SMC update. It restarted and informed me that the update did not work, so should run the update again. Didn't work second time. I quit the updater and restarted the computer. Now when I re-boot, there is no way to access the updater. Software update doesn't list it (probably because I already ran it, just not successfully.) Tried to download from the apple website, but on download it tells me I don't need the update. The problem is that my fans are running at full speed and there is no way to turn them down. Also the battery icon in my menu bar is a battery with an x over it, though I'm able to run from the battery or the power adapter. Any ideas?
I used to run SMC Fan Control, but made sure the program was closed/not running when I ran the updater. Hmm.

May 29, 2009 11:34 AM in response to sig

I successfully checked System Profiler. It literally says: "SMC Version (system): 0.000"

Can't boot from target disk mode from my backup either. Can't boot that on my wife's MB either, so that could be the drive or something I'm doing wrong. (I don't use Target Disk Mode, often, but I have used it before.) Bad luck for me. Any help is appreciated.

May 29, 2009 12:04 PM in response to mattista

In my utilities folder I found the MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update. I ran it again, no luck, but I got the error message:

The last attempt to flash the SMC resulted in an unexpected error. Please try the update again now.

Internal Error Info:0x8000000098:1406

Other attempts have yielded the same result, but now I'm wondering if the fact that there seems to be an issue with the power source (x on the battery icon and no recognition of the battery) I think that's stalling the update. Of course my battery is installed and I'm plugged in as well, but in the past the light on my power cord would not light up as it was supposed to. An SMC reset fixed that once, but it acted up again and I don't think I ever bothered to reset it again. Seems like I would have been doing that once a week and it didn't seem like that big a deal for the light on the cord to work.

Thanks again if anyone has any suggestions.

-Matt

May 29, 2009 1:47 PM in response to sig

sig wrote:
"Yes, I have a macbook pro and the firmware killed it."

Hopefully you followed the directions to the letter. Take it to an Apple store and see what they can or cannot do. (Perhaps you could change your Settings to reflect the MBP).


I suspect that he changed his profile to reflect the machine he is posting with, having lost his MBP???

May 29, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Dean HK

Dean HK wrote:
I just downloaded and installed the smc update from automatic updates. However, when the computer restarted it remained with a blank screen for 20 minutes. I tried to restart it but now the bottom power light under the track pad lights for a second and nothing happens. The computer seems dead now. I have everything disconnected and tried resetting the SMC, but to no avail.

Please help!

I have not received an update message on this MBP (late 2007 SantaRosa) for this firmware.
I have not yet checked on my other earlier MBP.
Will the firmware reset CD work for this? I would try it, seeing as the update seems to have hosed things.
If you don't have one you can download it and follow the instructions. Supposedly it will restore the firmware to factory settings. I have never had the need to use it, I am just recalling the instructions from memory. It may not even apply for this firmware update.

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SMC Update killed my computer!!

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