SMC Update killed my computer!!

I'm having similar problems. The screen keeps going completely black. The machine is still active but the screen is blank. Rebooting doesn't help. I reapplied the SMC firmware update plus reset the SMC controller but that hasn't fixed it. Restarting in firewire target (hold down T while restarting) does bring back the screen but unfortunately it eventually goes back to being black. I don't see any correlation with CPU/GPU load that makes this happen.

SAME PROBLEM. Impossible to restart after installing the MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.3, which was done automatically from the Software Update (together with automatic update for iWORK). Screen is black and disk makes almost no noise when I try to restart. Cannot restart even from CD Mac or Techtool...
Bloody Apple. it's getting worst and worst. Good old days of reliability...

"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."

I have a late 2007 SantaRosa 2.4 Ghz and SU called for it to be updated. I downloaded the file directly from Apple here: http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacBookPro_SMC_Firmware_Update_13 and ran it. There is no restoration CD in case it doesn't work.

OK. I'm really cheesed off with this. Quality Assurance at Apple seems to be getting worse and worse. When I bought the machine it would repeatedly but intermittently fail to light up the screen when it woke from sleep. That was eventually fixed by an earlier SMC update (despite Apple insisting that there was no problem). Now we have another SMC update but this time it has made my machine almost inoperable. It might work for a few minutes before the screen cuts out and I have to do a hard reset, followed by cycling the machine through Firewire target mode.

I'll be on my way down to the Apple store tomorrow and I hope they have a solution. Although the fact that no-one from Apple has responded with any advice to this forum makes me dubious. At the very least, they should provide a downgrade option to take it back to the previous firmware.

Annoyed that I'm going to be wasting my time on Saturday getting this fixed. Especially after been subjected to similar problems when I bought the computer.

sig wrote:
"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."

I have a late 2007 SantaRosa 2.4 Ghz and SU called for it to be updated. I downloaded the file directly from Apple here: http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacBookPro_SMC_Firmware_Update_13 and ran it. There is no restoration CD in case it doesn't work.

So it's pot luck - no Plan B? No recovery possible except replacing the chipset?

I just received my "notice" after I posted here.
Without a restoration CD and since I have no fan problems, I will most likely forgo this one. Sometimes there is a second release ..... 😉

Message was edited by: nerowolfe

Has everyone tried resetting PRAM?

"...Although the fact that no-one from Apple has responded with any advice to this forum makes me dubious..."

Don't be dubious. This is a user to user forum. Apple is not here to answer your queries. Just us users like yourself.

You're right of course. Spending several hours of my time today trying to resolve this issue has left me a little short tempered with Apple.

nerowolfe wrote:
Has everyone tried resetting PRAM?

Yes. Also, tried a SMC reset. No luck with either of these.

cdoubleu wrote:

nerowolfe wrote:
Has everyone tried resetting PRAM?

Yes. Also, tried a SMC reset. No luck with either of these.

Since so many have had issues and it's a relatively simple thing to do and it goes awry, I suggest filing a bug report with Apple here:
https://bugreport.apple.com

As noted, I shall wait this one out.

nerowolfe wrote:
Since so many have had issues and it's a relatively simple thing to do and it goes awry, I suggest filing a bug report with Apple here:
https://bugreport.apple.com

Bug report filed.

Taking it in to Apple tomorrow. I'm not getting the black screen, just fans at full speed and it doesn't recognize any power source, though it is working off ac and battery (if I unplug the ac.) I backed up as much as I could. I've got to day that the Tech help from Apple today was excellent. They called me immediately, and while we didn't resolve the problem, the guys I talked to were understanding, courteous and did everything they could, including making my appointment at the store. Apple care is worth it IMHO. The plan is a firmware reset, but we'll see. I'll post back if I can, but I have a feeling my MBP is headed for California, or wherever. Good luck.

I ran it today. When I let the updater utility restart the MacBook Pro, the screen hung up on the desktop and would not restart. I could press the power button and get the shut down dialog, but if I clicked Restart (or any other button, actually) the dialog would go away but nothing would happen for many minutes.

I chose to use the emergency force restart shortcut (Control-Command-power button), and it restarted and the firmware updater ran. It works fine and restarts fine now.

I didn't get the black screen, though, so I don't know if using the force restart in that case would work or if it would ruin everything.