SMC Update killed my computer!!

I got my MBP back from the AppleStore today- so far so good. They did not update the SMC on the replacement motherboard initially, so the genius ran it at the store to make sure things went smoothly. I tested sleep/lid closed mode in store before I took the MBP away.

So far so good..

FYI- if you use Time Machine and get your motherboard swapped, your old backup is tagged by your old motherboard's MAC address- your backups will likely either fail or create a whole new backup and not include your older backups. To resync my new mother board with the old backup (on a network drive), I followed this hint... http://seankelly.tv/blog/blogentry.2008-08-25.8041499927

So is the consensus to avoid this update? It comes up in my software update list so it seems to be appropriate for my SR 2.2. I've also noticed some erratic fan behavior at times and so was initially excited when I saw this update. But have waited given some of the consequences others have experienced. I should also mention that I have the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT and so wondered if some of the problems people have had are a consequence of having this card.

Has anyone had a good experience with this update and noticed some positive changes in fan behavior?

Ironic - I just looked up reactions to the SMC Firmware update because my Intel Pro hung when starting up this morning. Thinking it might be dirt in the fans, I thought maybe I should finally install the original 2006 SMC Firmware, v. 1.1, which came out shortly after I got my Intel Pro desktop, an Apple-supplied replacement for my G5 that was having problems. Reading this thread tells me it's not time yet.

I'm always cautious about updates -- just in case. I wait a week or two and then log into forums to see if there have been any problems. A number of users in 2006 were posting very similar comments that I've been reading in response to the new v. 1.3 SMC Firmware update.

With the first one, someone actually installed it with the cover off his computer, taking a video as huge dust bunnies blew all over the place. Took only a few seconds. Very funny. I did a brief search, but can't find the video to share. While some said their computer continued to work fine in its newly cleaned state, there were a number whose computers died, had problems, or had increased fan noise afterward.

I have never installed v. 1.1. Every time software update does its thing, there sits SMC Firmware v. 1.1 at the top of the list. When I download, I carefully uncheck that box. V. 1.3 update doesn't show up, maybe because I've never installed the earlier version. All these comments confirm my lack of desire to try it. Instead, I'll open my computer and do my occasional hand cleaning with a lightweight computer vacuum, which I'm sure doesn't do as good a job as revving fans.

Makes a good case for backing up a system before updating. I can't believe that Apple didn't learn from the 1.1 version, and have created problems once again.

Same problem here, the battery was acting like you post it. I did an SMC reset and let the battery run down completely, and then recharged it to the full. It is acting as it should now, but the remaining capacity is only 20%. I hope I can get a new battery as this problem is obviously caused by the SMC update.
Apple do something about it...
Happy to have only this problem, hope my mac is not going to die in a while...

Same problem here.
I updated my Aug 2008 MBP with the new firm wear via Apple update. The computer restarted properly and I ran Photoshop and Lightroom and Mail as per usual for about 4 hours with no problems. I did a complete shut down which I normally never do but I am glad I did.
During startup I get the normal start up Chime but that's it, the screen is black.
I guess I am lucky in that T mode has allowed me to offload some files via my old 12 incher but I will be heading to the Apple store first thing Sunday morning and I'll be showing my procard and hopefully my business won't be shut down this week.
So if your logic board has already been replaced.. how many times does it take to get your machine listed as a dud

I went to the Apple store and I couldn't believe it when the genius hit the power button and everything started normally. He says he couldn't find any issues in the log so I guess I will work with it today and see what happens. I tried many restarts last night with just a black screen greeting me. Weird.

Lol samething happened with me! But since i had so much information about the super slow startups and i had allready called over the 1-800-apple care they woman said she was going to tell the technician to give it a better look. This was wenesday, thursday was a non labor day so that left friday and saturday.

I called over saturday and she quoted the technician "its a difficult issue". Right now im really worried. All i can do right now is wait and hope i get an official answer.

I have been monitoring this thread and am really concerned. My MBP is acting up since the 1.3 update. I downloaded and installed it along with other updates, making sure I had the charger plugged in. Since then the symptoms are very predictable. When I power up the computer will operate normally as long as I do not close the lid or allow the computer to go to sleep. If that occurs, the computer will begin revving up the fans and the temperature begins to rise, and the screen freezes if there was still something visible (no keyboard/mouse controls). If the screen is blank, it stays blank. I have to force a shut down. I have found the computer runs hotter (37-41) when simply browsing Firefox when previously was cool (26-31) Celsius. I checked and the update v1.3 has been applied. This is really frustrating. Apple had better get this fixed...

I did a bunch of updates last week including the firmware update. MBP 2.2Ghz. It WAS running like a sewing machine, but now 10 minute boots and no wake from a false sleep. I have tried all the usual things to no avail. Only thing I know to do is reformat, but that is why we bought Macs right, tired of reformatting every 6 months.

Well the only thing different I did was to move a large amount of files of my MBP. I started it in Target mode and I had it that way for about 4-5 hours. The screen was black as usual and the power cord had no light on so I assumed it wasn't charging but I guess it was getting power. As a last resort I would try pulling the battery overnight and see what happens.

Add me to this list.

Yesterday I was using my MBP and was unaware of how low the battery was (I don't remember the battery dialogue popping up, but I usually ignore those). When it finally died, instead of going to sleep, it shut down completely. I plugged in the power cord, and hit the power button, but I haven't gotten it to work since. It starts normally with the grey screen and Apple logo, but once it tries to get past that, it shuts off again. I read that some people have found that their computers are actually on, but that the display isn't working, however that doesn't seem to be the case for me.

I tried resetting the PRAM, but not the SMC, as it did not shut down properly the first time, and I don't want to cause any unnecessary problems.

I'm going to take it to the Apple Store later today to see if they can fix it, but it's pretty annoying for Apple to release an update that is causing such widespread and serious problems. (I installed it Saturday, and didn't have issues until Sunday).) I hope MBP is easily fixed, but I'm sure I'll have to spend some money to get it back to normal.

Yeah, I'm afraid that if you don't have Applecare and they can't prove that it's a result of the NVIDIA card then you'll likely be out repair costs unless they can downgrade or do something else to fix it. I sent an email to the customer relations people with this thread and haven't heard anything back. I may not either since my case is "resolved."

Message was edited by: bhive01

Well, my dead MBP went to Apple service in Portugal and they also say the only solution is to replace the Logic Board (900€...). Before deciding, I would like to ask possible experts in this forum if there is any (simple or complicated) way to reset the Firmware and get the MBP to life?
In ASUS PCs, similar tasks are simple, just need to use a clip to press an hidden button in the computer and the BIOS is reset. Is something similar possible in a MBP??

Thanks for helping

I don't know if this would help any, but my case number was 126020430. You should call up Portugal customer relations and talk to them before you get it repaired. At least this way when you speak to them you might at least get a discount or something on the repairs and if you mention that I had the same issue it might help us both out.

As far as I know there is no magic reset button. I would have thought that they would have tried that in the repair shop if there was such a thing.

This whole thing is an absolute atrocity from my perspective. I still feel really ripped off by a company that I respected and thought would take responsibility for faulty hardware, or in the least blame it on NVIDIA and make them get me a new logic board.

Good luck to you.

Woah! Hold on their guys.

Picture this.

You take your son to the doctor for a physical (clicked the check for updates button), as soon as the doctor checks him he says he should take X medicine (SMC Update) in order to prevent and or to improve his health condition. Later on your son gets terribly sick without any other explanation other than the X med he took from the doctor.

I seriously hope one of you is a lawyer... But am i wrong to assume the doctor here has very phew options and deniying it or ignoring the problem is not one of those.

The way i see it... and PLEASE im begging you... correct me if im wrong! We should ALL have our computers FULLY repaired with an explanation of what went wrong.

Today i called the "Apple certified store" in my country wich is supposed to cover up this mess. And the technician told me "Listen your problem was, that your computer is starting up in verbose mode" I was shocked and i promptly said "So your going to tell me that verbose mode is cause extremely long latency not only in wake, startup and shutdown but its the sole responsible for all this problems and the SMC update has nothing to do with it"... This is when i felt like a windows user getting conned at any good for nothing store... and without hessitation he said "Yes".

10-15minutes to startup
10 seconds to shutdown
will not comeback from sleepmode
all trackpad features are no longer working

ALL because of verbose mode and NONE related to the SMC update. And i thought spending all this money over in apple would mean i would be atleast treated with some honesty.

To make my case short, i told the technician there is no way this could happen and he said he would call me back tomorrow.

RIGHT NOW I FEEL LIKE A WINDOWS USER; conned.