Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

fishbert wrote:

This will be entertaining.

;oD

After reading through the majority of this thread, I wanted to add myself to the list of users experiencing problems. Just got this machine as a replacement unit (via AppleCare) for my mid-2007 MBP that had a sleep issue.

The sleep issue was annoying, but the inability to play a 2 minute 1080i QuickTime clip without beachballing is embarrassing and unacceptable.

I have a WD Scorpio Black 320 GB drive installed. It worked perfectly in my old MBP. Here's hoping there is another firmware update soon. I believe my machine is too new to roll back to the 1.6 firmware - as I just received it two weeks ago. Any opinions there? I'm going to make a Genius Bar appt. just to have a complaint on record. Otherwise it sounds like a "hurry up and wait" situation.

I just want to add myself to the list:

The exact same problem /configuration situation here.
I'd immediately switch back to my old HDD if i didn't sell it already :-/

I was experiencing the beachballing effect quite often with my Seagate 320 GB (7200.3) drive on a Macbook Pro 13" with EFI 1.7. I have now configured the drive to SATA I only (with jumpers). The beachballing has stopped and everything seems to work normally again as it did with the slow stock Hitatchi 5400rpm drive.

Just wanted to let you know in case there is a possibility to configure a WD drive to SATA I as well...

where are the jumpers?

I think Fishbert is definitely on to something here. I know everyone has been swearing up and down that it is a firmware issue, and that it only applies to the 15", trust me, i have read every page in multiple discussions about this and similar if not related issues, and have very little hair left because of it.

I have updated to 10.6.2, and applied the new 1.8 and associated firmwares, and disabled the temporary hdapm fix. installed a Western Digital 750GB. and all to no avail. I desperately ordered a replacement sata cable from

http://www.applepalace.com/apple-mac/apple-parts/macbook-pro-parts/macbook-pro-1 7-inch-early-2009/cable-hard-drive-connector-922-8920.asp

(again, this is the link for the 17" MBPro drive cable not the 15, double check to order the right one)

Installed it, (careful not to put the excessive bends that the orig had) and 3 hours later now after doing everything in my power to get my 17" MBP unibody to beachball, click, beep, and hang up in any way etc, am very happy to say that so far... my issue is resolved 100%

The cable that arrived was slightly different in regards to the markings than the orig cable, I talked to the tech at Apple Palace and he said apple just released the OEM cable to be sold to outside vendors as a replacement part not too long ago.

For reference.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45490168@N06/4176372407/

Hopefully, even if this is unrelated will convince someone else to take the $35 plunge and start enjoying their mac again.

Thanks everyone here for adding the helpful comments.

Okay, now this is has the potential to get confusing. You're saying "fishbert may be on to something" but then disregard his most recent post, where he categorically explains that the new 1.8 EFI firmware is not targeted toward the machines affected by this specific issue. If you were able to apply that update, then that means you have a MacBookPro5,1 or MacBookPro5,2 (earlier 15" and 17" models).

Whereas this thread, and the issue discussed here, is about the 13" and 15" MacBook Pros with an SD card slot, that came out in mid-2009, designated as MacBookPro5,3, MacBookPro5,4, and MacBookPro5,5. I have the 15" model of this version, and the 1.8 EFI firmware updater won't run here. It's not for this machine.

Unless all of the models are experiencing the same issue? I don't think that's the case... as many folks have upgraded the SATA II hard drives in those earlier models, without any issue.

That said, even if it's unrelated, it's good data to share, for anyone with a similar issue. Perhaps the cable replacement is something anyone with any model can try, if they're having these frustrating problems with their hard drive upgrade. Until it's categorically fixed by Apple, I know it's something I'll consider if/when I upgrade my MBP again.

I'm still not understanding why my own 500 GB SATA II upgrade is working fine in my own mid-2009 MacBook Pro with SD card slot, without any issues. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I moved this hard drive from the previous MacBook Pro generation (where I'd installed it originally as an upgrade, too.) I'm not complaining, mind you, I just find it strange...

Message was edited by: Josh Rafofsky

The jumpers are on the drive. The Seagate drive can be forced to SATA I according to the picture on the page

http://www.seagate.com/images/support/en/us/cudasatablock.gif

Josh I apologize for potentially convoluting this thread with another issue. I know my machine technically doesn't fit the model specified in the original post, but it was experiencing a similar issue to fishbert's videos.

I also meant to state that since watching this thread and others progress with potential firmware "fixes" for said issues, I had done them all as well and am on the most recent 1.8 (not expecting it to fix anything, which of course it didn't).

I also just wanted to add that if somehow my machine is a fluke that exhibited similar symptoms to the 15" SD slot machines that its not supposed to, I still wanted to try the suggested fix. For me, the cable, not anything else has worked and is still working beautifully.

I was hoping my post would inspire someone else to purchase a replacement cable for their machine and swap them out and post their findings so that hopefully the rest of the group who most likely have the proper machine could benefit.

The picture I posted just shows that the replacement was different from the orig.

I know a lot about computers, but I don't claim to know how or why this simple fix was the cure all for me or fishbert, but for $35 it was a godsend. Knowing this, nobody should buy the cable who can't afford to waste $35 on a potential fix till someone else who can gets one for the specific model in this thread and posts their findings, hopefully someone else can do that. Obviously your mileage may vary.

Again, thank you for your data and suggested fix fishbert.
Hope that clears my post up a little, Thanks Josh.

I find this particularly troubling to be honest. Pretty early on, we were guessing that it might be the SATA cable... but there wasn't any reason to go to those lengths until we gave Apple some time to put out a solution. It's been months to no avail. Now that people finally gave up on Apple offering a solution, people have started to take matters into their own hands and the SATA cable does, in fact, seem to be the issue. While this is primarily a problem with the mid-2009 machines that received a firmware upgrade... there's nothing to say that older machines... which were already running in SATA 3.0 mode... couldn't have a bad cable here and there as well. It just seems a standard issue in the mid 2009 machines. Apple clearly knew there was an issue when the mid 2009 machines were released which is why they shipped them in SATA 1.5 mode. Enabling the 3.0 mode in the firmware update is where the problems started for those machines. So the question is... did Apple know what the cause of the problem was and figured it would be easier to ship the machines out in SATA 1.5 mode and most people would never notice? The significant reduction of comments from people with newer machines would seem to indicate the problem has been resolved in production (which would mean that it was not a software/firmware issue). The whole thing wreaks of trying to brush the problem under the carpet. Granted, the replacement cable isn't all that expensive... but we shouldn't have to "guess" at what the problem might be and we certainly shouldn't have to go out and buy something on our own. We can't even get Apple to repair it as they just say they don't support 3rd party drives. And if you put the original SATA 1.5 drive in, it will work fine... which leaves the consumer with little recourse apart from attempting the repair themselves. If Apple refuses to repair these machines satisfactorily, they should at least offer a replacement SATA cable free of charge. I'm sure they cost them close to nothing and it would go some distance in resolving things. But... unfortunately... in order to do that, they would have to be admitting that there was a problem to start with... which doesn't seem like it is going to happen. I guess the last thing they would want is to tarnish the MacBook Pro's image right during the peak holiday shopping period (and jeopardize holiday sales). Maybe they'll be more willing to fess up after the holidays. This whole fiasco has just been one monumental blunder after another.

Interestingly... there were only a few pages of comments of people complaining about the mid-2009 MacBook Pros shipping in SATA 1.5 mode... but that was enough to get them to push out a firmware update in only two weeks. Now with more than 130 pages of comments they're silent?

By the way... I'm still a super Apple fanboy. I love their products and OS X. These support forums are second to none as well (but that says more about the users than anything). This one issue has just rubbed me in a really bad way. I will say the fact that they have left this tread stay open is a good thing.

Same Problem beach-ball 10-20 second random freezes, after upgrading to WD Scorpio Blue 640GB, talk with a genius he seems to know the issue; left the mac with them overnight, then another genius call me and told me Apple do not support 3rd-party hardware (then i said "Ok give me bigger HD that you support I'll pay for it" he said "or we don't do upgrades; but waiting to hear from Apple Engineering about the possible issue; might take 3-4 days. meanwhile you should backup your DATA and re-install the system, when I hear from them I'll give you a feedback"). I mentioned this discussion they all seem to be aware of it but wont acknowledge there is an issue.
I'm a big Apple fan for long time love their products but if they are trying to shrug these kinds of widespread major issues (their screw-ups)under the carpet and ignore customers, when it's time to a new computer I might look at the other direction and get a much cheaper PC and install linux (we can do our own support services) what is this crap APPLE? I left cheap PC for the same reason, may be it's time to leave ridiculously expensive POS behind. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, (I'm a very frustrated customer)

shiran wrote:
Same Problem beach-ball 10-20 second random freezes, after upgrading to WD Scorpio Blue 640GB, talk with a genius he seems to know the issue; left the mac with them overnight, then another genius call me and told me Apple do not support 3rd-party hardware (then i said "Ok give me bigger HD that you support I'll pay for it" he said "or we don't do upgrades; but waiting to hear from Apple Engineering about the possible issue; might take 3-4 days. meanwhile you should backup your DATA and re-install the system, when I hear from them I'll give you a feedback"). I mentioned this discussion they all seem to be aware of it but wont acknowledge there is an issue.
I'm a big Apple fan for long time love their products but if they are trying to shrug these kinds of widespread major issues (their screw-ups)under the carpet and ignore customers, when it's time to a new computer I might look at the other direction and get a much cheaper PC and install linux (we can do our own support services) what is this crap APPLE? I left cheap PC for the same reason, may be it's time to leave ridiculously expensive POS behind. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, (I'm a very frustrated customer)

Ask them to replace your hard drive cable.

It's a $30 part and they should be willing to cover it to keep their customer happy with their $1600+ product. If they refuse, ask to speak with the manager and explain this cost/benefit equation.

You might also mention that, while they cannot be expected to support 3rd party hard drives directly, they are required to support the ability to replace their hard drive with an after-market drive (as Apple claims customers are able to do... Apple even publishes "DIY" hard drive replacement instructions).

I asked them to exchange the cable at least, to try something. They kick me out.

They do not support third hard drive and they say the problem is coming from the hardrive not the mac book pro, even when I prove them I already got a replacement hardrive from seagate tech support since I thought the problem was really the hard drive at the first place

RV wrote:
I asked them to exchange the cable at least, to try something. They kick me out.

They do not support third hard drive and they say the problem is coming from the hardrive not the mac book pro, even when I prove them I already got a replacement hardrive from seagate tech support since I thought the problem was really the hard drive at the first place

Some stores are better than others. Back in July/August, my local Apple Store went so far as to write up a problem report to engineering, then called me back the next day to say they were going to tear it up, citing the same excuse you mentioned.

All I can say is that it doesn't hurt to try. In the early days, some people even had luck getting their whole logic board replaced. Nobody will do that now that the rollback tool exists, but I'm sure there are at least a few good stores out there who will venture a cable replacement. ... wish I lived near one of those magical places, myself.

Hm, as my MBP 13" was in repair they replaced the cable but it did't helped. I found a drive which is fine with EFI 1.7 (SAMSUNG HM500JI)