Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

Has anybody had any problems with new MacBook Pro after yesterday's firmware update with third party hard drive? I got a MacBook Pro 13" recently, swapped the 320 GB hard drive from my old MacBook. After reinstalling the OS for new hardware drivers, everything was working fine.

After the firmware update yesterday, the machine has started freezing randomly; the spinner comes up sometimes when reading or writing to the drive. The hard drive, a WD Scorpio Blue, supports SATA II. My suspicion is that there are intermittent data errors when using the SATA 3 Gbps interface. It could be an incompatibility between the controller and drive or the ribbon cable isn't good enough for newer SATA.

Does anybody know of a way to force the drive or the controller to use SATA 1.5 Gbps? Can I revert to the old firmware?

MacBook Pro 13", Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 23, 2009 10:08 AM

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1,980 replies

Jul 13, 2009 11:31 PM in response to sjbale

Hi,
I don't think it is a firmware update issue.
Of course with 1.7 more people are affected.
The same problem I have with firmware 1.6.
I'm using Opt Drive and have two SSD (Super Talent).
If I use both as RAID 0, I get the same problem.
Ok with 1.7 even installation of MAC OS is not possible.
The installation of OS on the second drive (OptDrive) is working fine with both (1.6 and 1.7).
I guess the length of the cable or the quality is causing the problem.

My recommendation: If some one is going to buy a new Mac book Pro.
He shouldn’t because apple has to do a coupe of Hardware changes.
For sure it is a Hardware problem and not Software.
And for sure apple is well aware about this problem.

Jul 14, 2009 2:40 AM in response to delmel

There is an easy way to verify if it's hardware related (the SATA cable or anything...), or only a software issue:

- Boot on Windows or Linux natively
- Check that you have the SATA operating at 3Gbps (do speed test with an SSD or use a system information software that is good enough to give the correct interface speed).
- Do some heavily disk operation while doing multitasking.

If it's operating correctly on Windows or Linux, then it's clearly not a hardware issue and then you can exclude the SATA cable or any other hardware cause in the list of culprits.
Of course if the issue also occurs on Windows or Linux, than it's probably hardware related.

From what I read on this thread and others, all people who have tested on Windows or Linux have, for now, said that the problem is absent on Windows or Linux. In that case it'd indicate a software issue, and that's clearly what I think it is from what I read as of now.

Jul 14, 2009 3:58 AM in response to iFrodo

I tried to install windows /ubuntu several times.
But allwas the same result.
...randomly frozen...

It is a hardware problem for sure...

And apple knows this issue therefore apple do not support any HDD/SSD with full speed.
I have to say this is my first Apple and for sure also my last one

Message was edited by: delmel

Jul 14, 2009 4:06 AM in response to IanBurrell

Hi folks

I am regarding this thread with a lot of interest.

But I need to tell you, that I have a MacBook Pro 17" (mid-2009) and I really DONT have any of this issues written in this thread.

I am using the latest MacBook Pro 17-inch (mid-2009) with the latest Samsung SSD 256GB, the performance is about 220MB read and 200MB write.

Am I just a lucky guy or does this issue only occurs on the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro (mid-2009)?

Thanks for providing feedbacks to me.

Yours sincerely

Jul 14, 2009 6:49 AM in response to immortalis

Maybe I am not sure what your question is? But I can tell you that I personally know two people who have the newest 17" MBP one has a SSD (not sure which one) and the other had the stock HDD that came with it. Neither are having problems with the drives or their machines.

I've been following this thread (along with hundred of others)since it began and I have not seen any complaints or posts about SATA-I or II issues with 17" MBP (SSD or HDD).

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

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