Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

Of course we're good here and no nothing was directed at you personally. I just get a bit ticked off with people telling others that they should have just ordered the 500GB drive with the computer OTHERWISE its not supported by Apple and other such nonsense. I also don't care for people claiming EFI updates "toast" hard drives. Lots of disinformation on here and it does no one justice.

Anyhow, I think I've explained everything that needs explaining in this thread, so I'll take a break. Only thing we need at this point is Apple to figure out where they dropped the ball.

If anyone is still within 14 days of your laptop purchase, just go exchange the machine. Obviously Apple screwed up with this firmware update by not testing the compatibility on all third-party drives. Even if there's the smallest chance of you being affected, its not worth it. Eventually they will realize their mistake from the hundreds (and hopefully thousands) of people complaining, but who knows how long it will take for another firmware update to fix this current problem.

I am going to clone my current hard drive with Super Duper onto the 500GB WD Scorpio Blue and then go and exchange my MBP 13' for a brand new one. I will make sure to ignore the firmware update until this issue has been involved.

Thanks to everyone who's been posting on this msg board keeping everyone informed of their developments. The Mac community is the best, and its things like this that keep making it stronger.

Hi NCPOPPIE,
You're not short on words 😉 but neither am I 😀
First of all, reading back my posts, I'm a bit snappy, but I'm a bit angry as well. I've worked with a lot of windows before turning to Apple, 4 years ago now. I really like Mac's they are superbly made, especial those unibodies, it really shows what Apple can do and why I view them as the best. And I don't want to see that go down with sloppy updates and non-communications.

What triggered me also was that I tend to buy EOL models as they often aren't much behind the latest models, but are 200 to 500 bucks cheaper, which I tend to spend on more RAM or a bigger disk.
So for the first time I buy the latest model, sparkling new, (the 7 hour battery time is really great for me!) and it gets me trouble.
Can happen, it's not what you expect when buying an Apple, but it can happen, but what I did expect, and have gotten in the past, was a superb educated Genius and equally superb service.
And it isn't like there has been made a fault during production, it is an firmware update afterwards, updates I learned to trust to make my workstation even a little bit better and more stable.

One thing that is a bit hard to explain for me (partly because I don't understand it either) is that the genius after a lengthy discussion said that if I told him it was a flaw that I had experienced out of the box, I would have had a brand new one, but because I told him that it seem to be directly related to the EFI update, he couldn't swap it. The reason behind it was that Apple delivered some good hardware, but that now it was software. That didn't do the discussion any good either. I reasoned back that the software was from Apple as well, there are ton's of add's telling one software and one hardware maker are so much better, that the update was pushed through the automated software updater, not a separate download, nor with a clear warning to do it only with factory HDD (and that even then it can go wrong), so where was the difference?
We couldn't get to agree on it and I don't think this specific genius will like me. ever.

But in the end the fact is that Apple made some form of mistake in the EFI-update, rendering dozens of brand new laptops pretty much useless. I know Apple isn't the most informative company in these cases, but the big question will be: when can we expect EFI 1.8, or do we all have to get the motherboard replaced?

As I read it, the problem the most people have is that the stock harddrive is working fine with the new EFI. So therefor I don't really think it requires a motherboard exchange, just a new EFI(Update)? Unless some of the hardware in the MBP isn't capable of other harddrives, which I think is very unlikely.

In my case i switched the Hitachi 320GB 5400RPM(Stock) to a Hitachi 320GB 7200 RPM harddrive, and also got the problem. I then switched it back when the problem started appearing after the update, and it's been running smooth ever since - So have a hard time believing that any of the hardware in the machine is toasted. (And I HOPE that Apple can fix it with an EFI update).

I am experiencing the same issues in my June 2009 15" MBP. I successfully installed a WD 250GB 7200 HD which I had as a spare to upgrade performance from the stock computer. After installing the firmware update, I get beachballs no matter what program I'm using. Beachballs occur randomly for about 15-20 making the entire computer unusable and then everything is back to normal. Very frustrating. I'll probably be putting the stock drive back in until Apple is able to resolve this. Please do so soon!

So swapping back to the old HDD does fix it, jonashh_dk?
The genius, and I don't have a lot of confidence in him anymore, told me he couldn't downgrade the efi, he could only upgrade it if 1.8 came out. Well, I've could have gone that far as well.
It isn't a funny problem, that's for sure!

Hi AlecGold.

I honestly think that the s**t is going to hit the fan on this one. Bloggers are all over this and love to tackle Apple on any bona fide issue they can as they don't get too many opportunities like this. So I think that Apple are going to have to cave on this one and you should be able to get a replacement unit if you press them the right way.

Points in your favor:

1. You have a history of Macintosh use which does count for something with these folks.

2. Apple "pushed" this firmware update out by Software Updates which by itself makes them almost wholly responsible for any adverse consequences.

3. The precautionary note provided with the firmware update was very poorly written and the firmware update was probably pushed out too fast with too little thinking about the kinds of scenarios it might face. In this regard, I would STRONGLY suggest that you go to the DL info page and print out a copy before it gets modified or goes missing:

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL853

4. Apple have some explaining to do about why the switched the Nvidia controller to its 1.5 Gbps speed from what previously was set to 3.0 Gbps which in effect constitutes a downgrade from earlier models.

5. In your case you evidently removed the hard drive from an earlier Macbook to install in the new MBP as your old Macbook had problems and the swap out of the drive was performed by an Apple employee (Genius) at an Apple store.

On balance, it looks like you have a very strong case for getting a replacement and Apple are sitting in a bad place. I don't want to knock their Genius crews, but many of them have only been doing this for a year or two and others of us have been doing it for longer than some of these Geniuses have been alive. It really toasts me to have some kid try to put something over on me just to get me out the door.

And yes, I can be verbose. I'm not sorry about that as I learned a long time ago that you need to say enough about these issues to insure that folks don't go out and do the wrong thing because I didn't take the time to adequately address the issues. I think that is what happened to Apple in this case.

I believe that if you line up the info outlined above and call Apple support and tell them that your MBP's controller chip has been fried because of the installation of an Apple supplied drive (albeit from your MB that you are replacing) and cite all of these failings by Apple, then they will do the right thing and replace the unit for you.

Good luck.

Yes AlecGold, that is correct. Putting in the stock harddrive solved it for me, and as you can read here, if you don't mind reading 9 pages of posts 🙂 it does for many others aswell.

Do you have some links to the blogs covering this fiasco?

Thanks jonashh_dk, I did read all the nine pages and just wanted to be sure.

But just can't understand that such a simple solution would solve it and now I'm left wondering why on earth I did turn my MBP in and not think of that sollution. :'(

Thanks jonashh_dk, I did read all the nine pages and just wanted to be sure.

But just can't understand that such a simple solution would solve it and now I'm left wondering why on earth I did turn my MBP in and not think of that sollution. :'(

Just wanted to point out that I am also having this problem. I posted this thread on MacRumors so someone can light a fire under Apple.

I'm irked that my brand new x25-m drive that works perfectly in an enclosure will no longer work in my laptop!

Please count me in. I've the Intel X25-M 80GB that is totally unusable in my new MBP 13". I can't even boot having changing light and darker blue screens with a flickering mouse cursor that appears or disappears every now and then.

So I gave the hard drive to a friend who has a Pre WWDC Unibody MB in which the X25 is totally working fine.

In another forum I've now read that a SMC reset would solve the problem. Has someone already tried an SMC reset like it is mentioned here ? --> http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411?viewlocale=en_US

From what I have read in all of the posts over the last few days, I think the following can be surmised about those who installed the EFI 1.7 firmware upgrade:

-Some people +are not+ seeing any issues at all, with a stock or aftermarket drive.

-Some people are seeing problems with a CTO or aftermarket drive.

Not exactly a definitive root cause analysis, but we're trying! I doubt hardware is actually breaking, and I doubt Apple will maintain that the MBP cannot be upgraded with aftermarket parts.

I think it's great that we are all working so hard to brainstorm a root cause for Apple, we certainly all have a vested interest in solving this problem ASAP. In the end, the important thing is to send Apple feedback as the problem is going to require research on Apple's part if we are to get an update. Furthermore, if you have a machine with a problem, take it in or send it back. The power of resolution lies in Apple's profit margin. They can't resell the unit as new and are going to lose a ton of money over this if they don't fix the problem. They invest huge sums of money up-front to produce these computers and need the payback to stay profitable. If the problem persists, this will hurt their bottom line and shareholders will punish them.

Let's keep working together to raise the issue and make it a top priority for Apple to resolve.

Adave81,

I upgraded the firmware and had issues, however after restoring from an external drive, the machine is operating fine.

Should I still get a replacement ?