Q: Firmware update and SATA II hard drive

I spoke too soon. While I can now get the disk to be functional through the install process it beach balls every 3-4 mins for 20-30 seconds each time. The odd thing is that I don't see errors being generated anywhere. I've searched the console and I don't see anything being logged. I also have run extensive testing with speedtools and no errors are shown in any of the tests. It's as if the proc doesn't even know that time has passed since it last complete an instruction.

You should try to run SMART Utilities and check if you have any CRC errors. With this behavior, it usually is the case

Hi everyone,
i just got my new MBP 15 2.8GHz yesterday. I did every software upgrade and set a OCZ Vertex 250G into the computer. Then:
-i tried to install MacOSX 10.5.7: the computer freezes one minute before the end (always at the same time), installation of W7 failed, installation of Ubuntu succeeded but boot failed.
-i set the SSD in an USB closure and i succeeded in installing 10.5.7 and then i set the disk back in the computer: MacOSX boot is ok (most of the time) but there are some lags and sometimes the computer freezes and i had to force shut down; i tried to install W7 via Bootcamp: installation ok but boot always freezes at the same time.

I am really disappointed of all of this. Even with the original HDD, things were not working properly. Moreover, i have bought a Dual-link/minidisplay adaptator that does not work well too at least with MacOSX (couln't test with W7). I'm really thinking of sending back all this stuff to Apple. We are very far from a computer that's working just out of the box...

I think i will wait for a successful firmware update until the end of next week and then, if nothing happens, i will keep my old MBP 1,1 that will be very happy with the Vertex SSD.

Manu

Urgh!!!!!!!

According to the engineering team, there is no way to roll back the firmware. So I asked the product specialist "what the **** am I supposed to do now?!".

I emailed him as many links to this problem as I could find, he was going to read them all and get back to the team to try and rectify the issue. The more public this issue is, the larger of a chance it has of being fixed! It's almost been a month now, and Apple still feeds me that crap that third party drives are not supported. I KNOW IT WORKS. IT DID WORK BEFORE THE FREAKING UPDATE.

Has any one else noticed that the post that was in this thread with Phil Schiller's email address has been pulled. I cannot find any of the post in this thread that was talking about emailing him, well I could not find it anyway. Maybe they pulled it because he was getting flooded by emails on this problem.

Point is write Phil Schiller probably PhilSchiller@apple.com. Yes it is time to write the president to get the pot holes fixed.

Also write feedback
http://www.apple.com/feedback/

has anyone tried to install EFI 1.6 update?

it's available here
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/firmware_hardware/macbookproefifirmw areupdate16.html

If you are asking if there is a problem with 1.6... no, there isn't. If you're asking if you can install the 1.6 firmware after installing 1.7... no. You can't go back to a previous firmware. Frankly... I don't really understand much about EFI. I know that with good old BIOS, you can install whatever version you want... newer or older. I don't see why that wouldn't be possible with an EFI firmware unless, for some reason, Apple just does not want to permit it.

Hello everyone,
have a look at this:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57617
It's about a specific SSD drive but the cause of the problem can be generalized to other SSD or HDD.

Manu

Hi,
I'm experiencing the problem too. Can't install OSX on my Intel X25-m SSD. To get some statistics I created a doodle poll. Would be helpful if others, that have issues with SATA 3.0 Harddrives participated:
http://www.doodle.com/bmexq4f9c2xri5mz

Cheers

Sten

Can anyone tell me if I am affected by this firmware update by reading the following results? These results are from a 1 month old Macbook Pro...

I too have had the problems you guys are talking about with my MacBook Pro 13" 2.26Ghz, which I bought 3 weeks ago. I got impatient waiting for a fix, especially when the freezes and beach balls seemed to be getting worse - I persuaded Apple to exchange my machine for a new one.

Thank god it's over with now - certainly won't be updating any firmware in future!

Nick

Macbook Pro 15, 500Gb 7200 Seagate. Just received it today. Software update does not give me the option for Firmware 1.7, which must mean it came preinstalled. So far no issues, SMART tests Ok. Will keep close watch and post if anything changes.

FYI for anyone curious....

I've tried some new drives tonight from my vendor. I tried a WD5000BEVTRTL and then a WD4000BEVT both of these drives produce the same result. Neither of them accepted an OSX install via the optical drive. I started an install with the 5000BEVTRTL however after 2 1/2 hours the install crashed. Once I got OSX onto them in an external exclosure and swapped them back into the internal controller I was able to use the 5000 for nearly 15 minutes before it started producing hangs however the 4000 produced them immediately. The 4000 produces noticable noise and delays even during the boot process. There's no question now that there are no 500Gb options for the MacBook Pro that can be installed aftermarket as I've tried literally all of the 500Gb 2.5 drives on the market other than those from Samsung or Fujitsu and since we know that Apple is not using drives from either of these vendors I can't see how it would make a difference. As of right now we've tried 9 aftermarket drives in this computer and not one of them has worked. The only drive with full functionality is the HTS545025B9SA02 drive that shipped with it. At this point I believe it to be a fact that no drive will work inside a new MacBook Pro unless it utilizes Apple's custom drive firmware.

I can't beleieve nothing has been done yet, not even a warning, a pulled EFI 1.7 update, nothing!?

what I'm interested in is how many people have gotten a new motherboard?
What does a new motherboard cost? 300-400 dollar including the labour?
And how many of the people that do have the problem will post it here?
This must be getting an expensive flaw for Apple, not that they really seem to notice, a genius here that solved my problem has had 8 other complaints in the last weeks of the same.

munkford

Here's a link so you can verify that you have the EFI 1.7 update installed. Let us no your findings.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237