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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

installing ubuntu 11.4 causes EFI errors that cause major booting issues.

Last night i decided that i would dual boot ubuntu 11.4 along side snow leopard on my macbook pro5'5. The installation seemed to go fine up until it asked to restart my compter at which point a long beeping toe played and it remained on a black screen with the power light on but unresponsive. On startup the same thing happens, this happens until the 5th time at which point the computer boots normally. This happens every time, always taking 5 manual shutdown and restarts. I removed all traces of the 11.4 installation, repaired disk permissions etc the usual stuff, but this does nothing. After research it appears that it is an EFI error in which it thinks that there is an software update to install and becasue there isnt it just hangs there. For this model macbook pro there is no firmware repird cd available and no other way that i can think of or find to reinstall the EFI firmware or even try rolling it back. Everything so far points to me needing a logic board replacement, unfortunatly my apple care ran out last september and for the price of a logic board i might aswell just buy a new laptop, but i have no money being a student. This is my main computer that i do all my work on and soon will be my main computer at uni so it really needs to be in full working order. Anyone have any ideas on how i can fix this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 30, 2011 5:42 AM

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15 replies
User profile for user: eww
eww
User level: Level 9
53,028 points

Apr 30, 2011 6:30 AM in response to ryan_lay

Start up from the OS installer DVD that came with your computer (or a more recent one, if you have one). Erase your hard drive and reinstall the OS from scratch. Immediately afterward, use Setup Assistant to migrate all your documents and applications from your backup of the hard drive.


If that doesn't help, or if you can't start up successfully from an installer DVD, make a Genius Bar appointment at the Apple Store — that costs nothing. If the machine needs repair, that will cost you, but Apple will be happy to do it.


If you don't have a backup of your hard drive, this is going to be a major educational experience for you: exactly what you need to prepare you for university life. And you'll have the summer to earn some money.

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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Apr 30, 2011 6:40 AM in response to eww

I have a backup i backup regulary just incase anything like this happens, from what ive seen a clean reinstall will have no affect. I tried installing the HDD that i used to use which still has OSX installed, the outcome was the same. Its nothing to do with the harddrive, its an issue with the EFI bootloader thinking that there is an update i think. For now it seems that my best bet will be to, well, not turn off my laptop. I will have to try and save up some money so that i can get a new laptop as logic boards are pricy to buy anyway even if you do the installation yourself, yet alone getting apple to do it for you.

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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 2, 2011 7:29 AM in response to ryan_lay

UPDATE!


I have managed to find a fix that allows you to manually force the reinstallation of the EFI firmware, it compleatly fixed the problem, booting is now normal. Thank god!


Well thank this guy really http://pubmem.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/flash-efi-firmware-update-manually-on-a-m acbook-51/


If anyone stumbles across this post with the same issue, please be sure to use the correct firmware update otherwise you will essentially kill your mac.

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User profile for user: ds store
ds store
User level: Level 7
30,735 points

May 2, 2011 7:54 AM in response to ryan_lay

Please make sure to post this on the Ubuntu forums so they can fix the issue.


Most Linux users use commodity PC hardware, so very few have experience on Apple hardware, why I don't direct boot Linux on my Mac.


A better solution is virtual machine software, however with 11.04 it utilizes hardware acceleration (graphics card) so no "Unity" effects, which I'm quite happy not using anyway.

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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 2, 2011 8:21 AM in response to ds store

I will do, this is a pretty stubborn issue that takes a fair bit of digging around to find a fix, and then a fair bit of no how to be able to do it without killing your machine. Many people with this issue have had to have there logic boards replaced and if you're out of apple care that is pretty **** pricy. I just wanted to duel boot ubuntu so that i had a fast boot option for just surfing the web quick, plus i havent used any linux disrto for about 2 years so wanted to get back into it. I considdered using a VM but it just seemed like too much hastle having to boot into osx before being able to use it.

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User profile for user: ds store
ds store
User level: Level 7
30,735 points

May 2, 2011 8:53 AM in response to ryan_lay

ryan_lay wrote:


I considdered using a VM but it just seemed like too much hastle having to boot into osx before being able to use it.


I run just about every major distro in VM, and XP-7 too, it's nice to be able to switch to any one the fly, use low performance requiring software which most are.


If I'm going to direct install it, it will be on a PC box, which I have done on many occasions. 🙂


Apple is just too controling with their hardware for direct Linux installs, they could break anything at anytime, as proven by your bad experience.


For them "Bootcamp" is just a marketing tool to get Windows users to switch to a Mac.


Apple and Microsoft both ignore Linux totally as they can't compete with free as in beer and free as in open source.


I love Linux, it's the most fun I've had with computers since computers.


I shock both Windows and Mac users how many operating systems I run on my machine, snaps them both out of their "Mac or PC" mentalities.


Having a free OS like Linux does have numerous benefits, especially for fixing broken Windows and OS X machines as both of these OS's are so locked down it's not even funny.


Need OS to boot from a USB or cd to run a malware scan, crack a password, run a forensic scan? No problem with Linux. 😉


There is even a version of Linux that will strip all data off a iOS device, revel the use name, the name of the person owning the content on them and everything.

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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 2, 2011 8:59 AM in response to ds store

I love linux too, ubuntu was my main OS for about 3 years after the atrocity that was vista let me down before i decided to make the move to mac's. I tried to keep up with ubuntu but like you said, direct installing anything that isnt osx or windows on a mac is just horrible so i went with VM for a while, just for XP and 10.4. Even though OSX is clean and a very simple and comfortable environment to work in, i still think that i would prefer to be using ubuntu or another linux distro because there's just something about an open free OS like that with so much independant support and development that makes it such a good environment to use. I may just go for the VM for now, wait until they have removed some of the more deadly bugs before direct installing again.

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User profile for user: ds store
ds store
User level: Level 7
30,735 points

May 2, 2011 9:20 AM in response to ryan_lay

Well again, the new 11.04 is just like the old Classic Ubuntu in a virtual machine, no Unity.


For now that is, vm software could get a update to allow Unity to work.


I'm much more a fan of Mint, Like XP and MacBuntu myself than Ubuntu.


Ubuntu needs to be more like Mint in being more attractive to general users.


It seems to me, because of their branch from Devian, they need to appeal to geek's more, so they throw newbies under the bus right away.


Likely why Linux Mint is the #2 most selected distro next to Ubuntu major.

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User profile for user: Loki616
Loki616
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 7, 2011 3:42 AM in response to ryan_lay

ryan_lay wrote:


UPDATE!


I have managed to find a fix that allows you to manually force the reinstallation of the EFI firmware, it compleatly fixed the problem, booting is now normal. Thank god!


Well thank this guy really http://pubmem.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/flash-efi-firmware-update-manually-on-a-m acbook-51/


If anyone stumbles across this post with the same issue, please be sure to use the correct firmware update otherwise you will essentially kill your mac.


Hey. I ve the same problem. I've installed 11.04 Ubuntu on my macbook. when I start it causes horrbile beep & wait 30 - 35 seconds black screen. Then I installed refit. Now I can use both Ubuntu & Mac Os. But I really wanna stop black screen + beep error. Also my country's apple distri couldn't help me. Can u give me step by step what should I do to fix it? Also do I need to format my whole HDD again?

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User profile for user: ryan_lay
ryan_lay Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

May 7, 2011 5:48 AM in response to Loki616

http://pubmem.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/flash-efi-firmware-update-manually-on-a-m acbook-51/ this link has a step by step guide on what you should do, there is no need to format your hard drive.


follow this link to find the correct firmware for your model of mac http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1237


please make sure that you download the correct model version! otherwise your laptop will be screwed.

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installing ubuntu 11.4 causes EFI errors that cause major booting issues.

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