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MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7 causing repeated crashing?

I installed MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7 last night and now my early 2011 17" MBP running snow leopard 10.6.8 crashes repeatedly needing a hard restart each time. It's crashed once last night and nine times so far today. Is this a known issue and can I go back to an older firmware? I'm not sure which firmware my computer was running before the update but I've never seen the black screen of death on it untill last night.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 28, 2012 12:37 PM

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wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Posted on Feb 28, 2012 12:43 PM

Exactly how are you running SL on a late 2011 MacBook Pro, since none of those computers shipped with SL? Further, EFI 2.7 requires Lion 10.7.3 or later. The issue is you've installed an EFI on a computer with a non-supported OS...that's why your system is screwed up.

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30 replies

stumidd

Level 1

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Mar 1, 2012 3:16 PM in response to Shawrac

For anyone running Lion and having repeated crashes, turning itself off during startup etc and not being able to upgrade through Software Update or not being able to do a time machine backup to an external USB drive etc buy yourself a copy of Diskwarrior Version 4.4. This sucker has saved my behind data wise several times now and worth every cent!!

Mar 3, 2012 6:41 AM in response to crknutsen

MEN, did apple missed out on this one....

My MBP5.1 with 10.6.8 was running fine.

Then software update ruined my life.

I installed the firmware update and now my MBP will not come out of sleep anymore.

When I close the screen and open it later, the screen stays black!!!!!

Please apple, help me (and all of us as I'm not the only one if I have to believe all forums)

I hope this will soon (very soon) resolved

Will timemachine help me here?? I doubt it, as it is a firmware update.......

crknutsen Author

Level 1

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Mar 3, 2012 9:37 AM in response to crknutsen

So, here's my update:

I backed everything up and then I updated to 10.7.3. I didnt do a clean install as i didn't want to deal with loading all my apps back on and finding all the SN's. It was still crashing so i went to the genius bar and they used some software to pull my crash logs. The logs didn't show any of the kernal panics that were constantly happening. The "Genius" thought was weird and I don't think he really believed me until i showed them a pic on my phone of my grayed out screen telling me to hold down the power button. The only crash that was logged was something to do with my wacom pen tablet so they uninstalled that and deleted the relevent preferences.

I tried to get it to crash again in the store with no luck but as soon as i got home it started crashing regularly again. I reinstalled 10.7.3 (again, not a clean install but that would've been my next step) and it hasn't crashed again since and its been almost 48 hours.

So, i think that solved my problem but i don't know exactly how unless it was really the wacom software screwing up and not firmware upgrade that would be weird though as the wacom software had been on there for a couple months now.

stumidd

Level 1

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Mar 3, 2012 2:47 PM in response to crknutsen

Try this as it fixed my MBP problem which kept kernal panicking and giving me the grey restart screen several times a day.

download memorytest

Download: http://cdn.command-tab.com/2008/memtest_422.zip and install

Shut down and then restart the computer holding down Command and S keys to get into single user mode
When at the prompt, type: memtest

This can take quite a while but if you get any line starting with FAILURE:

your dimm(s) are stuffed and thats whats causing the kernal panics and crashing.

Funny thing is any hardware test prior didn't pick this up and how I caught it was a Windows 7 hardware test in Parallels - how crap is that.

Bobr1

Level 1

0 points

Mar 5, 2012 12:42 AM in response to crknutsen

I have the same crashing issue with my MBP 17" early 2011 ,

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3778657?start=0&tstart=0

crknutsen Author

Level 1

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Mar 5, 2012 6:45 AM in response to crknutsen

Well, it went a couple days without crashing but its now doing it again.

crknutsen Author

Level 1

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Mar 5, 2012 11:21 AM in response to crknutsen

I took it back to te genius bar and talked with another genius. He decided i should do a clean install and see if it's still happening. After wiping the drive and doing the reinstall (still in the apple store) another kernal panic happened during setup. Its now off to apple to get fixed. The assumption now is that its a hardware problem but i'm not sure that rules out firmware. I just hope it comes back working as i'm now using my old PowerBook G4 and I don't think it'll hold up to much photoshop work.

Mar 8, 2012 10:11 AM in response to wjosten

Hi,

got my MBP late 2011 screwed up with EFI 2.7 !!!

Need do run it on SL for i am using Adobe-Software not supported in Lion.

What makes me worry is Apple pushing an EFI on your 10.6.8 which is only supporting Lion. Seems like forcing users to change to the newer OS.

Is there any way to go back to fomer EFi? Any ideas?

crknutsen Author

Level 1

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Mar 8, 2012 11:40 AM in response to crknutsen

Wow! Apple has some fast turn around times. I left my MBP at the genius bar to get sent out on Monday, the 5th, and I had it back Yesterday, the 7th. They replaced the main logic board. Luckily i got it in with only two days left on the warranty so it was nice and free. Hopefully no more crashes.

Mar 8, 2012 10:58 PM in response to crknutsen

i also posted this issue in another forum about lost internet connection when the computer awakes from sleep.

after 3 months in which this had never happened before, i installed the firmware 2.7 update last night (screenshot below), and now the following occurs:

i'm online via ethernet. i close the lid, which puts my 3-month-old mbp to sleep. 5 mins later or 5 hours later. i open the lid, and the internet connection is lost. i perform the diagnostic tests, and all lights are green. it takes several diagnostic tests before my computer is able to re-establish an internet connection.

the only change that preceded this issue was the installation of the 2.7 update. what should i do?

Mar 8, 2012 11:11 PM in response to sdaniel5

As i posted, my MBP late 2011 is screwed with EFI 2.7.

Now my spare MId 2009 MBP is in a loop trying to get the EFI 2.8 Great!

It is still working, but having problems connecting to my server. Dropping the connection again and again.

Bmitts

Level 1

0 points

Mar 11, 2012 11:05 PM in response to Webschmidt

What do i do if my MBP is in a loop trying to keep downloading the EFI 2.7 everytime i open software update?

I have lion.

Apr 10, 2012 10:10 AM in response to Webschmidt

I am facing exactly the same issue. After the 2.7 firmware update, MBP takes lot of keystrokes to come out of sleep. Couple more issues I am facing after this firmware update:

1. When MBP comes back from sleep (even if the sleep was for just 1 minure), it will take about 2-3 minutes before it connects to Wi-Fi.

2. Sometimes (when I am not using the keys/trackpad) display becomes less bright, and stays like that even when I am using the keys/trackpad. Brightness gets restored after some random time (mostly, few seconds).

zyme

Level 1

13 points

Jun 25, 2012 6:54 AM in response to wjosten

Do you still recommend downloading and installing this firmware update?

After reading the thread, I was scared to install it, so until now it shows up in my Software Update.

stumidd

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2012 9:16 AM in response to zyme

my MBP hasnt missed a beat since replacing the ram, updates and all. It went from the worst CPU i've ever owned to possibly the best.

If you have no RAM issues there shouldn't be a problem but I do suggest you have at least 8GB to run smoothly.

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.7 causing repeated crashing?