Keyboard update killed the PhotoBooth "fix" for whine

It's not an Apple problem…I have an Inspiron 6400 (from DELL) and it has the same whine problem ! It's because of the Duo Core chip, not because of OS X or Apple 😟

There is no solution, except launching an app which uses the isight or doesn't allow the Duo Core to idle…

The keyboard update didn't change anything for me. It's like before (I use Comic Life in the background to shut the noise down 🙂 ).

Well I have a week 15 with a "hiss" on battery and silent on external power.

Just installed all the new updates including Keyboard Update. No difference whatsoever. Hiss still there, same noise, same pitch.

QuietMBP worked before and still works just fine. Sigh.

There will never be a software fix to this problem. Every so called 'fix' to this problem will lead to higher power usage and, of course, decreased battery-life.
It's just that simple.

I see absolutely no difference after installing the keyboard update.

Before: CPU whine, quieted by Photobooth or mirror widget.
After: CPU whine, quieted by Photobooth or mirror widget.

The update killed the mirror widget hack for me, too, so I took my MBP to the Phoenix Apple store today. I spoke to Justin at the genius bar. He was super friendly and understanding, and took my Mac into the back room where it was quieter so he could listen to it. He confirmed that it was in fact whining (why else would I say it was?), and said that they could replace the logic board. He leveled with me, though, saying it would probably not silence the computer, but just make it quieter.

Additionally, he worked hard to make sure he made a note of every single problem I've been having with the machine, so that the people at the repair center could investigate (problems including a finicky power button, mooing, burning lava hot space above the function keys).

So I have to be without my beloved MBP for a week (I do love the machine, it's problems making me think of it not as a ******** machine, but maybe just an idiot-savant). But I am encouraged that Justin the Genius didn't give me any crap about it.

Here's a tip: if they're giving you a hard time about the noise being within spec, make a recording of yourself playing guitar or doing a podcast in Garageband. The whine was so bad on mine that it ruined any recordings made with the internal mic. Tell the geniuses you bought the computer because your band needs to be able to record on it. Also, tell them you need it for presentations, and the whine comes through external speakers (which really does happen to mine, occasionally).

By the way:

While I was waiting for my appt. at the Genius bar, I took a look at the store's demo MBPs. 3 of the 5 were silent. I checked the serial numbers on the two silent ones by the rear of the store--both were week 7. Kind of ****** me off, since my whiner is a week 9.

I should have run software update to see if they had all had the keyboard update installed.

Also, all the associates seemed to know about the whine. One of the guys told me it was fixed on all the new models (though he had the vacant confidence of a retail salesman--I think I have better info than he does). He said that if the genius were to order me a new logic board, it would be silent.

Tough to know if this is true or not, as Apple may be trying to hide both that there's a problem and that there's a solution. I've got my fingers crossed, hoping I don't have to wade into the realm of kernel extensions when I get the poor little trooper back.

Also, I talked to a stranger in the store who owned an MBP with mooing and the whine. He didn't mind either, but he knew all about both. There's no way the associates in the store don't know about these issues, if every random owner does.

"Tough to know if this is true or not"

It's not. I have a brand new logic board that was put in my MacBook. I got it back from service on Wednesday. They had to order the logic board so I assume it is new. It still whines.

You apparently missed the really neat trick with Photobooth. Click on a snapped photo and then close Photobooth and the whine WAS still gone. Now, you have to keep Photobooth running to keep it silent.

William,

Just a note to tell you that I am still laughing
about your "LapCook Pro" reference. That is honestly
the funniest thing I have seen all week. Kudos . .

-JB

Hey Thanks!

William

I was using the PhotoBooth "fix" to kill the horrible
whine, whereas I would launch Photo Booth, click on a
thumbnail and then quit the application and the whine
was gone. Well, after installing the keyboard update
1.0 released today, quitting PhotoBooth means the
whine is back...

Found a fix, if you have a backup:

The installer replaces the /System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext extension; I replaced that package by hand with the old one, repaired permissions (essential step, if you copy the system file by hand like I did), and voila! Everything back the way it was, with a whine I can control.

From a post on xlr8yourmac.com

William

Same worked for me. Whine wouldn't go away with that Photoboth workaround after keyboard update. I installed an older version and it worked.
You'll get the original version shipped with 10.4.5 in the developer section:

http://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/download/usbdebug.html

The dmg contains the a debug version which outputs log messages and the original version.

Cheers, mima

MBP 15,4", G4 MDD 1,25 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Can someone please clarify something for me? I used to use the QuietMBP from the redsweater website, but I could've sworn that after updating to 10.4.6, that no longer worked to silence the whine? I had switched to using the photobooth trick and so far so good. I have not installed the keyboard update because I can not live without the silencing tricks. So has the QMBP been updated to a new version after the 10.4.6? Or am I missing something? I would like to download the updates from Apple...but not if they affect my silencing fixes.

Almost the same thing here...
Only difference: I didn't use any app. Just closed the laptop, waited till it was asleep and then re-opened. Noise gone! Battery time is the same as before I think. Will have to recheck it later to be sure, but think that's why I thought a few days ago that I finally got rid of the noise (opened the machine and it didn't whine for no obvious reason).

Same here (at least after the keyboard update), BUT as soon as I open and close any iSight related app, the whine is back.

I just got my MBP back from repair (by the way, if you're in the Phoenix area, the Biltmore Apple Store has really friendly geniuses).

I sent it in because of the whine, heat, moo, funky power button. Now that I have it back--so far, so good! The whine still occasionally pops up for a second or two, but it silences itself after a second or two, and is MUCH quieter than it was before. I haven't run the machine long enough to know about the moo, but it feels a lot cooler.

Here are the parts they swapped out (from the report on the service form):
ASSY,INVERTER,NEC-TOKIN,MBPRO15"
PCBA,2.0GHZ,256VRAM(M1) MBPRO15"
TOP CASE ASSY
THERMAL MODULE W/TEMP SENSOR

As an aside, after working with my old 12" iBook G4 for a week, I can't emphasize enough how much I LOVE my MBP. This baby is like butter. If you've got problems, demand that Apple fix them--it's your right--but be confident that the MBP is an awesome machine when everything is working properly.

(No offense to my iBook. That little trooper is a tank.)

MacBook Pro 2.0 Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.6) BTO: 120 GB HD, 1 GB RAM (2 512 MB sticks)