External thunderbolt hard disk not powered from MBP

I have had exactly the same issues with my early 2011 MBP. Had it in for a logic board replacement; same issue persists with monitor working, but no external HD connection from the Thunderbolt port. After several repair attempts from the Apple Store, my laptop came back to me saying this was a known issue to Apple and that a firmware update was needed (mine are all up to date and match the stats posted by buggerlugs61) but there was no expected release time.

VERY frustrated with the process because all I wanted was faster transfer speed and followed the recommendation of Apple Store personnel to buy a Thunderbolt comaptible drive. 4 weeks later, I have a new logic board and an expensive hard drive that doesn't work on Thunderbolt.

Hi nsumac - there is good news -

I finally have a fix. Apple engineering got back to me and gave me two links for different Thunderbolt firmware - these are a MANUAL download and instal - not automatic. The links are:-

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1407

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1653

The first one is V1.0 and the second is shown as V1.2 - do them in order. These actually install the 22.1 version of firmware which is the one which is installed on the 15" machines. I installed V1.0 and tested - Thunderbolt works - then installed V1.2, and again Thunderbolt still works.

NOTE - You have to be careful of the downloaded .dmg files as they are both the same name. I downloaded and installed the first, deleted the download, then downloaded the second and installed that one.

Very happy my Lacie drive is now working. I hope this can work for you.

To continue--the drive I purchased was GTech. My monitor works on the port with no problem---GTech wouldn't work, so I changed cable. Same. USB connection worked, so I called GTech support and they ended up sending me a new unit. Exaclty the same results---no Thunderbolt connection. I tried it on a friend's MacBook and it lit up using Thunderbolt. That's when I brought it back to Apple. They took it in, decided it was the logic board and replaced it. They called to say it was tested and worked fine. When I went to pick it, first thing I did was plug the GTech into the Thunderbolt and it didn't work. Apple seems to have dropped the ball here.

Does anybody have an idea when Apple will issue a firmware update for this?

buggerlugs61---Thanks for that info! I'm trying to get those firmware updates now. I will respond when they're installed.

buggerlugs61 Can't thank you enough for the help. After 4 weeks and more hours on the phone with both Apple and GTech, this is finally resolved. THANKS!!

(BTW---how did you find out about these updates?)

I basically spent hours on the phone and insisted the issue was escalated to engineering. Finally got a response back via a senior customer care tech - I had to make myself a pain in the backside though !!

Hours on the phone, too. After using Macs for over 25 years, this is the first time I can recall Apple seriously dropping the ball (not counting MobileMe). New logic board; unnecessary trips to the AppleStore----AAARRRGH!

Thanks again for the info and help.

I am experiencing the exact same problem with a whole stack of differnt drives. Certain other drives still seem to work tho, which is strange. I brought it in to the apple store where I was told that although it was most likely a firmware issue, they didn't know how to fix it. Asked about replacing the logic board and I was told that it would do no good. I also asked if there was some way to update the firmware manually, and I was told there was not, or at least the genius I spoke to was unaware.

I have the same MBP as Stefano, with much the same specs, except a different thunderbolt filmware:

Model Identifier: MacBookPro8,2

SMC Version (system): 1.69f4

Thunderbolt Firmware Version: 13.0-2.8

Don't know if that helps. Please share if you find a solution.

Cheers,

Ben

Hi Ben,

The firmware links were posted earlier in the thread but I will copy it below :-

I finally have a fix. Apple engineering got back to me and gave me two links for different Thunderbolt firmware - these are a MANUAL download and instal - not automatic. The links are:-

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1407

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1653

The first one is V1.0 and the second is shown as V1.2 - do them in order. These actually install the 22.1 version of firmware which is the one which is installed on the 15" machines. I installed V1.0 and tested - Thunderbolt works - then installed V1.2, and again Thunderbolt still works.

NOTE - You have to be careful of the downloaded .dmg files as they are both the same name. I downloaded and installed the first, deleted the download, then downloaded the second and installed that one.

Bryce

Hello buggerlugs61,

I have the same problem for a Lacie Rugged 2T usb 3 wich does'nt connect with thunderbolt ! (usb OK)

Thanks for the links provided but the installer says 'not appropriate for your system'.

I have a MacBookPro6,2 with SMC 1.58f17...

Do you have any idea ?

You may have already done this, but as Bryce said, the order that you install them matters.

Use this link first:

http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1407

Once this is installed, you can move onto the next update. Don't know if that helps, but good luck.

Cheers,

Ben

Also, here's a link to every thunderbolt firmware update available for download from the apple support site. If the updates you have don't work, maybe something here will:

http://support.apple.com/downloads/#thunderbolt

Cheers,

Ben

Ok I had a similar problem with my Imac 27". Connected a WD Duo Thunderbolt drive and it did not work. Connected the drive to my MBook and it works,

Tried everything in every thread I could find but no luck.

This solved the problem for me:

In my Imac, that thunderbolt cable head it seems can be plugged in either way into the Imac, I just reversed the direction of the head and all is fine now.

Dont ask me why the head can be plugged in reversed, I thought it would just go in one direction but apparently not. So in short on the Imac at least,

try reversing the head.

Okay I'm trying to revive an old thread. You know the details, 2011 MBP, just bought a new LaCie Thunderbolt drive, it works with USB3 (even though this mac isn't USB3), the thunderbolt works fine on my wife's MB air, I'm running 10.7.5 and I can't update it due to program i need not working on anything more recent.

I tried all the firmware updates but they were either not for my OS or they said that my mac didn't need them. Any help would seriously be appreciated.

Hi

I have posted a new thread describing a similar issue at

Thunderbolt port woes..

Thanks for your post..!

I tried the 2 x TB Firmware updates, however didn't fix my situation

My issue is that the external Kanex Thunderbolt ito USB3 / eSATA adapter isnt recognised.. but ok on another Mac

But Apple TB to Ethernet Adapter is, so port is OK..

Regards