MBA mid 2011 2.9 Firmware update just killed by Air

There is three-times-a-charm with that key sequence comment in this thread regarding this, so that may also be your case. Good to see you save some money.

Is there anyone else still experiencing keyboard issues? Even after 2.9.1 update?

I have 4 dead keys since the 2.9 update. I did not have the worst of the other problems and just experienced the dead keys since waiting for the fix which I installed today (2.9.1) without fixing my dead keys on my build-in keyboard.

I tried, I think, all of the reset options found searching the net. Like SMC, NVRAM and whatever. With no effect. Booting from an backup also shows these keyboard issues. Following the instructions here One or more keys on the keyboard do not respond (9.4) shows on my (german) keyboard 2 keys are colored orange and are 2 of the 4 dead keys.

The dead keys are (1) on the left the key below esc which is "^" (US keyboard: "§") (2) "F12" (3) the key below F12 and right of backspace which is "´" (US keyboard: "=") (4) next right to P which is "ü" (US keyboard: "[")

Anyone else with this strange thing?

Thanks

I never installed the original 2.9.0 EFI update but installed the 2.9.1 update the other day. Since then, I'm having problems with my keyboard and cursor not responding when trying to enter my username and password to login.

This means I have to hold the power key down to turn the laptop off and then turn it on again - this time I can enter my password and move the cursor. It only seems to happen if the laptop sleeps and on wake-up doesn't recognise the keyboard/trackpad.

Anyone else got this problem?

version 2.9.1 broke my iSight camera. has anyone else seen this? I had never installed v2.9. applecare were no help.

Roj Snook wrote:

I never installed the original 2.9.0 EFI update but installed the 2.9.1 update the other day. Since then, I'm having problems with my keyboard and cursor not responding when trying to enter my username and password to login.

This means I have to hold the power key down to turn the laptop off and then turn it on again - this time I can enter my password and move the cursor. It only seems to happen if the laptop sleeps and on wake-up doesn't recognise the keyboard/trackpad.

Anyone else got this problem?

Two suggestions.

1. In Applications -> Utilities -> Console check /var/log/install.log for successful Firmware Update.

2. Reset SMC.

You can also check messages in the log (All Messages) for events after the wake for any error messages related to HID.

You may also want to look at the logs and execute an SMC reset.

HELLPPP!! My macbook died after the firmware update. Worst of all, this is NOT the first time. I had it repaired 2

months ago. But the problem still comes back. Why am I

paying when my computer isnt actually fIxed? APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS ISSUE OR GIVE ME A NEW MACBOOK AIR.. My parents' macbook airs are fine! pleaaasseeeee!!

If the firmware updates was successful, you can try shift+fn+control (left side) + power and see if it will bring it back up. I assume you applied 2.9.1, not 2.9 firmware update.

I also have keyboard issues, although not dead keys after the 2.9.1 firmware installation. After the 2.9.0 installation failed and black-screened, I was able to get my mid 2011 11 inch MBA to reboot into the old firmware. It was very unstable after that, crashing outright, or displaying the spinning beach ball. I installed the 2.9.1 update and the crashes appear to be fixed, but now i have a problem with my keyboard whereby apps can not keep up with my typing speed.

I am a slow touch typer, and after 2.9.1, I can now type full sentences before the text appears on-screen. Its like the mac can't read the keyboard buffer fast enough. I've never experienced this slow appearing text on my MacBook Air before this update. It is very frustrating and intermittent. Also, my mouse will occasionally freeze up and take a second or two to restart working. The slow text issue occurs irrespective of whether I am using the built-in keyboard, a plugged-in keyboard, or a bluetooth keyboard.

So far, I've reset NVRAM, reset the SMC and run disk utility to verify and repair the disk but none have fixed the issue. Anyone else experiencing the slow keyboard issue?

The Keyboard/Mouse are usually tied to a USB bus. The new firmware is ultra-aggressive to reduce battery consumption. Some of the 2011 MBAs will work fine with this update, but any pause in activity, seems to cause issues. You can check the Console logs and try and correlate your usage patterns of devices to the sleep/wake events and get a pretty good picture of what the new firmware is doing.

Ciao a tutti,

I have also problems with the 2.9.1firmware and my MacBook Air 13-inch Mid 2011.

After installing it, the FaceTime / iSight camera is always on. All the

Apps which require the camera (FaceTime / PhotoBoot / Skype) do not run because cannot acquire the lock to the camera.

NVRAM / SMC reset (done multiple times also) Do not help; installing the osx again and booting on the new system do not help.

The camera is active from the beginning of the boot-strap sequence till power-off.

Is there any official statement of Apple? I know those error only from the PC-word ... and it is really sad to find those kind of bugs in the Apple eco-system.

Software quality was one of the strength of the Apple brand and the reason why so many love this brand.

Hope to get a fix somewhen.

Have a great day.

Same problem here in austria. The extended problem: the local authorized apple support told me because of the update the mainboard is destroyed. I told them to repair it, costs Euro 600,-.

After taking home the Macbook Air and automatically installing the updates the same problem with EFI update occurred and the mainboard was destroyed again!!! This was in august. Since then there is no solution or reaction from Apple until now. I have multiple Apple products and am VERY disappointed. This is not the way Apple does normally.

But the story goes on with my new iPhone 6, but this is another story, told on another place...

Promaetheus wrote:

Same problem here in austria. The extended problem: the local authorized apple support told me because of the update the mainboard is destroyed. I told them to repair it, costs Euro 600,-.

After taking home the Macbook Air and automatically installing the updates the same problem with EFI update occurred and the mainboard was destroyed again!!! This was in august. Since then there is no solution or reaction from Apple until now. I have multiple Apple products and am VERY disappointed. This is not the way Apple does normally.

The Firmware can be rolled back by Apple Geniuses/AASP technicians. You should ask for your money back.

Thank you for your answer. Just talking to Apple Support at this moment. I will report what they tell me after two month of waiting and ignoring. First they told me this would be a single problem of mine and is no common problem. Then i showed them this topic and about 12 other big topics with users all over the world having this problem too.

Please share with the Apple folks this link - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2213