Wrong SMC version on MBP 8,1?

Hi Mathieu,

I have exactly the same issue that you are facing. I have a macbook pro late 2011-8,1 model. The Boot Rom and SMC version currently present is different from that recommended by Apple for late 2011 model. ( Current version is MBP81.0047.B2A for boot rom and 1.68f99 for SMC . Recommended version is MBP81.0047.2AB and 1.68f98 (SMC1.5) ).

2 years back my laptop started responding slow, a few months after my warranty got over!! After that, I did not use it for a long time. Two week back, I changed the hard disk to SSD and reinstalled all the OS from scratch ( EI Captain). Once this was done, my charger is not charging properly. When I attach it, green light come up for sometime and then suddenly goes off resulting in no charging. After trying different solutions from various sources, which included trying another mac charger ( When i tried this, battery was charged to 45 percent and then the new adapter started turning off. So I understood it is something to do with the firmware or some purposeful manipulation or battery issue or heat issue), resetting SMC, going to sleep mode and then starting again, battery remove and replace ( No battery issue is present),cleaning fan, checking heat and so on finally I observed that the bootrom and smc version is not the one meant for Macbook Pro late 2011- 8, 1 model, instead the one which was meant for Macbook pro Early 2011 -8,1 was installed. I suppose this installation came as part of the EI Captain as this was the only change I did. I could almost conclude that this is an issue with firmware update because, even though it shows not charging from adaptor, the battery keep remaining at 10 percentage without reducing. It only reduces if I disconnect the adapter.

I think this is some purposeful manipulation done by Apple for us to buy their new products or some mistake ( less chance).

Please let know if you have sorted out some way for this issue.

Thanks
Soorej

I already have installed el capitan and got the same issues with kernel_task running over 900% then i downgraded to mavericks but still same...

I checked my efi & Smc version and found that i had unknown efi and wrong smc system... (see below)

Nom du modèle : MacBook Pro

Identifiant du modèle : MacBookPro8,1

Nom du processeur : Intel Core i5

Vitesse du processeur : 2,4 GHz

Nombre de processeurs : 1

Nombre total de cœurs : 2

Cache de niveau 2 (par cœur) : 256 Ko

Cache de niveau 3 : 3 Mo

Mémoire : 4 Go

Version de la ROM de démarrage : MBP81.0047.B2C

Version SMC (système) : 1.68f99

As you can see, my smc refers to MBP8,3 version which is not mine ...

now i tried to flash the smc but it looks like something went wrong and cant boot because my fan is going at full speed then comp turns off ..

How did you flash the SMC? Did you download the firmware update for the 13 inch MBP and try to install it? Usually if you try to install a firmware update that is not needed,you will get a warning that you do not need this update. Have you tried a SMC reset or pram reset? https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295 https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18761?locale=en_US

When you get a not to from the firmware update. that is a safely feature to stop you. Now you have bypassed it. That is your problem. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201518 As this shows, if not needed it will not install. I don't know if a smc or pram reset will help you. But it will not hurt you ether. You may need to take it into an apple genius bar to be straighten out. As I know no way to correct this.

When you first started out you had the right firmware. Your MBP is the same as Kaz-K. Now since you used a third party app. to reflash the firmware, you have the wrong one installed. If you do a reinstall of the operating system,it might install the correct firmware. The firmware that comes with the 2011 MBP is for an older operating system. The updates are done through software updates supplied by apple.The computer does not update firmware every time you go to a new operating system. Nor does it need to be changed if you go back to the original operating system. The correct firmware for SMC is 1.68f99. As you have the model identifier 8,1, that is the same as Kaz-K. This is regardless of what the firmware update though apple states. The early MBP came with Snow Leopard 10.6.3 and the late MBP came with Lion 10.7.3. you updated to Maverick and then El Capitan and in the process the firmware was updated. This is normal. You can try to reinstall the SMC if it will let you, and use the reinstall or update to try and get back to where you were. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201692 The fact that the fan does not run correctly means the firmware is wrong or corrupted.

Ok, tried cmd V, cmd R, not working at all.

I followed this tutorial: MacBook Pro 15" Late 2011, How-to Downgrade SMC 1.69f4 --> 1.69f3

And i have the same problem like here (in french version),

http://www.journaldulapin.com/2015/04/12/ok-forcer-le-flash-du-smc-en-aveugle/

he says that even with a cd firmware restore it didnt worked for him...

Looks like the video controler is not working due to the wrong version..

the same thing happen to me, I have a late 2011 macbook pro 8.1 , and my smc firmware is 99, I don't know why. could you fix this??, thanks

Hi,

J'ai le même problème..

I also have the same problem with that firmware, but it gives me kernel_task over 900% ...

I tried downgrade from el cap to mavericks but cant change the firmware and SMC:

Nom du modèle : MacBook Pro

Identifiant du modèle : MacBookPro8,1

Nom du processeur : Intel Core i5

Vitesse du processeur : 2,4 GHz

Nombre de processeurs : 1

Nombre total de cœurs : 2

Cache de niveau 2 (par cœur) : 256 Ko

Cache de niveau 3 : 3 Mo

Mémoire : 4 Go

Version de la ROM de démarrage : MBP81.0047.B2C

Version SMC (système) : 1.68f99

See the post below:

http://forum.hardware.fr/hfr/apple/Macbook/kernel_task-macbook-2011-sujet_6333_1 .htm#t565576

Your firmware updates usually come as a results of software updates. I doubt if the battery problem is a results of that. If you replace a battery from a third party vendor, not all replacement batteries are equal. Here is a tutorial and help article. http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-fix-macbook-battery-problems-replace-ma c-battery

Your SMC and EFI updates are machine specific. Not so much by operating system. Having a newer firmware does not prevent you from reverting to Maverick. You do not need to do anything with the firmware. But to go back, you would need to have Maverick on a time machine back up. Or on a flash drive or external drive as an installer. Where you would erase the internal drive and reinstall. Kernel tasks are made up of all processes in the activity monitor that are root. That means that to have that high a kernel tasks, you have one ore more processes that are run away. Check all of your processes in the activity monitor under root to see which one or ones are doing so.

From el capitan i couldn't because it said that i needed 10.9.5 do install the firmware. Once under marvericks, it said that i couldn't install the firmware ....

I flashed it with rEFit and smc downloaded from apple with the 2011 late version. 1.68f98

The fact is that i had a wrong firmware installed and dont know how this happened...

Tried reset SMC, PRAM, nothing happened.. my comp still booting, fan going full speed after 10sec, then 6-7 second after shutting down..

Did you only flash the SMC? I hope you didn't download and run also the EFI firmware update. Because it sounds like that is your problem. Also, What problems where you having that made you think you needed to change the SMC firmware? Here is what the SMC does. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Management_Controller I read the other post and I would not use that to fix your problem. Also you might have done better to post in the apple developers forum. Do you have any kind of a bootable installer?