Filed under: Hardware, Odds and ends, Software Update, Troubleshooting, Macbook Pro
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware 1.3 out, may cause issues
Apple released an EFI firmware update for MacBook Pro yesterday, so if you haven't grabbed it yet, it should be available in MacBook Software Update. The release isn't a big one, but is supposed to fix a display issue on the 15-inch MBP models.Unfortunately, a few people are finding the update actually does exactly the opposite, and creates problems with the display. Word has it that resetting the PRAM (push CMD+Option+p+r at boot, and you have to do it a few times, so you have to push the PRAM a lot) helps, but even if it fixes the problem temporarily, but who knows what else is happening here-- Apple may have to release an update to fix the update that fixed the original problem.
Thanks Eddie, Jonathan, and all others who sent this in.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lars said 4:50PM on 7-13-2007
What is it with Apple and their updates these last few months? They have in essence a finite numer of configurations out there and they seem to mess stuff up regularly.
Whenever I read about an update, I hold off for a few weeks, read TUAW and Apple Discussions and only if nothing creeps up I might instal the update.
I've held off 10.4.10, that latest QuickTime i[date and iTunes 7 alltogether, after reading user experiences.
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Metaphor said 4:57PM on 7-13-2007
MacBook Pro 15" user right here. Software Update does not offer this update. The link you post (to Apple) states updae version 1.0.
Have Apple removed the update or are TUAW jumping the gun?
Just one bit of advice for the writer of this post. Probably best to point out that 'problems may occur' before you state go grab it.......
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Dextro said 5:18PM on 7-13-2007
We eat jam and ham and spam a lot!
Sorry for those in trouble by the update though :)
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Charlie said 5:38PM on 7-13-2007
MBPro user here, 15": contrary to usual, I just downloaded the firmware update, 'cause I was having problems with a 7 days old MBP. Horror!: whole thing came down, could never restart again, no PRAM resetting worked, superdrive kept spinning noisily, could not restart in T mode, nor C mode. Took the thing to Apple retail and they are giving me back a new one: not even the geniuses there could find an answer. Be aware folks: don't install the update!.
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Sander Backus said 5:58PM on 7-13-2007
i did the update on my 2.2mbp and i don't see a difference my screen was good, still good, no problems at all.
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MxSix said 6:03PM on 7-13-2007
So I'm sitting here at work and I read that sentence "have to push the PRAM a lot", hovered over the link, saw Monty Python and thought for about 5 seconds when they sang the Camelot song, and burst out laughing.
Definitely made my day.
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cheez said 6:09PM on 7-13-2007
ok i did that update yesterday. i had to push the button many times and i was scared (only a few weeks to the wonderful mac world).
The answer i got is, what exactly this update does? i dont have any issues with my screen and i didnt had...
MBP 15 2.2 here btw.
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Josh said 6:12PM on 7-13-2007
I have the 2.4 and I just installed the update with no problems. Before my screen was fine, if a little bit off color-wise so i calibrated it. I installed the update, calibration of the original was still not to my liking so I stuck with mine. Over-all nothing happened. The only thing I might say is that the yellow tint at the bottom is gone.
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andrew harrison said 6:30PM on 7-13-2007
probably worht mentioning in the post that it's only for the new Santa Rosa MBPs, not all models.
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Travis Bell said 6:38PM on 7-13-2007
I applied the update earlier today, everything seems to be fine... no issues to report at all yet.
I only notice the display glitches after the machine has been running for a while, and of course, never when connected to a display. Guess time will tell if it fixes it for good.
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Josh Farkas of Pixelton said 6:47PM on 7-13-2007
Terrfied of how bad software is out of Apple lately. Safari 2.0, iTunes library failures, and now this...
What happened to "It just works"?
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Dannel said 6:47PM on 7-13-2007
*applause for the Monty Python joke*
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Zach S said 8:21PM on 7-13-2007
Well, Safari is an alpha or beta or something (basically, it's not an update because it's not a final piece of software - download at your own risk!).
But, on topic a little more, I installed the update on my Santa Rosa MBP aaand... everything seems the same, pretty much. There could be some better color or more even backlighting, but nothing really noticeable. Also, there are reports that this update has improved battery life substantially (like an extra hour), but I don't use my MBP off the cord a lot, so I wouldn't know...
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fuzzylogic said 9:24PM on 7-13-2007
The update is only intended for the new MBPs. I was having an issue with expose was stuttering a lot and it seems to have disappeared with this update.
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K said 9:26PM on 7-13-2007
Huh? What Firmware Update? It doesn't show up on mine.
And what problem is it supposed to really fix? I have not had any problems with mine.
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mare said 10:37PM on 7-13-2007
It went well here. I even still have all my 4 Gb of PRAM. Oh well, RAM.
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PSM said 12:19AM on 7-14-2007
I did the update on my 2.4GHz 15". I didn't have display problems before, although as someone else said I thought the default calibration was disgusting and made my own. When it rebooted I thought I could tell something was vaguely different with the display. Perhaps the color is better, or maybe the backlight brighter or more even. I thought it possible that the screen image "pops" a little more, but it could just be me seeing a difference because I'm looking for one.
I do see that the flickering from having the backlight dimmed has changed. Instead of being distinct horizontal lines, I still see movement, but it's a more subtle movement, like clouds.
I had no problems with the install, and the screen seems the same or better, so it gets the OK in my book so far.
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Fazal Majid said 12:40AM on 7-14-2007
I had problems installing it, possibly because I did a migration from my old 1G MBP and the old EFI updater was still there. I had to forcibly delete the firmware updater in /Applications/Utilities, then reinstall the standalong package before the power-off sequence finally gave me the progress bar.
It seems to work so far, I'm crossing my fingers.
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Patrick said 12:54AM on 7-14-2007
Just installed the update and I'm now having problems with the display. It looks like scrolling bands are moving from the bottom of the screen to the top. This definitely started right after the firmware update.
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Hao said 2:34AM on 7-14-2007
Just did the update on my one week old Macbook pro (2.4ghz santa rosa). Didn't have screen issue before, and no issue post-update either. Screen contrast appear to be slightly higher after update, or could just be my imagination. I am using a custom calibrated color profile also. The original is too washed out and too warm.
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