Filed under: Software Update, Mac mini, Mac OS X Server
Apple posts three new updates
After the big upgrade to Snow Leopard last weekend, Apple has posted three new updates, fixing various OS and firmware issues.The first is Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2. This update "improves compatibility with the latest Apple memory kits on Mac mini computers." This update is only needed for Mac minis introduced in March 2009 or later.
Next, there's an update to Mac OS X Leopard Server, Mac OS X Server 10.5.8 Update v.1.1, which includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for a few other issues. This update is available as a Combo or Standalone update.
Finally, there's a firmware update for SuperDrives. This update "will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac." This update is only needed for iMacs and Mac minis introduced in March 2009 or later.
As always, these updates are available through Software Update on your Mac, or you can download them from Apple's Support Downloads page.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John Laur said 8:36AM on 9-01-2009
What I want to know is -- can the optical drive in the notebooks be made to eliminate the noise at startup & wake from sleep too? I have a unibody MBP and I'd really like to eliminate that sound.
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John.B said 10:54AM on 9-01-2009
Startup, no. Wake from sleep, maybe, judging from this change.
7egend said 10:20PM on 8-31-2009
"Finally, there's a firmware update for SuperDrives. This update "will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac." This update is only needed for iMacs and Mac minis introduced in March 2009 or later."
My late 2008 (unibody) MacBook Pro made this noise as well, and this firmware update seems to have fixed it. So it's not limited to the iMacs and Mac minis.
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Victor said 12:31AM on 9-01-2009
How do you get it to work? It tells me it won't install on my computer. I have a unibody macbook.
Streety said 2:15AM on 9-01-2009
The update worked for you?
I can't even get it to install as it specifies that it works only on iMac's or Mini's.
How did you do it?
7egend said 9:35AM on 9-01-2009
Update just showed up in Software Update, and it installed from there. All I know is after I restarted I no longer had the noise i had at start up and wake up.
Josh said 10:33AM on 9-01-2009
Hopefully this will work. It has been a major gripe since getting my MacBook in late 07.
Streety said 12:56PM on 9-01-2009
I see.
Do you use Snow Leopard or just regular Leopard?
Aaron P. said 10:23PM on 8-31-2009
I'm wondering if this Mac Mini EFI update ups the maximum RAM to 8GB? That would be awesome. I'd probably go buy a Mini tomorrow if that's the case.
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waiownsyou said 10:27PM on 8-31-2009
that's more hardware than software
Aaron P. said 10:40PM on 8-31-2009
Well, yeah of course. But that's just it...the hardware IS capable of 8GB of RAM, yet Apple chose to limit it to 4GB, likely in the EFI. The Mac Mini uses the exact same chipset as the Macbook Pros, and they obviously support 8GB.
Jordan said 11:16PM on 8-31-2009
I agree, it's not right of Apple to limit it. However, knowing Apple, they're not going to remove the restriction. They want the restriction to justify how much they charge for an iMac and MacPro. Apple is one of the most evil companies in that way.
Wheels said 11:58PM on 8-31-2009
I don't know if the firmware update opens up the Mini to 8 Gigs or not, but as far as I understand, the Minis weren't addressing the full 4 Gigs that you were supposed to be able to put in in the first place - like my new Mini.
Just installed the update and I can tell that my Mini is noticeably faster in Leopard.
Aaron P. said 9:03AM on 9-01-2009
@Wheels
The new early 2009 most definitely can address 4GB of RAM (and technically 8GB according to Nvidia). You're thinking of the generation just prior the the current generation where it will recognize 4GB of RAM, but only addresses 3GB of RAM. This is the model of Mini I currently have.
The Mini's currently being sold will however recognize and address the full 4GB of RAM.
matt said 10:29PM on 8-31-2009
we need this update for all macs!!! I have an old c2d white macbook and the whirring on startup is especially annoying when waking the computer up in the middle of a lecture to take notes!!
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Ethan said 3:27AM on 9-01-2009
Nghunghnuuuuhhh
It's like it's coughing to announce itself.
Richard said 11:03PM on 8-31-2009
"Finally, there's a firmware update for SuperDrives. This update "will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac.""
Why don't they do this for all Macs? (I suppose it is a hardware issue at this point? Perhaps they have something built into the iMacs and Mac Minis that allow it to check for disk without moving the spindle? Of course, if they did, why are they still making sounds and releasing this update?)
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Bryan said 10:01PM on 10-08-2009
Where's the EFI firmware update for the original Mac Pros? Please?
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Tom said 11:25PM on 8-31-2009
One other update that came out is to address the inability for iPhone developers to sync their phones. 6kb fix, finally addresses the one issue I had with Snow Leopard. I could install the SDK fresh, or install iTunes again, and syncing would work until I rebooted.
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Larry said 12:00AM on 9-01-2009
I have a 2007 Black Macbook and the SuperDrive makes that noise, and has since Leopard.
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