Special Report: MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2
Special Report: MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2
According to Apple, this EFI Firmware Update fixes several Boot Camp, start up, and wake-from-sleep issues on MacBook Pro computers.
Properly applying If you are having problems applying the MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2, make sure to follow these instructions exactly:
- Make sure the power cord is connected, then quit all open applications (other than the Finder) [we also recommend that users turn off AirPort, disable Bluetooth, and disconnect any external devices (USB/Firewire)]
- Launch the MacBook Pro EFI Firmware 1.2 updater application, located in Applications/Utilities after download and installation.
- Click Shut Down in the MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2 window and wait for your computer to fully shut down -- even waiting a few minutes to make sure.
- With the computer completely off, press and hold the power button on your MacBook Pro until the power indicator light flashes repeatedly, then release the power button; the update should begin.
If you still cannot apply the update, try logging in as the root user and re-applying.
To enable the root account, use the following process:
- Make sure you are logged in as an administrator
- Launch NetInfo Manager, located in /Applications/Utilities folder
- In the "Security" menu, select "Enable root user," after which you should be prompted for your administrator password.
After enabling the root account, logout of your current account. At the login prompt, select "Other..." then enter "root" as the user name and the password you set for the account.
Once logged into the root account, re-attempt running the firmware update. Once completed, logout of the root user account and back into your normal account.
You may want to launch NetInfo Manager again and re-disable the root user account (again, via the "Security" menu) when finished due to security considerations.
One more thing to try: Some readers have reported that simply deleting the firmware updater and re-downloading it from the original source [2.7 MB] results in successful application.
Meanwhile, if your update fails with this error:
- "An unexpected error occurred (0). Your firmware can not be updated."
after the required restart, the issue may be bad or otherwise problematic RAM.
You can sometimes determine if you have a "bad" RAM module by using the Apple Hardware Diagnostic CD, included with all currently shipping Macintosh models. To use the Apple Hardware Test CD, restart your computer while holding down the C key until the "Loading..." icon appears.
You can also try using the utility Memtest to check for bad modules, or try simply removing modules one by one until you identify the culprit.
Downgrading firmware If you experience a failed update and cannot resurrect your system, try this downloadable firmware restoration disc image. Note that you can only use this to restore the firmware after an interrupted or failed update -- not if the update was installed successfully.
Startup failure The most egregious problem is one where the firmware update appears to successfully apply itself, or fails part-way through installation and the system subsequently refuses to startup. In many of these cases, even attempts to restore firmware using this downloadable CD image have proven futile, as the disc simply becomes stuck in the machine as it fails to boot. [Remember, the firmware restoration CD is only intended for instances where firmware updating fails part-way through. It cannot revert the firmware to its original state after an update has been successfully applied]
There are a number of methods for ejecting stubborn media in our tutorial "Ejecting media in Mac OS X: Removing 'stuck' CDs/DVDs," but they haven't proven of much use in some cases where systems refuse to power-up at all after the firmware update attempt.
Some users have found success with simply pressing the power button and allowing their MacBook Pros to sit for an extended period of time -- up to 15 minutes. In some cases, this will cause the disc will automatically eject. The user can then re-attempt use of the firmware restoration disc, which may or may not work to resolve the startup issue. As such, users who have exhausted our previously published workarounds for failed startup after the update -- resetting PRAM, resetting the SMC, etc. -- have sought (usually successfully) repair through Apple.
Not required for Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros Note that (although Apple makes no mention of the fact) EFI Firmware Update 1.2 is not applicable to Core 2 Duo-based MacBook Pros.
Resetting PRAM can solve a variety of issues A number of potentially serious issues apparent after applying this EFI Firmware Update can be resolved by simply resetting PRAM/NVRAM via the following process:Shut down your Mac, then start it back up while immediately holding the following keys: Command, Option, P and R. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the third time.
This workaround is a good first course of action before exploring more complex fixes. It should also be attempted if your system cannot properly startup after applying the update.
iSight not functioning -- fix Like the iMac and MacBook, some MacBook Pros are suffering from an inability to recognize the built-in iSight after applying this firmware update.
In some cases performing a SMC reset can resolve issues with built-in iSights not functioning properly -- particularly an issue where applications attempting to use the iSight erroneously state that the unit is already in use by another application. Note that this issue can sometimes also be resolved with a simple restart.
In order to perform a SMC reset, use the following process:
- If the computer is on, turn it off.
- Disconnect the AC Adapter and remove the computer's battery.
- Press and hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.
- Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.
- Press the Power button to restart the computer.
Determining whether or not the update was applied After the firmware update is successfully applied to your MacBook Pro, your Boot ROM Version will be:
- MBP11.0055.B08 (MacBook Pro 15 inch)
- MBP12.0061.B03 (MacBook Pro 17 inch)
You can find this string in the Apple System Profiler (located in Applications/Utilities) under the Hardware tab. You can use this check in case you don't receive a message indicating that the firmware was successfully applied.
Resources