Adaptec PowerDomain update controversy

Last time, we posted a statement from Mark Hurlow (of FWB) citing that the firmware update for the Adaptec PowerDomain 2940U2W card would also work on the 2940UW card. Since then, many readers have written to say that it did not work, while a few claimed that they could get it to work. A couple of the messages offered potential explanations for this discrepancy:

Randall Dennis (of Macintosh Magic) writes: "The updater used to update any card. In fact, I have that updater. It was pulled from their site and 'fixed' to only update the 2940U2W cards for compatibility with OS 8.5. I am the cause of their pulling and fixing it. I inadvertently updated my old 2940UW with the updater when it was first posted. Lo and behold, a long standing problem that Adaptec has consistently blamed G3 upgraders cards on (specifically the inability to either boot from or automount any volume during startup) disappeared! I called their support line to find out whether there was a corresponding control panel to configure the card (the one that comes with the updater will only work on the U2W card). Within minutes, the updater disappeared only to return a couple hours later and quite a few resources lighter."

Martin Kautz similarly notes: "Yes, it's true: the new updater for PD 2940U2W will not update the PD2940UW, because it contains only the ROM resource for the U2W. But an earlier release of the same named file (and same version string, too) was able to reflash all other adapters from Adaptec."