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Intel-based Mac EFI Firmware Updates: Slower performance; USB troubles; more

USB-related issues seem to be central.

CNET staff
5 min read

Slower performance A number of users are reporting significantly slower system performance in certain areas after applying the recent batch of EFI firmware updates for various Intel-based Macs.

It appers, based on current information, that the slow-down is somehow related to a change in interaction with USB and potentially FireWire devices under the new updates. Many users report that disconnecting some or all USB devices eliminates the slow-down, which may exhibit itself at startup, when switching between applications or at other times.

  • "Just installed version 1.4 on my MacBook Pro 2.16 15" Core 2 Duo. The computer is running so painfully slow now..." -- Rick
  • "My boot times after installing the EFI firmware update are about four times longer [...] I have four programs launch at startup: iTunes, Mail, Activity Monitor and Quicksilver. Before the EFI Firmware update my startup times were very fast and all four programs launched quickly. I was just under 30 seconds before everything was up and running. Since installing I have not gotten my time below 90 seconds!" -- Matt Green
  • "For some reason, the machine seems to 'stall' for up to 5 seconds when I change between certain applications. Maybe USB problem? I have a large number of USB devices, but they worked fine with the previous version" - -Markus
  • "With USB/Firewire devices attached the Mac will take either a very long time to boot or will need all devices removed (including the new style keyboard/mouse) before it will start. External drives take longer than usual to attach. More often than not they do not attach. Finder sometimes locks up when copying files to/from external disks." -- Chris Santavy

If you're experiencing similar issues, you might want to run through the list of fixes suggested in this USB troubleshooting tutorial. As suggested in that piece, make sure that your devices' firmware versions are up-to-date. Alternatively, you can eliminate USB devices from your chain selectively, checking for resolution of the performance problems.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Other USB issues Converging with the aforementioned, a number of users are experiencing other significant USB device related issues after the EFI firmware updates.

One reader writes:

"The MacBook EFI Update 1.1 seems to have affected USB functionality. USB device recognition is now extremely slow (taking up to two minutes to be recognized) and my Miglia TV Mini HD is not even detected."

Another adds:

"After running the 1.2 update on my late 2006 iMac with no problem, I find I have to start my external 3-volume USB RAID to get it to mount after restart, while my Firewire externals still mount as before. This worked fine a couple of times, but now it won't mount at all."

Some users are reporting an inability to startup from USB drives after the update. One reader writes:

"After installing the firmware 1.4 update on my MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo, I can't start up my copy of Mac OS X from a USB hard drive anymore. Is there a fix yet for this problem? This is now my Boot ROM Version:MBP22.00A5.B07 and my USB OS hard drive can't startup now."

Again, check our USB troubleshooting tutorial. Failing the solutions listed there, your best bet is to simply disconnect the offending USB devices and wait for firmware updates for the devices themselves or from Apple. The EFI firmware update, unfortunately, cannot be undone.

Startup fails after update Finally, also tying into the two above sections, some users have reported an indefinite stall at their first startup after applying the EFI firmware updates, solvable by disconnecting all USB devices. Notice a pattern?

One reader writes:

"First attempt at update left my screen lit, but blank and my fan running for over an hour before I reset (and prayed). It rebooted fine into the old firmware. I noticed I had a USB2 drive plugged in. I unplugged it and the second try worked fine."

Continued problems installing the firmware updates In the past few days we noted two primary reasons users might not be able to install the Intel-based Mac EFI firmware updates: recent MacBook Pros don't need them, and GUID partition schemes are necessary.

However, reports of problems with installation outside the effect of these two barriers continue to trickle in.

One reader writes:

"I get the error message 'unexpected error occurred (0);' unable to upgrade firmware" my Mac is an iMac 20" C2D Late 2006 and my actual firmware revision is IM51.0090.B03.""

Another reader adds:

"I downloaded the latest firmware updater (1.4) to upgrade my Boot ROM from MBP22.00A5.B01 to MBP22.00A5.B07, and everything seemed fine at first. Computer shuts down ... starts back up ... a little status bar appears on the first white screen at startup ... computer restarts quickly after that ... and when it's finally restarted, the same updater screen appears with instructions on installing the firmware (screen also says "If these instructions appear on your screen again, the firmware update was not successful. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4."). I've done this several times, and the Boot ROM Version is still the same every time, despite no error message."

If you are running into such troubles, you might want to try disconnecting all USB devices and attempting the update again.

Boot Camp issues: Windows Vista activation, more Some users are reporting problems with activation of Windows operating systems run under Boot Camp after the update.

One reader writes:

"I installed the EFI firmware update on my MacBook Pro, and when I rebooted into Windows Vista, the OS told me that it needed to be reactivated due to a hardware change. That wouldn't have been a problem if activation hadn?t failed. I had to reactivate using the phone technique. It worked; but I have a serious concern about installing Leopard now. I wonder if there will be another firmware/BIOS update before the Leopard launch, and if I will have to use the phone method to reactivate or worse, if Vista just won?t reactivate at all."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Resources

  • EFI firmware updates
  • USB troubleshooting tutori...
  • Late-breakers@macfixit.com
  • recent MacBook Pros don't need them
  • GUID partition schemes are...
  • disconnecting all USB devi...
  • More from Late-Breakers