Another STUPID question from the Hoss; Firmware updating , Yes or No?

I've gotten conflicting input from persons whom I consider to be far more Knowledgeable in their Geekness than am I.
Let me lead off by saying that they are ALL very long-term Mac-ers, these are the people who convinced me to dive into Lake Cuppertino!
One "faction" advises to NOT install the firmware updates, that they are a risky proposition, that the computer is best off with the firmware installed with it's build.
The other group says that Apple wouldn't encourage us to update the firmeware if it wasn't safe and good and generally wholesome for our computers.
My experience with this thus far; The ONE time I did be all brave and studly and do the firmware update, it froze my computer so badly that I ended up having to make the 90-minute,(one way), journey to the Apple store and hand it over to the resident Genius.
Fortunately, it was the 15 minute fix, as opposed to the alternate possibility, which requires, apparently, 3 days.
So I was left with the feeling that the nay-sayers are indeed correct.
And I have some trepidation in risking it again, because I REALLY REALLY need my 'puter working, don't have so much time for driving a majillion miles to get, either a 15 minute, or a,(possibly), 3 days fix.
What can you folks tell me about this?
Does a significant interval between the inception firmware and the update you finally decide to install exacerbate the risky-ness of doing it?
Is there a point where you absolutely MUST update the firmware?
What causes the brick-ness after the install?
I am certain that there are MANY differing opinions and experiences.
I will appreciate any responses that may help to make this all clearer to me!
THANKS, And CHEERS!

More than likely because they got bit when doing one or are paranoid from reading these "emergency room" episodes. That's the beauty of having multiple, bootable clones. You can do the updates on one and test to see if there are any pitfalls. This is my standard advice before updating/upgrading/installing new stuff.
Get a bootable, external HD (preferably FireWire, since it's 40-50% faster than USB 2 and designed for data transfers), make a bootable backup/clone before updating/upgrading, and ensure that it's bootable and works like the original. That allows you to revert to the previous good state without having to reinstall or reset anything. See these for details:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106941
http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/installswupdates.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/backuprecovery.html
If you only have a Time Machine backup, ensure that you can reliably restore it to another disk/volume/partition before updating/upgrading.

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Recovered from disaster after firmware update 7.4.1

I have spent days trying to get connected to Airport Extreme Base station (two months old) after the last firmware update. I have seen many people with same or similar issues. The usual "doesn't detect wireless device" messages. I finally had some luck running from my clone drive using an older airport utility. At least I could get it to register the base station but only by using an additional ethernet patch cable to my laptop. Then it would allow me to adjust settings. Still things were not right. Connection was not good and I could not use the (802.11n(802.11b/802.11g compatible) settings at all. Sometimes I would get almost there and it would ask for my Network password and then say "connection timed out."
Then I found this post:
http://newtonpoetry.com/2008/08/18/airport-base-station-fix-revert-your-firmware /
Gave it a shot and everything is perfect now.
I reverted to older Airport Utility and older AE Base Station firmware
I downloaded and installed older airport utility 5.3.1, first deleting the old components:
/Applications/Utilities/Airport Utility
/System/Library/CoreServices/AirPort Base Station Agent
/System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.AirPortBaseStationAgent.plist
I had to delete the Agent while booted from another volume since system won't let you delete that. The older Airport utility installer may have replaced the newer one with the old one but I wanted to be sure.
Then I launched the old version of Airport Utility and followed directions, in the above url, to revert to the older firmware 7.3.1. Restarted laptop, opened Airport Utility and voila! Instant recognition. Changed a few settings including the (802.11n(802.11b/802.11g compatible) radio frequency and it all works flawlessly. Range is fantastic again. Very good speed.
I am not suggesting everyone revert to the older (less buggy?) updates but for me there was something very wrong especailly after Firmware 7.4.1. Hope Apple can make these more user friendly soon. I would love to know if anyone, or Apple, can tell me how to fix this issue using the latest updates. I tried every suggestion out there. Hard resets, restarting modem, turning off phones and other "interference", over and over with no luck.
That's my story, so far.
Rob D

Sorry... please disregard my previous question...
I've found out how to downgrade the firmware...
Of course!!! My connection is flying above 6Mbps again Whoa!!! I'm relieved...
For you folks who do want to find out how to downgrade:
1. Reboot the time capsule
2. Connect to it using the airport utility
3. Hold Control/Option key and click File > Check for Updates
4. Select the version you want to downgrade to, click Download
5. When down load completes, click Base Station > Upload Firmware
Select the version that you just downloaded and submit...
Wait about 5 minutes and it will restart... this restart takes little longer than usual... but it will come back.
Good luck all!!!

WARNING: Beware the Keyboard Firmware Update

Did the keyboard firmware update today and now no bluetooth. Using spotlight to search for bluetooth, I get this message:
The Bluetooth tab of Keyboard & Mouse preferences is hidden because you don't have a Bluetooth module installed or attached to your computer.
The bluetooth keyboard was working fine before the firmware update was installed.

noread_nowrite wrote:
keyboard firmware update will work only if you have 10.5.1 and up that means you need leopard.
As you can see from my signature I do have Leopard.

Three updates from the same Software Update Group showing as unknown, while all the others are showing as expected.

Hi
I have an issue from Septembers security updates where three updates from the same software update group are showing as unknown status rather than required / not required / installed etc.
There are multiple other updates in the same update group and they are all displaying correctly with the figures I would roughly expect.
I would have expected if something was wrong with the clients not returning software update scans that all the updates in this software update group (all deployed automatically as part of the same ADR) would show the same status of unknown, rather than just
three of them.
The updates in question are: KB2894842, KB2972215 & KB2977629 (First two .net 4.0 and last one IE11).
Now these updates would largely be not required in our organisation as for the most part we use different versions so I would expect them to show as not required.
Short of kicking off a mass software update scan cycle I don't know a) why this has happened b) if a scan cycle will fix it. Our clients scan every week and its been several weeks since the updates were deployed, that and the other updates have all reported
back in.
Anyone have any ideas? Its making the compliance results look quite poor :(
Thanks
Jonathan

Hi,
Is there any clue in the logs? Please review WUAHandler.log.
What is the code you get when you run compliance report, like that in the following thread:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/becda545-4a5e-4ea3-bd83-8c7026767af5/software-update-compliance-report-showing-status-unknown?forum=configmanagerdeployment

Is there a way to remove installed updates from the App Store update window? I keep getting an alert that I have an update for Apple Remote Desktop. It says its installed, but the alert and the app keep showing up. Annoying!!

Is there a way to remove installed updates from the App Store update window? I keep getting an alert that I have an update for Apple Remote Desktop. It says its installed, but the alert and the app keep showing up. Annoying!!

Spotlight: How to re-index folders or volumes
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2409
Mac App Store: Cannot update App Store purchases or updates do not seem available
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4236
If re-indexing the spotlight doesn't fix it,we can try a few other tricks.

After restoring my iMac to factory settings it doesn't allow me to get iPhoto, iMovies and pages, which i had from the os x update. anyone knows how to recover them, as they are not on the purchased items? thanks

after restoring my iMac to factory settings it doesn't allow me to get iPhoto, iMovies and pages, which i had from the os x update. anyone knows how to recover them, as they are not on the purchased items? thanks

From your backup.

I can not update my installed apps from the App Store Update page. I can individually update from the App Store Purchased page. I tried a soft reset but still unable. Any suggestions?

I can not update my installed apps from the App Store Update page. I can individually update from the App Store Purchased page. I tried a soft reset but still unable. Any suggestions?

You are doing all that you cn do right now other than to update the apps in iTunes on your computer and sync them to the iPad.
There has been a problem with the App Store updates tab for a few days now and we are all waiting for Apple to fix it.
Look at all of the discussions on the iPad forum that are talking about this right now.

My ipad restarts from the day i updated IOS 8.0.2

my ipad mini retina (16GB) restarts time and again from the day i updated IOS 8.0.2

Hello alokgupta,
I know the article is for iPhone, but it does work for iPad as well when dealing with power and restart issues. Check out the Power/Battery section to get it working and not constantly restarting on you.
iPhone: Hardware troubleshooting
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2802
Regards,
-Norm G.

Frozen at the "Graphics Firmware Update 1.0" dialog

I installed the Nov 15 graphics update on my iMac 24", but when I clicked the "update" button on the "Graphics Firmware Update 1.0" dialog, it just froze.
The dialog has not showm any progress since I clicked the "update button". It has just been sitting there for about 30 minutes. I can move the mouse, but nothing I click on responds.
The bad thing is that this dialog box warns you not to touch anything or else the computer will not boot.
Has anyone else had this problem?

Well, I gave up and rebooted. It did reboot, and when I logged in, I got a dialog box saying the graphics was updated to version 1.0.
However, when I rebooted using bootcamp, Windows still shows the ATI Mobility HD 2600XT driver as being version 8.390.0.0 6/14/2007. That's what it was before installing the update.
I thought updating the Leopard would update the bootcamp partition as well. Is this supposed to be done separately? Or maybe when the updated froze, it didn't update the Windows side. In which case I would have to uninstall/reinstall the update.
I am guessing here. I have no idea what to do. Does anyone know the answer?

Any plans to fix wireless networking after the 40S51U Firmware Update 2.2.5 broke it?

After the 40S51U Firmware Update 2.2.5 wireless passwords must be re-entered every time the device is powered on. It's been almost 4 months since the untested patch was released – is a fix coming?

You're the only person I can remember having that issue. You should call customer support.
- Peter

The NEXT firmware update? 1.2.1

anyone know when Apple will release the next firmware update? got my phone for like a month now (i did 1.1.1) and all these safari crashes, bad password timer.. and like soo many bugs.
and yeah anyone know how to Empty trash in Mail? or you are just suppose to delete it twice? I did the option clear mail after one day but it never delete anything after like a week.. and yeah i guess that's a bug too.
so when's the Next fireware update?
1.2.1? 1.1.2? how does the number work?

hbueain wrote:
no, i don't use Mail on computer..
and.. i use Gmail.
just saying they should add a empty trash option, or at least make the "Delete after 1 day" work.
It does work. Deletion takes place based on 24 hours after the initial deletion was initiated by the user.
Go to:
Settings > Mail > (mail account name) > Advanced > Remove >
select either
(Never/After one day/After one week/After one month
Your mail will be deleted automatically based on the selection. No more having to delete an email twice.
Good Luck!

I plan to buy an iphone 6 from New York. I am from India and shall be using the phone in India. Is it possible to get an unlocked iphone from the store? If yes, how much would it cost?

I plan to buy an iphone 6 from New York. I am from India and shall be using the phone in India. Is it possible to get an unlocked iphone from the store? If yes, how much would it cost?

It is going to be months before any unlocked iPhone 6s will be available.
Also be aware that the iPhone purchased in the USA will only have warranty service in the USA. Any warranty service will require you to bring it back to USA.

RSD : a try to explain how the SMC firmware update works

Hi everybody,
In another thread i read this post (there's only a part here) from fancontrol :
"Before the update, the fans started to speed up at about 75°C. Now they already start at about 64°C and then increase with CPU load and temperature. Before smc-update I could reach about 85°C running both cores at 100%, now they the macbook does not go beyond 77°C. By the way: The minimum fan-speed set by Apple is still 1500rpm."
The conclusion I made from this post is as follow :
There is a difference of 8°C (85°-77°) at 100%. That is to say that the internal temperature of the macbook is 8°C cooler after the update. It is probably this difference that could avoid the melting of the wires.
----- BEFORE THE UPDATE -----
If the fans start at a too high temperature (75°C)
Then the internal temperature increases and becomes too high (85°C) during a certain periode of time (more or less depending on how long the computer is used, the environment of the computer is used i.e. if the table is made of wood, etc)
Then the wires melt
Then RSD appears.
----- AFTER THE UPDATE -----
The SMC manages the start of the fans better. And after the update :
If the fans start at a lower temperature (64°C instead of 75°C)
Then the internal temperature is cooler
Then the wires won't melt.
The SMC update works or not (??) probably depending on when the update is done (the state of the wires, melted or not). If the wires are too damaged, perhaps only a physical repair can solve the problem.
Another part of the update is probably also to ignore some signals from the sensors (if they aren't too damaged).
Regards,
Didier

Hi,
I am just trying to understand by myself what does this **** update. Why Apple doesn't explain us what the firmware does?
In fact, my girlfriend wants to buy a new macbook but I told her to wait until it's sure the update fixes the problem. I want to be sure that a new macbook + SMC update won't never have the problem. She is finishing her PhD and she has no time to spend with a two weeks repair.
By reading forums on sites that talk about this problem, I am not sure that the update really fixes the problem for all of the macbooks and I am trying to know why.
In my previous post, I was just talking about the fact that if wires melt into the computer it's obviously (?) due to the heat.
OK, the wires don't melt on every macbook. It probably depends on the use of the processor ?
I thought that the update did probably several things :
1) For the new macbooks, it prevents the problem (decreases the temperature of the start of the fans to avoid the problem of wires ? If it's a matter of wire, obviously)
2) For little damaged macbooks, it fixes the problem (??) (ignores some signals from the sensors because redoundance)
3) For the too damaged macbooks, it doesn't work because it's a physical problem.
But there's something I don't understand. It's not very logical.
1) All of the macbook haven't the problem. OK. It's probably normal. They are not used the same way. and/or Perhaps, they don't have exactly the same components ? Is it possible ?
2) Some repaired macbooks (by Apple) still have the problem. AppleCare changed the heatsink... but still RSS. ???? So It's not a physical problem ?
3) Some updated macbooks (repaired or not) still have the problem. It's probably due to a physical problem : a too damaged wire ?
To summerize, I have two question :
1) what does exactly the update (Am I right or wrong ?) (It's not very important)
2) Can be sure that a new macbook + SMC update won't never have the RSS problem
Regards,
Didier

Question about imac graphics firmware updates

My Imac model identifier is imac8,1; the machine is a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, with 2 GB 800 MHz DDR2 SDRAM. I am running OS 10.6.7. I have an ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics card.
Firmware Update 1.0.1 is apparently installed, since my graphics ROM version is 113-82250L-259.
Symptoms occurring within last 6 months or so: Without notice, the screen goes black, though I can detect light “behind” (i.e., it doesn’t look powered off). The only remedy I’ve been able to get to work is to use the power button (or unplug) to turn the machine off. I don’t know whether the system has frozen or not. I’ve looked at the console and system log, but I can’t tell from them what’s happening.
I have reset the SMC and PRAM. The computer passes the extended Apple Hardware Test.
My question: is one or both of the imac graphics firmware updates 1.0.2 (September 10, 2009) or 2.0 (June8, 2011) appropriate for my machine?

If there is an update to your particular graphics firmware, Software Update will let you know; if there is nothing showing there, it means there is no update available for your configuration. Do not simply download from the Apple website and install something that could cause havoc on your machine.
I'm not sure what the problem might be, but it could be graphics card and/or logic board related. Since you've already done the SMC and PRAM resets, unless someone else has another idea, I'd suggest booking an appointment at your nearest Genius Bar for a free evaluation and diagnosis. If the problem is intermittent, take screen shots or video of it so you can show it to them.

Can no longer use Transfer to SD card with the new firmware update 23.0.1.A.3.12

I just got the latest update for my Z2. My device now has a firmware 23.0.1.A.3.12.
I encountered a problem. I can no longer transfer photos to SD card thru the Transfer to SD Card under Storage.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

@Thommo. Oh hi, no. This is just a theme I installed to change the buttons recently. The problem was there before I did this change. As proof, here it is again after removing the theme and applying the default theme of Xperia.
Regarding the SD card write capability permissions, I do not know how to do that really. Can you please show me?
Also, all I did this morning was update the firmware my Z2 based on the email I got from Sony Support and an alert from the Update Centre. I used the PC companion which also alerted to be updated before the download of the firmware began, which I did too. After the successful update, the phone restarted and used it normally.
Then until the notif told me that my storage is more than 75% full, and prompted to transfer files, which I do all the time by the way, but this time, this error occured.

Another STUPID question from the Hoss; Firmware updating , Yes or No?

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