Apple Updates Firmware for MacBook, MacBook Pro, SuperDrive

Product News

Bryan Chaffin

7:07 PM, Dec. 8th ET, 2009

Articles by Author Bryan Chaffin on Twitter Contact Author Bio

Comments (2)

Apple released firmware updates for both the MacBook and MacBook Pro product lines Tuesday with the release of MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4 and MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8. The company also released SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 for MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini.

Both the MacBook and MacBook Pro firmware updates offer the same description of dealing with noise from the optical drive: "This update eliminates the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on MacBook Pro computers. When installation is complete, please run Software Update again, and install SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0."

The MacBook firmware update is a 3.14MB download from Apple's support site, while the MacBook Pro update is a 3.36MB update. You can also find the update you need on Software Update.

SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 is also related to this issue (hence the instructions to then run it after updating your MacBook/Pro's firmware. From the patch notes:

"This update will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac. This update works with the following EFI updates:

iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.4
Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2
MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8"

This update is an 18.35MB download from Apple's support site, and it, too, is available through Software Update.

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2 Observer Comments

mjkphoto said on December 8th, 2009 at 11:58 PM (Edited: 12/09/2009 12:03 AM):

No update is available via Software Update for my MacBook Pro (early 2008). The Apple web site indicates the Firmware Update is for MacBookPro5,1 and 5,2 models only. My MacBooPro4,1 makes the optical drive noise at startup and wake from sleep. Why not address this model as well?!

i_newit said on December 9th, 2009 at 1:11 PM (Edited: 12/09/2009 1:13 PM):

Finally!!

This “noise” was the drive hardware activating. This added mileage to your drive even if you never used it. causing drive failure and requiring a replacement. I always hated that. it’s too late for the earlier MBPro’s like mine(MBPro2,2). Like many, my drive died just this fall. And I had to fork out a chunk of change for a replacement drive after it died with a disc stuck in its heart. Just wouldn’t spit it out after finishing a burn. Had to perform open hear surgery to remove the disk. blah..

I too would like this firmware update so my replacement drive doesn’t meet the same fate..

I’m wondering why there isn’t a class action suit on this yet? this update clearly shows it to be a preventable $130 dollars cost(Surgery not included) for all those now out of warranty.

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