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10.4.6 and/or the Firmware Upgrade Killed my MacBook Pro

software-update.jpgDO NOT install the Mac OS 10.4.6 update or the 1.0.0 Firmware update (For the MacBook Pro) on your machine until the dust settles a bit.
I got swept up in all the excitement yesterday about Apple’s release of Boot Camp, an official dual boot environment for Intel Macs. To use Boot Camp you must install Mac OS 10.4.6 and the latest Firmware update for your specific Mac (in my case MacBook Pro (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0.)
I didn’t follow my own advice to wait a minimum of 72 hours before installing any Apple update and am now paying the price.
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software-update.jpgDO NOT install the Mac OS 10.4.6 update or the 1.0.0 Firmware update (For the MacBook Pro) on your machine until the dust settles a bit.
I got swept up in all the excitement yesterday about Apple’s release of Boot Camp, an official dual boot environment for Intel Macs. To use Boot Camp you must install Mac OS 10.4.6 and the latest Firmware update for your specific Mac (in my case MacBook Pro (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0.)
I didn’t follow my own advice to wait a minimum of 72 hours before installing any Apple update and am now paying the price.
After installing 10.4.6 the trouble began, slow application launch times, disk images wouldn’t open and some applications wouldn’t launch at all. Although MacBook Pro (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0 seemed to install properly (after I dutifully followed Apple’s explicit instructions) when I restarted my MBP it got stuck on the grey boot screen with the black Apple logo and the spinning sunshine cursor.
I originally left it to spin but got worried after about 15 minutes. After waiting even longer the second time, I knew that it was hosed. I’m not quite sure if it was 10.4.6 or the Firmware update that did it, but on my MacBook Pro it was a lethal combination.
A spent far too many hours last night doing an “Archive and Re-Install” of Mac OS 10.4.5 from the original DVDs that came with the MacBook Pro and now find myself scrambling to re-install plenty of applications that got lobotomized in the process. Grr…
A friend told me that 10.4.6 made his PowerBook G4 (Aluminum) hang on the blue startup screen or the desktop for five or six restarts before it finally booted. Be cautious and wait. You have been warned.
What has you experience been with the 10.4.6 and Firmware updates with your portable? Please post them in the comments below.

By Jason O'Grady

Founded the PowerPage in 1995.

5 replies on “10.4.6 and/or the Firmware Upgrade Killed my MacBook Pro”

i installed 10.4.6 along with a clean install of my whole system on my dual 1.25 G4 twice. now when it goes to sleep the hard drive spins down, but the power supply is on and the computer needs a forced reboot???? Something with photoshop or photomechanic in the preferences does it.

I installed 10.4.6 on my MacBook Pro in hopes that I would solve a random sleep issue. No problems came from installing, but the random sleep wasn’t solved.

Sorry about your experience, I however had no such problems with my MBP.
I upgraded to 10.4.6 and firmware 1.0 with no problems, in fact, I always upgrade as soon as the upgrades are available. My guess is you didn’t use the Combo Updater, one of the few steps I take when upgrading a system. First, I always fix disk permissions and check the disk using Disk Utility. Next, I download the Combo Updater and install it. Third, after the reboot I again fix permissions. I got into this routine when I worked as a Mac tech. It has served me well and helps me remember to perform some routine maintenance on my computers.

I have not yet installed this firmware but would like to. Many reports of a cooler running system is what i’m after.
Any thoughts on when or if this problem is going to be corrected? Why can’t apple just come out and say everything that the firmware touches?

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