About a month ago, we talked about how MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.2 “secretly” resolved problems that 2011 MacBook Pros were having with 6.0Gb/s SATA performance.
Since we posted about the fix, we’ve been hearing from customers that some firmware updates are not fully completing… even though it appears that it is. These failed updates offered no indication that the update didn’t complete.
So a bit of sleuthing on our behalf turned up the culprit. When installing the update using Software Update, the installer informs you that it is recommended that you plug in your MacBook Pro to working power source while installing. This makes sense – the one time you don’t want your battery to go out is when running a firmware update.
However, if you download the update via its Apple KnowledgeBase page, though, the description there states that you must have your MacBook Pro connected to the power connector for installation.
From all the reports we’ve seen, it would appear that the KnowledgeBase instructions are the more accurate or at least more specific. Connecting the power supply while updating your firmware isn’t a recommendation; it’s a requirement.
Taking that requirement mindset even further is that when installing any firmware update on any Mac notebook, make sure you have it connected to its wall outlet power adapter before you start the update. Then, after running the updater, check the Hardware Overview screen in System Profiler and see if the the correct new Boot ROM or SMC version number for the update you’re running is present. If you still have the old version, then you will need to run the update again.
Naturally, this connect to power requirement is already solved for desktop machine users. But if you can think of a way to update a desktop machine like an iMac, Mac Pro, or mini without being connected to power, we’d like to hear about it!
After getting a good night’s sleep to truly absorb the 4S, my take is that it’s a brand new model that doesn’t just offer incremental updates.
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Just wanted to write quick post to reaffirm some sentiments we touched on in 
Lion has arrived and is met with mixed reviews from our panel. Join us as we discuss all the new Macs, the future of Thunderbolt, and other major topics in the tech industry – such as Steve Jobs for President, the iPad and the Comic Book Industry, and when does science fiction become science fact?
Apple’s newest operating system, OS X Lion is due out this month and we’re waiting in anticipation of how it will be received by consumers. With the mixed reactions to iCloud and the almost unanimous discontent with Final Cut Pro X, one can’t help but be curious as to whether the OS will bring together the pride or make some feel like the prey. Additional topics include Fair Use & Copyright infringement, Blu-ray playback in OS X, does your 4g wireless measure up, and much more!