Author Topic: YIKES - did anyone see THIS?  (Read 2117 times)

Offline Paddy

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« on: June 27, 2003, 10:19:47 PM »
In case any of you have seen the Firmware updater for hard drives, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to run it if you have an IBM drive. It KILLS them. I have the exact model mentioned in a lot of the posts - in a Sawtooth. It isn't my main drive any more, but I wouldn't want it to go toes up, either - even with the warranty from IBM.

Macfixit story
Apple Discussion thread

BTW - Apple will be doing "maintenance" on their discussion boards tomorrow, so this long and alarming thread may not be available for a while on the 28th.

Software update doesn't show this firmware update, but it was posted on Apple's site on the 19th, and modified on the 24th. I haven't so far come up with any info on whether this "modification" solved the problem and I am NOT about to experiment on my IBM drive in order to find out!

The offending update can be found here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120230

Most of the problems noted seem to be in OS 9, but I wouldn't run it on X either. The weird thing is that the updater was provided by IBM to Apple - and it's killing the IBM drives, many of which are still under warranty - so IBM is having to replace them anyway, even though the stated purpose of the update is to EXTEND the life of IBM drives.  wacko.gif
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Offline sandbox

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2003, 11:12:24 PM »
Thanks Paddy  rolleyes.gif
« Last Edit: June 27, 2003, 11:12:57 PM by sandbox »

Offline pendragon

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2003, 06:48:10 AM »
I too have an IBM drive in my Quicksilver.

After reading of the (numerous) reports and the catastrophic results, I just don't understand why apple has not pulled this updater. Until this issue is fully resolved, I'm not touching this one.

Harv
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~ Voltaire

Offline Gary S

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2003, 10:44:43 AM »
It was in the software update panel yesterday when I went to check for updates on OS X.

I didn't d/l it. clap.gif


I have an IBM in my Quicksilver.
« Last Edit: June 29, 2003, 10:44:05 AM by Gary S »
Gary S

Offline macdoug

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2003, 10:36:13 AM »
That is interesting but I have one question. How do you tell what kind of hard drive you have? I have a G4 Digital  Audio with a 60 G HD.

Offline Gary S

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« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2003, 10:45:48 AM »
I'm really surpeised they still haven't pulled it from the update site.

I can't even get into any of the disscussions at Apple.
Gary S

Offline ClayEM

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YIKES - did anyone see THIS?
« Reply #6 on: June 29, 2003, 11:08:31 AM »
FWIW, I have a G4 Digital Audio (Original 466MHz upgraded with a PowerLogic 1.2 GHz) and have the original 30GB IBM HD(master) and a 40GB Maxtor HD (slave). I ran the Firmware HD updaters for both OS9 and the OSX. I ran the OS9 updater while booted in a Maxtor partition and it updated one of the hard drives...although I don't know which one. I ran the OSX updater also while booted in a separate Maxtor Partition...and although it ran I don't know which hard drive was updated. Apparently one of the HD's didn't need the update...I'm assuming the IBM was the one needing updating.  

The only thing I've noticed that may have changed is now when I start up (in OSX.2.6), items on the Desktop are shown with a black rectangular background just before the Desktop picture shows and then it goes away....So far I've not identified any other anomalies.

macdoug, The System Profiler should identify your HD.  smile.gif

Clay