Mac OS X updates disable or damage PowerBooks?
Apple, seriously try and stay out of some product settlements for a few, ok? Not but yesterday the 1/2/3G iPod settlement got wrapped and finalized, and today we come to find out that another suit could be inbound with an open registration of complaints over what apparently occurs to some users when -- of all things -- they update to 10.3.9, 10.4.0, and 10.4.1: their PowerBooks' lower RAM slots go bad. The current operating assumption is that the update actually makes the firmware controller or possibly the chipset get all wonky, which, in turn, may disable the lower memory slot (permanently). Has anyone out there in Engadget-land experienced this issue? Besides airing those grievances in our comments, you can also feel free to air them to the complaints registration site, which may or may not at some point turn into a real life suit. How ya like dem Apples?
[Via TUAW]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Alan @ Dec 28th 2005 11:05AM
I have a powerbook purchased in Dec. of '03 and I haven't had any problems. (running the latest version of tiger)
Michael @ Dec 28th 2005 11:07AM
I purchased a 15" powerbook in September 04 and my lower memory slot has crashed.
Nik @ Dec 28th 2005 11:08AM
Aha...and I really did think my memory just fizzled out. I've got a Powerbook 1.5 Ghz, was loaded with 1GB RAM...now 512 =(
After I upgraded - kapoot...
Anyone have any brilliant fixes?
cooliope @ Dec 28th 2005 11:09AM
I had this happen to mine. After an ugrade. The lower slot was marked as bad. I performed one of the 10.x.y upgrades. The slot came back for a while, then was marked bad again.
Randy @ Dec 28th 2005 11:11AM
This problem happened to me within the last month. My lower ram slot went bonkers and i'm relying on the upper one now.
John Williams @ Dec 28th 2005 11:14AM
I have a 1.5Ghz Powerbook and I added some ram and it recognized it, but it would cause apps to crash, so I took it out.
Garfs @ Dec 28th 2005 11:16AM
the new powerbooks 15" are having an issue about battery that wont charge or decrease drastically performance... I got both problems... ;/
Jason P @ Dec 28th 2005 11:18AM
yep, this happened to mine, had to switch the RAM into the other slot
PG @ Dec 28th 2005 11:20AM
same here... my book is perfect and I have ran all the updates. I even just ran a RAM check and it seems like no matter what I use all the RAM checks out all right.
Tim O. @ Dec 28th 2005 11:24AM
I have gone through the very updates mentioned, yet have had no problems.
Andrew Stone @ Dec 28th 2005 11:28AM
But... i thought Apple products didn't break? I mean... thats what the dude with the Nano t-shirt and the 12 inch powerbook told me down on campus the other day when i used my HP to get on the wireless! Was i decieved?
:-)
(Just messing with ya'll... i have a Mini and love it just as much as my HP laptop.)
Echo_ @ Dec 28th 2005 11:28AM
my lower slot is kapoot
Don K. @ Dec 28th 2005 11:33AM
I've got 4 different PBs around here, from an 800Mhz Ti through the 1.67 Al, and no problems with upgrades on any of them.
Patrick @ Dec 28th 2005 11:38AM
Bad link- it keeps sending me to PayPal. Typical lawyers, eh?:P
elliot Hosch @ Dec 28th 2005 11:43AM
I have a 12 inch powerbook..........no problems.....must only be a few with problems
thisjustin @ Dec 28th 2005 11:44AM
this happened to me. had to take in to the apple store where they sent it out to get the logic board replaced. It took less than a week to get the powerbook back.
WiLLGT09 @ Dec 28th 2005 11:44AM
I have a 12" PowerBook 1.5Ghz that I bought in May 2005. I have been immediately updating to the newest versions of Tiger when they come out, and I have had no problems at all (I'm running 10.4.3). I recently upgraded my RAM also to 1.25GB without any problem.
Raymond @ Dec 28th 2005 11:45AM
Wow, I had no idea this was a widespread problem. My lower memory slot also stopped working after upgrading to Tiger. I just went to my local Apple store yesterday, and I am sending in my 15" PowerBook today to get fixed.
t.p. @ Dec 28th 2005 11:45AM
one of my ram slots died too. never thought about it much...hmmmm.
Robert Karam @ Dec 28th 2005 11:45AM
It happened to my Powerbook 15 in. My memory of 1 GB got cut to 516 MB. Luckily, I have Applecare and got a new motherboard, which fixed the problem.
Kevin @ Dec 28th 2005 11:52AM
The day after I installed Tiger, my lower RAM slot went bad. They said I was the first case they had heard of it. Apparently I was not the last.
Erik @ Dec 28th 2005 11:52AM
My Lower Ram Slot has died as well 15" 1.5GHZ Powerbook
Rob @ Dec 28th 2005 11:54AM
I had two logic boards replaced for this problem. It has been fine since the third board was put in. There used to be a huge thread on Apple discussions about this problem, I'm not sure if is still there. Luckily, I had Applecare and they fixed it pretty quick. It is still pretty annoying when you drop that kind of cash on a laptop.
Josh Mueller @ Dec 28th 2005 11:54AM
I have a 12" Powerbook from 2004 and one day when I went to boot it the only thing that came on was the fan and it was especially loud. I owned the thing for 15 months and then it was dead and deemed unfixable. Grrrr.
tank @ Dec 28th 2005 11:58AM
I have a 15 inch PowerBook purchased in June. I've run all the updates with no problems.
Hugh Demann @ Dec 28th 2005 12:00PM
1.67GHz 15" and a 1.5GHz 15", both have zero problems.
Benjamin @ Dec 28th 2005 12:01PM
15'' 1.33ghz G4 powerbook. (purchased summer of 2004) Maxed out with 2GB ram, running great.
If one of my RAM slots didn't work I wouldn't hesitate to get it fixed through applecare.
aj @ Dec 28th 2005 12:03PM
My brother did the update this weekend, and since has not been able to boot.
The applestore says that the hard drive is tanked.
The machine goes through the boot sequence, but when the status bar gets full, it just hangs. No safe mode, either :(
Pete @ Dec 28th 2005 12:03PM
I have a 1.25GHz PB G4, 1GB DDR SDRAM I'm running 10.3.9 with no problems or issues. Maybe this is on Newer or older PB's? Or maybe from just one factory? We all know how Apple likes to use different manufacturing plants for their hardware.
noahavan @ Dec 28th 2005 12:04PM
I've got no problems whatsoever with my PowerBook.
Jerrod @ Dec 28th 2005 12:06PM
1.5GHz Superdrive Aluminum here...
...No problems through any updates.
((However, I do have a sticky hinge, finnicky latch, and a corroding wrist rest that I eventually need to get fixed under AppleCare... ...if only I could pull myself away from my otherwise OK Powerbook.))
AB @ Dec 28th 2005 12:07PM
I bought a 15" in July 05 with 512Mb from Apple Store in the SF Bay Area, added add'l 512 Mb and within 1 week the system crashed. When I took it to the Apple store in late August to fix, I was told that it will take 2-3 days to get fixed and be shipped to the store (40 miles from Cupertino). I got it back in beginning of October. After complaining to Apple, was told that "this is just the way it is" since they were waiting for a new motherboard from a manufacturer. Love the product, love the store service, HATE the corporate support...
Phelix D @ Dec 28th 2005 12:15PM
There's been a lot of complaints about this for a long time
There's an online petition going with a shedload of signatures about 15inch PowerBooks going tits up which can be found here:
http://lowermemoryslot.editkid.com/
My PowerBook started acting up right after my applecare ran out (great timing I know).
Talking to people at the Apple stores and writing to Apple resulted in nothing for me. It's a good thing that this problems is being exposed on sites like this.
Sometimes I think Apple only react when they start to get enough bad publicity to cause concern. Otherwise they just don't want to know.
Steve @ Dec 28th 2005 12:17PM
I have a 12" Powerbook with no problems....then again, the 12" doesn't have a lower slot - 256 built in ad one slot. Must apply only to 15" and 17".
James @ Dec 28th 2005 12:18PM
My lower RAM slot has died as well on my 15" powerbook. If this is such a widespread problem they need to be fixing the logic boards in house. I can't be out of a laptop for a week. Help engadget!
Mike W. @ Dec 28th 2005 12:21PM
I had the aforementioned problem in my Powerbook (dead RAM slot). I sent it into Apple before the warranty ran out, and they tried to blame it on "liquid damage" -- "we are unable to repair the RAM slot b/c there is liquid damage present, and that would mean we cannot warranty the rest of the Powerbook". I called them out on their bluff, threatened with the atty general and the BBB, and they sent me a fully repaired Powerbook.
deslock @ Dec 28th 2005 12:25PM
I have a 15" 1.5GHz powerbook that came with OS X 10.3something and 512MB RAM.
I added a second 512MB chip into it (total 1GB).
I later upgraded to 10.4 (currently running 10.4.3).
No problems here.
Dave Schroeder @ Dec 28th 2005 12:27PM
What happens to you folks with "dead" RAM slots if you try:
1. Resetting the NVRAM in Open Firmware:
- Hold command-option-O-F (that's the letter O) at boot, and continue holding until a white screen with black text appears
- Issue the commands:
reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all
(The last command here causes a reboot)
OR
2. Resetting the Power Management Unit (it's a long shot, but it's worth a try since it's easy:
- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449#faq11
It would be interesting to see if the RAM slot is magically reenabled, becuase I highly, highly doubt that the RAM slot is "fried". No, let me rephrase: that is DEFINITELY not happening. Additionally, given the amount of PowerBooks we have going through here, this must be an extremely isolated issue, because I haven't seen this happen yet. And lastly, all of the machines in question are all under warranty, so even if something did happen, just get it fixed instead of complaining about it...
By telephone in the US: 1-800-APL-CARE
By visiting any Apple Retail location: http://www.apple.com/retail/
By visiting any Apple Authorized Service Provider: http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service.html
Klar @ Dec 28th 2005 12:29PM
I have not upgraded my RAM, but when I moved to 10.4.0 the modem quit working. That (finally) got fixed with 10.4.2. It was a very long time without the internet.
ibwild511 @ Dec 28th 2005 12:29PM
Powerbook 1.3 12", wen't through the mentioned updates, no problems.
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 28th 2005 12:29PM
My dad installed a 1GB stick into his PowerBook literally yesterday and it started getting random kernel panics. I know it's not the stick since it works fine in my own Powerbook.
I guess this firmware thingy is the problem!
bill @ Dec 28th 2005 12:31PM
My 9 month old PB 12" stopped working (won't boot) after updating from Tiger 10.4.1 to 10.4.3 Took it to the Apple Store where they had to keep it and send it away. The Apple geniuses claim it's a problem with the hard drive. Seems like too much of a coincidence--it never booted up again after the update.
Way to go Apple.
Michiel @ Dec 28th 2005 12:37PM
I have an 1.25GHz Alu Powerbook which had a broken lower slot about a year ago. My reseller replaced the mainboard which fixed the problem. Powerbooks are very picky about memory. I have had SODIMM's not working at all. I'm now running 2 * 1GB Kingston which is great.
Dave Schroeder @ Dec 28th 2005 12:44PM
#38: No, this firmware "thingy" is most likely NOT the problem in your case. What is likely is that you installed bad RAM.
Kevin F @ Dec 28th 2005 12:44PM
I picked up my 15" powerbook in June 2004 and had the lower ram slot go on me as well. They went as far as to replace the mainboard as they simply said I had a defective part. No problem under warranty, but as it stands if this were to happen again it necesitates having the extended warranty on your machine. Scaring people into buying extended warranties is such a PC way of doing things. Having worked as a technician for a few years for a major vendor, it is endorsed by all parties in order to retain residual business off of cheap computers. But a hi-end powerbook, c'mon Stevie!
Michael Abildgaard @ Dec 28th 2005 12:46PM
My iBook RAM slots are fried - could this also be a problem on iBooks ?
Allan @ Dec 28th 2005 12:51PM
This makes me crack up. Nice proprietary solution Apple! Call Windows what you want, rarely do you see issues like this where a memory slot is disabled after an upgrade. Sure, you can have other issues - Windows is far from immune to problems after upgrades - but they don't disable a key part of the whole works.
MACALEX @ Dec 28th 2005 1:03PM
I have the fist Aluminium PB 15" 1.25Ghz since Dec. 03, it came with 10.3 didn't reinstall system since this time just update system, now running 10.4.3 without any problems.
karine @ Dec 28th 2005 1:15PM
Yep, I had this happen to me. I purchased my 15" powerbook in July of '04, it is a 1.25 ghz machine. I had no problems with the ram (and it was both apple branded and 3rd party) until shortly after I did some of the OS updates in early november.
Then i began getting kernel panics. I was told this was a software issue by the apple care people, or something to do with my 3rd party ram. although through all of my own diagnosis, it looked as if the lower slot was dead.
I sent the computer into Apple, who then replaced the motherboard, the hard drive and some other things, returned the computer telling me it was the third party ram that had caused the issues.
it was a nightmare to deal with.
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Dec 28th 2005 1:18PM
#41 - a quote from my own comment:
"I know it's not the stick since it works fine in my own Powerbook."
I placed it in my own Powerbook (as the only stick of RAM) in the top slot and it works perfectly fine.