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Resolve 12" PowerBook kernel panics with firmware update System
If you have a new PowerBook 12" model, and it's having kernel panics after updating to Mac OS X 10.2.5, here's one potential solution: Take your powerbook to the nearest Apple Service Center to have your firmware updated.

I have had two instances already; one I tried to resolve by doing a full hardware diagnostic, and also did a fresh system restore, but I still had kernel panics. In the end, we discovered the firmware had to be updated which solved the problem.

The process of updating the firmware is a quick and painless, should not take more than 30 minutes.

[robg adds: This is the first I've heard of a firmware update for the 12" PowerBooks, and I have no way to easily verify whether it's true or not. Still, it might be beneficial to ask the question if you've got a machine that continues to panic despite all the usual troubleshooting techniques.]
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Resolve 12" PowerBook kernel panics with firmware update | 6 comments | Create New Account
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Version?
Authored by: displaced on Apr 30, '03 10:53:07AM

Maybe it's be useful if the hint submitter could tell us the firmware version they're now using?

/Applications/Utilities/Apple System Profiler will provide this info. Look on the 'System Profile' tab, 'Hardware Overview' section. The firmware revision's displayed as the Boot ROM Info

I'm thinking that any firmware update should soon find its way onto the Apple website for download, just like previous firmware updates have.



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Version?
Authored by: dknecht on Apr 30, '03 11:12:40AM

My machine just came back from Apple Repair and i have Boot Rom: 4.5.5f4. Does anybody have anything newer?



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Version?
Authored by: Ralph on Apr 30, '03 11:39:54AM

mine has 4.5.5f4 too, as it came from factory (serial number uv304...)

we are apple certified portable technicians here in europe and never heard about such an update (yet?)



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Resolve PowerBook kernel panics with firmware update
Authored by: Cormacolinde on Apr 30, '03 01:47:48PM

I'm an authorized service technician, and work for an authorized
service provider, and I've never heard of a firmware update nor
can I find anything on apple's Service Source web site.

This appears to be a case of a customer misunderstanding what
he's been told or of a technician lying to his customer.



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Resolve 12" PowerBook kernel panics with firmware update
Authored by: JohnDrakeX on Apr 30, '03 09:28:46PM

Ditto here, last thing I saw updated in Service Source was Mac Test Pro 7.8.1. In my experience whenever Apple updates firmware they usually put it in Software Update so that there's almost NO chance people won't apply it. Compare this to the PC world where you've got to hunt down BIOS updates and even then they're poorly commented and usually require you to boot back into DOS off of a floppy or something, whereas Apple makes it super easy for you. This is also the case for OS X as well, remember the nVidia firmware update?

It's fairly interesting to note that Apple hasn't issued a single firmware update for any CPU since, what, the Cube? They started with the Graphite G4s. Boy do I feel sorry for Yikes owners.. they got bupkus..



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Resolve 12" PowerBook kernel panics with firmware update
Authored by: fenevad on Aug 13, '03 06:27:21PM

I was having frequent kernel panics on a 12" PowerBook and was on the point of having it serviced. I did some web searches and finally found that others have reported the same problem - frquent kernel panics, usually brought on by applying light pressure to the left side of the machine. It turns out the cause is a loose Airport Extreme card.

I opened up the battery compartment on my machine and found that the Airport Extreme care was indeed loose (out of socket by over a mm). I pushed it in and restarted and now no kernel panics.



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