Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Apple Posts Slot-Loading Drive Update

Posted by pudge on from the playing-the-slots dept.

K-dog writes "Apple has posted a firmware update for the slot loading combo drives in Xserves and PowerBooks. 'This update installs new firmware on PowerBook and Xserve Combo drives. The update prevents Combo drives from intermittently failing to eject discs. It's recommended that you install this update to ensure that your Combo drive avoids this problem.' It's kind of ironic that I spent an hour on the phone with Apple trying to get one of our new 12" PB to eject!" I have a new-ish PowerBook G4/867, with a Combo drive, and it reports, "This hardware does not require this update." I wish Apple would be more specific about what systems this is actually for. Or maybe what the problem is.

3 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. Use the force by jlgolson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple Tech:
    *Waves hand*
    "There is no problem with your computer"

    You:
    "There is no problem with my computer"

    Apple Tech:
    "This isn't the update you're looking for"

    You:
    "This isn't the update I'm looking for"

  2. Specific drive by Shishio · · Score: 5, Informative

    I wish Apple would be more specific about what systems this is actually for.

    The firmware update is for newer Powerbooks and Xserves that use the Matshita CW-8122 combo drive. It updates the firmware to version BA21. Previously used combo drives are not affected by the update.

    Check out xlr8yourmac for further info and reports about the firmware update.

    --
    Twelve fingers or one, its how you play. ~Gattaca (Vincent)
  3. Ahh.... makes me yearn... by nettdata · · Score: 5, Funny

    This makes me yearn for the days of the "ejectrode".

    For those of you who don't remember/know, an ejectrode was a device (usually a stretched out paper-clip) that was used to manually extricate floppies out of their drive when they refused to pop out themselves. This was done by pushing the ejectrode into the small hole beside the floppy entrance, as there was no manual ejection button like on most modern floppy drives.

    It was pretty funny, because you would see a few of those around any mac office (at least around our office in the mid 90's), and you knew EXACTLY what they were for.

    It's too bad that the Combo drives have no such feature.

    --



    $0.02 (CDN)