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Mac OS X "performance" update prevents hard-drive stalls
updated 06:10 pm EDT, Wed October 14, 2009
Downloads available for Leopard and Snow Leopard
Apple on Wednesday released performance updates for both its Leopard and Snow Leopard operating systems. The downloads address intermittent stalls caused by hard drives, an issue reported by a a small number of users. The updates do not appear to include any other bug fixes.
Affected systems include MacBook Airs, 13- to 17-inch MacBook Pros, 13-inch MacBooks, iMacs and Mac minis. The Snow Leopard download weighs in around 300KB, while the Leopard update is contained in a 322KB file. [Snow Leopard - download] [Leopard - download]
FIngers Crossed
10/14, 07:06pm reply
Ooh, I can't wait to get home and try this. My MBP (since I got it) has a drive that keeps "nodding off" and parking briefly during regular use, which is annoying. Alternately the external drive attached to my mini server has been suffering from narcolepsy, falling asleep and spinning back up in the middle of relatively heavy data transfer from the network, which is maddening.
That said, I'm not optimistic that this update will help either. Hope springs eternal, though.
Makosuke
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Sweet fancy Moses!!!
10/14, 09:59pm reply
So THAT'S what has been wrong with my iMac!!!!! I have been trying to figure out why, for no reason at all, my iMac will stall (slow response from mouse, can't click anything, etc.) at random times. It appears this is why. Off to DL now....
Mrjinglesusa
Professional Poster
Joined: Feb 2002
Scratch that....
10/14, 10:12pm reply
Apparently I have something else going on. My iMac isn't eligible for the update (Late 2008 20"). :(
Mrjinglesusa
Professional Poster
Joined: Feb 2002
Arghhhh..
10/14, 10:17pm reply
One o of my MacBook's (C2Duo late 2006) have this problem, and is not eligible to this update... anyone know where is the origin of this problem ?
rovissi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2009
hope it works...
10/15, 08:57am reply
it's been maddening when i'm trying to work and have to wait and wait for my drive to spin up, even when i'm not doing anything that requires drive access.
stainboy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2005
It worked for me...
10/15, 09:40am reply
My girlfriend bought a new 13" MacBook Pro in August and recently she started complaining about weird behavior. The thing would start running extremely slowly or just stop for several seconds at a time. I figured she needs to upgrade the RAM to 4GB or I'd just run Disk Warrior and everything would be fine.
I was trying to install ClickToFlash (GET IT!), thinking that maybe Flash sites were choking Safari... and the thing kept stalling. It was ridiculous.
Downloaded and installed the Leopard Performance update and it started working as it should.
Strange. I'd love to find out what the problem really is/was.
JeffHarris
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999