EFI Firmware Updates: USB problems continue; possible fix for slowness

USB problems continue We continue to report on significant issues with USB devices, apparent after the recently released Intel-based Mac EFI firmware updates. These include system sluggishness that can be resolved by disconnecting specific devices, as well as problems afflicting individual USB devices.

MacFixIt reader Warren reports an issue with a USB mouse.

"I've been following your coverage and may have something to add. I did the update, and over the last few days I have noticed problems on my MBP 17" 2.33Ghz with my Microsoft Mouse. It is intermittently failing, where the light will go out for a second or two, causing the pointer to stutter annoyingly. Sometimes it will go out all together, and I will need to disconnect and reconnect to get it to work.

"I assumed the mouse was 'on it's way out' until I noticed the coverage about USB and the firmware update.

"There are times when it is fine for long periods, so it is quite irregular and hard to pinpoint. Also,it happened when I had my iPod docked in one of the other ports. When I removed the iPod dock, it seemed to improve/not occur for a sustained period. I also have a firewire drive attached on occasion."

Slowness solved by creating a new user? We've now received reports indicating that system sluggishness after the installation of the recent EFI firmware updates can be resolved by creating a new user.

MacFixIt reader Charles writes:

"I had some slow down in performance on my iMac 17" after the upgrade on one of my account on that iMac. I deleted the account where the slowness appear and create a new one (in my case I didn't have any documents to keep). Now everything is fine. Before the upgrade we could play World of Warcraft, after it was impossible, now it's fine again. And when I move a window on the finder, it's smooth again!."

As noted in this tutorial (which also has instructions for the proper creation of a new user account), one of the most consistently successful workarounds for eliminating a broad group of problems under Mac OS X is the creation of a fresh user account. The problems that can necessitate creation of a new user account are many, but usually involve corruption or some other conflict caused by a file in the User Library folder (~/Library) -- particularly a problematic .plist file, font, etc.

As such, this user's experience would suggest that a user-level file has become corrupt or otherwise problematic after the firmware update. We're still investigating...

Feedback?Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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