It might also be worth working out a fix for anyone with their computer out-of-warranty. To this end the following debug information might also be useful
* I could not run the latest firmware update utility because it told me 'my computer does not need the update' * This message persisted even after a complete re-install of OS X/redownload of the firmware utility * I could not find a firmware recovery CD for the macbook pro 5,5 (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2213) (could we modify one of these to use the latest firmware for 5,5?) * More annoyingly, I couldn't get the computer in to the right mode to reflash anyway. The Apple manual says " # Turn on the computer and continue holding the Power button. The sleep LED will blink rapidly, then slowly, then rapidly (3 quick blinks, 3 slow blinks, 3 quick blinks). On Macs that don't have a sleep LED, tones are used instead. Hold down the power button until you hear 3 long tones, then 3 short tones, then 3 long tones. On Macs that use a tray-load optical drive, the tray will open to allow the Restoration CD to be inserted. # Insert the Firmware Restoration CD while the lights are blinking or tones sounding, then release the Power button. A long tone is played once the recovery process has started." However I could not get the '3-quick, 3-long, 3-quick' pattern to occur. I did not try this as many times as I should have done to be certain. I was using the firmware restore cd 1.9, which doesn't list 5,5, but its list is wrong anyway: it incorrectly lists 5,1 as a 2010 model when it is really the mid 2009 17" (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4132 vs http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1320) Here are some useful debug docs that don't jump out of Google as easily as I'd have liked: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2674 - bootup sequence and status lights. I can't correlate anything on their to our problem http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1533 - key combos at startup -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Mactel Support, which is a direct subscriber. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/774089 Title: Booting fails 3 times, works every fourth time after new install of Natty Narwhal amd64 on Macbook Pro Status in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: Dear all, I am experiencing a severe problem after a new install of Natty Narwhal on my Macbook Pro last night: The install worked fine, but after reboot nothing came up except fo a black screen. After forcing the machine off and on multiple times I was able to bring up the rEFIt boot menu by pressing and holding the 'Alt' (or Option) key and I can then boot into MacOSX or Ubuntu without a problem. After restarting / powering off I then have to turn the computer on / off the same number of times (3 or 4, I don't remember exactly) where nothing happens until it works again. I am using a MacbookPro 5,5 (13.3 Inch). My harddisk is setup as follows: 200MB Partition for EFI 20GB Partition for OSX 18.6 GB Partition for / (ext4) 108.49 GB Partition for /home (ext4) 1.86 GB Partition for swap Other people also seem to experience the same issue: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10743955&posted=1#post10743955 This is a pretty big problem for me, so your help is very much appreciated. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04 Package: linux-image-2.6.38-8-generic 2.6.38-8.42 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2 Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.23. Architecture: amd64 ArecordDevices: **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices **** card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: Cirrus Analog [Cirrus Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC0: paul 1487 F.... pulseaudio CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory Card0.Amixer.info: Card hw:0 'NVidia'/'HDA NVidia at 0xd3480000 irq 20' Mixer name : 'Cirrus Logic CS4206' Components : 'HDA:10134206,106b4d00,00100301' Controls : 17 Simple ctrls : 10 Date: Sat Apr 30 14:53:06 2011 HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=55afdc53-85cf-4d37-98c6-fbdd4f1c8482 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1) MachineType: Apple Inc. MacBookPro5,5 ProcEnviron: LANGUAGE=en_US:en PATH=(custom, user) LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=3aad2af7-44e6-4e93-8055-7e1818600eac ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 RelatedPackageVersions: linux-restricted-modules-2.6.38-8-generic N/A linux-backports-modules-2.6.38-8-generic N/A linux-firmware 1.52 SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 06/15/09 dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.bios.version: MBP55.88Z.00AC.B03.0906151708 dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag# dmi.board.name: Mac-F2268AC8 dmi.board.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag# dmi.chassis.type: 10 dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Inc. dmi.chassis.version: Mac-F2268AC8 dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleInc.:bvrMBP55.88Z.00AC.B03.0906151708:bd06/15/09:svnAppleInc.:pnMacBookPro5,5:pvr1.0:rvnAppleInc.:rnMac-F2268AC8:rvr:cvnAppleInc.:ct10:cvrMac-F2268AC8: dmi.product.name: MacBookPro5,5 dmi.product.version: 1.0 dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Inc. _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~mactel-support Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~mactel-support More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

