Battery Update 1.2 for MacBook and MacBook Pro Released

Apple has released Battery Update 1.2 for MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. The patch “updates battery firmware and improves battery functionality” and is released after the company discovered that some batteries used in its notebooks may have battery performance issues. However, if the affected batteries do not work properly after the installed Update, Apple will replace these batteries free of charge.

The factors causing the performance issues do not present a safety risk, so users may continue to use current batteries, according to Apple.

This battery update should be run on all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers and extra batteries that were purchased between February 2006 and April 2007.

If, after you have installed the battery update, your battery has any of the symptoms listed below, please make a reservation to bring your computer with its battery to your local Apple Retail Store, or contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), or call your local Apple Support Contact Center. If Apple or an AASP determines that your battery is eligible for replacement, you will receive a new battery, free of charge, even if your MacBook or MacBook Pro is out of warranty.

For MacBook and MacBook Pro systems with Intel Core Duo processors, this program extends repair coverage on the battery for up to two years from the date of purchase of the computer.

Affected batteries will have one or more of the following symptoms:

* Battery is not recognized causing an “X” to appear in the battery icon in the Finder menu bar.
* Battery will not charge when computer is plugged into AC power.
* Battery exhibits low charge capacity/runtime when using a fully charged battery with a battery cycle count (as shown in System Profiler) of less than 300.
* Battery pack is visibly deformed.

If your MacBook or MacBook Pro battery does not have any of the symptoms noted above, your battery does not need to be replaced.

Apple Battery Update Page