| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to the solid-state drives in MacBook Air computers sold between June 2012 and June 2013 is specific to Apple. This incident has not been reported to have happened again within the same organization [Article 22155].
(b) There is no information in the provided article about a similar incident happening at other organizations or with their products and services. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase is evident in the article. Apple warned about certain solid-state drives in its MacBook Air computers sold between June 2012 and June 2013 that could fail abruptly, leading to data loss. The issue was identified in the flash storage drives, and Apple provided a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system to address the problem. This indicates a failure due to contributing factors introduced during the system development or updates [22155].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is also highlighted in the article. Apple advised owners whose systems were affected by the potential drive failure issue not to install operating system updates or new applications. Users were instructed to leave the system untouched apart from some data and to make regular backups before seeking repair, as only the hard drive - and not the data - would be replaced. This points to a failure due to contributing factors introduced by the operation or misuse of the system [22155]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident related to the MacBook Air solid-state drives failing abruptly is primarily within the system. Apple provided a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system to address the issue. Users were instructed to check for a specific firmware update through the Mac App Store, indicating that the problem and its solution were internal to the MacBook Air system itself [22155].
(b) outside_system: There is no specific mention in the article of the software failure incident being caused by contributing factors originating from outside the system. The focus is on the internal diagnosis, remedy, and replacement process provided by Apple for the affected solid-state drives within the MacBook Air computers [22155]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident in the MacBook Air computers was due to non-human actions, specifically related to the potential failure of certain solid-state drives (SSDs) in the devices. Apple warned that the 64GB and 128GB flash storage drives in the MacBook Air range sold between June 2012 and June 2013 could fail abruptly, leading to data loss. The issue was identified as a potential failure in the SSDs themselves, prompting Apple to offer a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system to address the problem. Users were instructed to check for a firmware update called "Firmware Update 1.1" to determine if their drive was affected, with the software directing users to the support page for replacement options if necessary [Article 22155].
(b) On the other hand, human actions were involved in the process of addressing the software failure incident. Users were required to take specific actions to test and potentially fix the issue with their SSDs. They were instructed to launch the Mac App Store, check for the firmware update, install it while connected to a power source, and run the app to check and install new firmware. If the drive was found to have the data-loss problem, users were directed to the support page for further assistance and replacement options. Additionally, users were advised not to install operating system updates or new applications if their system was affected, emphasizing the importance of making regular backups before seeking repair services [Article 22155]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware |
(a) The software failure incident in the MacBook Air computers sold between June 2012 and June 2013 was related to hardware. Apple warned that certain solid-state drives (SSDs) in the MacBook Air range could fail abruptly, leading to data loss. The issue was specifically with the 64GB and 128GB flash storage drives, and Apple provided a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system to address the problem. Users were instructed to check for a firmware update and if the drive was affected, they were directed to the support page for replacement options. The hardware component affected was the SSD, and Apple offered free replacements for the faulty drives [Article 22155].
(b) The software failure incident was not directly related to software issues but rather to the hardware component of the SSD. Apple provided a firmware update to address the hardware failure, indicating that the root cause of the problem originated in the hardware component of the MacBook Air computers sold during that period [Article 22155]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident related to the MacBook Air solid-state drives is non-malicious. Apple warned that certain 64GB and 128GB flash storage drives in the MacBook Air range sold between June 2012 and June 2013 could fail abruptly, leading to data loss. The company offered a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system to address the issue, and in cases where the problem cannot be fixed, they recommended owners to seek a free replacement [22155]. This indicates that the failure was not due to malicious intent but rather a technical issue with the drives. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to the MacBook Air solid-state drives failing abruptly was not due to poor decisions but rather a technical issue with the drives themselves. Apple provided a software diagnosis and remedy system for affected users and offered free replacements if the problem could not be fixed [22155].
(b) The software failure incident with the MacBook Air solid-state drives was not due to accidental decisions but rather a technical issue with the drives themselves. Apple recommended users to check for a firmware update to address the data-loss problem and provided instructions on how to get the drive replaced if needed [22155]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. Therefore, it is unknown if the failure was due to contributing factors introduced due to lack of professional competence by humans or the development organization.
(b) The software failure incident related to an accidental cause is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article. Therefore, it is unknown if the failure was due to contributing factors introduced accidentally. |
| Duration |
temporary |
The software failure incident related to the solid-state drives in Apple's MacBook Air computers sold between June 2012 and June 2013 can be categorized as a temporary failure. Apple has acknowledged the issue and provided a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system for affected users. They recommend seeking a free replacement if the problem cannot be fixed. Additionally, the company has specified a three-year duration for the program to address this issue, indicating that it is a temporary situation that will be resolved within a defined timeframe [Article 22155]. |
| Behaviour |
crash, other |
(a) crash: The software failure incident in the article is related to a potential crash where the solid-state drives in Apple's MacBook Air computers sold between June 2012 and June 2013 could fail abruptly, resulting in the loss of all data [22155].
(b) omission: There is no specific mention of the software failure incident being related to the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s) in the article.
(c) timing: The software failure incident is not described as a timing issue where the system performs its intended functions correctly but too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident is not related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly.
(e) byzantine: The software failure incident is not described as the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in the article is related to potential data loss due to the failure of the solid-state drives in the MacBook Air computers, prompting Apple to offer a downloadable software diagnosis and remedy system, as well as free replacements for affected drives [22155]. |