Apple Boot Camp update fixes shutdown issues, causes brightness problems

Boot Camp 3.2 Update for MacBook Pro (early 2011) is a 21.55MB file available from Apple. The software, which allows users to run Microsoft Windows on their Intel-powered Mac computers, requires Windows 7, and applies only to the latest-generation MacBook Pros.

Apple said the update addresses issues that existed with system shutdowns. It also resolves problems with Japanese and korean keyboards.

While the update packed a handful of fixes, users on the official Apple Discussions page have reported that new issues were created with the update. Specifically, numerous Boot Camp users have reported since Thursday that the 3.2 update mistakenly disables the ability to control screen brightness in Windows.

"Clicking the brightness buttons (fn + F1) causes the little brightness icon to come up and move up or down, but the actual screen brightness won't change and stays at 100%," user pwhe23 wrote. "I don't remember this happening before I upgraded."

A number of other users chimed in on the thread, reporting similar results, even with a fresh install of Windows 7. User ckahn said they managed to address the problem by installing the 32-bit version of Windows 7, rather than the 64-bit operating system.

And user Polytonic found a "temporary workaround" by setting the brightness in Mac OS X, then rebooting to Windows. The Mac will apparently remember the brightness setting applied in Mac OS X and it will carry over to Windows upon the system reboot.