Jack E. Tilley

Q: Lost firmware (?)

Hi... My iMac Intel, OS X 10.6.8, has lost it's firmware, according to an error message. I can't seem to locate a site where I can d/l a replacement. All install I have is the 10.6.1. and right now I can start the iMac using TechTool's "ProToGo"...then I use 'sleep' but if I shut it down, I get a flashing Folder w/ a ?.

 

Can someone help? I reinstalled the upgrade 10.6.8. ..no help.

 

Thanks, Jack

G5 iMac 2.0ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 3 megs RAM

Posted on Jul 30, 2012 11:43 AM

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Q: Lost firmware (?)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 30, 2012 1:59 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 1:59 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    Do you have the exact wording on that Firmware thing?

     

    Could be many things, we should start with this...

     

    "Try Disk Utility

     

    1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc, then restart the computer while holding the C key.

    2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu at top of the screen. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)

    *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*

    3. Click the First Aid tab.

    4. Select your Mac OS X volume.

    5. Click Repair Disk, (not Repair Permissions). Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."

     

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

     

    Then try a Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.

     

    (Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.)

     

    If perchance you can't find your install Disc, at least try it from the Safe Boot part onward.

  • by Jack E. Tilley,

    Jack E. Tilley Jack E. Tilley Jul 30, 2012 2:45 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 2:45 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks for the tip...BUT...when I start off the DVD after the language thing, it gives me a choice....either use a 'restore' or quit. The items in the 'Utility' pull down are ALL greyed out!

     

    I have upgraded the OS to 10.6.8, the original install disk is 10.6.1 Problem?

     

    Oh yes, if I try loading the DVD, I get a message that it won't work "on this computer"!

     

    I'll accept more ideas heh heh heh Jack

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 30, 2012 2:55 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 2:55 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    Did you try the Safe Boot onward yet?

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Jul 30, 2012 3:08 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 30, 2012 3:08 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    What was the error message? AFAIK, firmware isn't something that gets "lost."  Do you mean you got the Flashing folder with the question mark? That means the system can't find a startup disk to boot from, which, as BDAqua says, could mean many things.

     

    Try booting with the Option (alt) key held down and see if it brings you to a screen where the normal startup volume is present. Then select that and continue booting from it. If you are able to get it booted, go to System Preferences>Startup Disk and make sure the normal startup volume is selected.

     

    Unfortunately, can also mean a failing or failed hard drive.

  • by Jack E. Tilley,

    Jack E. Tilley Jack E. Tilley Jul 30, 2012 3:14 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 3:14 PM in response to BDAqua

    Next on my list. The error message is "Mac OSX 10.6 cannot be installed on this computer".

  • by Jack E. Tilley,

    Jack E. Tilley Jack E. Tilley Jul 30, 2012 3:17 PM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 3:17 PM in response to WZZZ

    I have to hold the "option" key down then I get a big "lock" icon w/ a password space. I enter my master PW and it starts up OK.

  • by BDAqua,Helpful

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 30, 2012 3:27 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 3:27 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    Firmware password protection in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352

     

    Turn it off, or if that doesn't work...

     

    It would block usage of all the startup keys, like C, N, T, D, CMD+s, CMD+Option+p+r, CMD +v, Option, and Shift, as well as booting from anything but the Hard Drive.

     

    Force Removing Password Protection

     

    1) Add or remove DIMMs to change the total amount of RAM in the computer.

     

    2) Then, the PRAM must be reset 3 times. (Command + Option + P + R).

     

    http://www.securemac.com/openfirmwarepasswordprotection.php

  • by Jack E. Tilley,

    Jack E. Tilley Jack E. Tilley Jul 30, 2012 3:32 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 30, 2012 3:32 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks... I'll try anything! I'll be back w/ success or failure! Jack

  • by Jack E. Tilley,

    Jack E. Tilley Jack E. Tilley Jul 31, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 31, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    Password problem  solved! Thanks

     

    Still can't get started unless holding down the 'Option' keep then selecting HD. Startup disk properly selected already.....

     

    And still need help on iBook..... DVD gone bad (can't eject due to apparent physical damage when shipped) and disk that's in it was 'sacrificed" but (my bad) I accidently paced a OS X 3.1 install in. Now I have that OS onstalled. Can't remove the OS X 3.1 disk to usea OS X 5 install disk. Need a way to use the OS X 5 install to work. The usual ports: usb, FW, etc. No app (hardly) works w/ OS X 3.1

     

    No repair person here... only Mac guy closed up and retired!

     

    TIA, Jack

  • by BDAqua,Solvedanswer

    BDAqua BDAqua Jul 31, 2012 12:32 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley
    Level 10 (123,735 points)
    Jul 31, 2012 12:32 PM in response to Jack E. Tilley

    Does it boot into Open  Firmware with CMD+Option+o+f ?

     

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642

     

    reset-nvram (press Enter)

    set-defaults (press Enter)

    reset-all (press Enter)

     

    On the iBook, does it boot into FireWire target disk mode...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

     

    May be possible to eject the Disk using the G5.