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mofli

Q: iMac Firmware

Has anyone installed the new iMac Core Duo firmware? What effect has it had on your system? I like to keep up to date, but I also like to know how others are fairing.

If I update the firmware I am doing it for the sake of updating, not to run Boot Camp. I hope that is not the only reason to update. I am not interested in running Boot Camp, as I am perfectly happy waiting until Leopard before I decide if I want to dual boot. I like my iMac the way it is (the way it was meant to be), running OS X.

Thanks.

15-inch PowerBook G4, 20-inch iMac Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.6), Old system that I miss most - My 12-inch iBook G3

Posted on Apr 5, 2006 9:26 AM

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Q: iMac Firmware

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  • by Dirty Hippie,

    Dirty Hippie Dirty Hippie Apr 6, 2006 8:41 AM in response to mofli
    Level 1 (35 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 8:41 AM in response to mofli
    I've updated the firmware without a hitch. 20" iMac with 256meg grfx card and 2Gig of Mem
  • by Michael Murray5,

    Michael Murray5 Michael Murray5 Apr 6, 2006 9:08 AM in response to dentate
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 9:08 AM in response to dentate
    That is not all what I did. I followed the instructions exactly. I was suprised by the "beeep!", but I had no problems.

    I didn't get the message at bootup that I was successful, but then I realized that I should check my login (it auto-logs to my wife's desktop). When I logged in, the correct message was there.

    I slo noticed, my screen brightness was set to the highest setting, but that was the only thing that was different right away. This was following the 10.4.6 update on my Intel 17" 250Gb with 512Mb RAM. Things do seem to run faster for me.
  • by Peter Dino,

    Peter Dino Peter Dino Apr 6, 2006 11:04 AM in response to mofli
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 11:04 AM in response to mofli
    I'm thinking about using Boot Camp but how do you know what Firmware to install? I went to the Firmware page and there's a bunch of them.

    Peter
  • by TAV,

    TAV TAV Apr 6, 2006 11:13 AM in response to Peter Dino
    Level 3 (880 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 11:13 AM in response to Peter Dino
    There are three firmware options (iMac, MBP and Mini) and a resoration CD. Assuming from your sig you are on an iMac, simply install using the first link on the page.
  • by Peter Dino,

    Peter Dino Peter Dino Apr 6, 2006 11:41 AM in response to TAV
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 11:41 AM in response to TAV
    ok. this is the first Firmware: iMac (early 2006) Firmware Update 1.0
    So I install just this one.

    Next question: My Windows XP CD goes back to 2002 and I think it just has SP1. How do I get and install SP2?

    Thanks
  • by TAV,

    TAV TAV Apr 6, 2006 11:57 AM in response to Peter Dino
    Level 3 (880 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 11:57 AM in response to Peter Dino
    As you have a Windows CD I'll assume you have access to a PC. You can make a slipstream CD (it actually might take a DVD due to size) to get a bootable copy of XP SP2 using this guide:

    http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxpsp2slipstream.asp

    You can't try and install your SP1 onto the Mac and update to SP2 later - you'll muck things up good and proper.

    Edit: it is also addressed in this link:

    http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=189
  • by buckleyp,

    buckleyp buckleyp Apr 6, 2006 12:01 PM in response to mofli
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 12:01 PM in response to mofli
    I have just updated the firmware on my 17in iMac (without any problem) and since I was previously having wireless network speed problems (which by the way seem to have been fixed with 10.4.6) checked the airport card firmware version since it was also reported that this could have been the cause of the speed problems.

    This now says 103.2 (3.120.28.3) and I'm pretty sure it said 101.3 before.

    So maybe that was part of the firmware update too?

    iMac 17in core duo   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  
  • by Peter Dino,

    Peter Dino Peter Dino Apr 6, 2006 12:17 PM in response to TAV
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 12:17 PM in response to TAV
    Tav
    I just went to the website that tells you how to get SP2 and create a CD with XP on it......WOW!
    Isn't there and easier way?
    Did you do all that?

    Since my broadband is connected to my Imac now, all I do is reconnect it to my PC ethernet and start downloading?

    I appreciate your help

    Peter
  • by TAV,

    TAV TAV Apr 6, 2006 12:23 PM in response to Peter Dino
    Level 3 (880 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 12:23 PM in response to Peter Dino
    I already had XP Pro SP2, so those steps were not necessary for me. There might be an easier way - you might check the Boot Camp forum here to see if others have ideas - sorry I can't be more help at this stage.
  • by mofli,

    mofli mofli Apr 6, 2006 12:33 PM in response to buckleyp
    Level 2 (345 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 12:33 PM in response to buckleyp
    This is an interesting point. This may be a reason to upgrade your firmware even if you are not intrested in Boot Camp. This could be independant of Boot Camp or simply be to allow the Airport Card to function under Windows, thus making it part-and-parcel with Boot Camp.

    Has anyone else noticed an upgrade in the airport card firmware? Let us know.
  • by mofli,

    mofli mofli Apr 6, 2006 7:30 PM in response to mofli
    Level 2 (345 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 7:30 PM in response to mofli
    I just checked my Airport firmware. It is already 103.2 and I haven't done the firmware upgrade. I guess that rules out that possibility.
  • by TAV,Solvedanswer

    TAV TAV Apr 6, 2006 7:51 PM in response to mofli
    Level 3 (880 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 7:51 PM in response to mofli
    I guess I never actually addressed the poster's question on this thread. I would update my firmware to the newest version (1.0.0) for several reasons, regardless of whether there are noticable improvements or not at this stage, outside of whether I want install Bios so that I can set up a dual boot scenario via Boot Camp.

    Future firmware updates to peripheral devices for the intel Mac will be based on 1.0.0.

    There might be performance and stability issues improved by updating the system's firmware which might or might not become relevant based on the devices you plug into your machine.

    In addition to advantages, you might also see some flaws or bumps (not unlike a OS update), but you need to trust that the end-game is to run everything now - and in the future - as smoothly as possible.

    All additional updates to your firmware and OS will be better served if you are running everything current as of now. That's the baseline with third-party providers - designing firmware updates to accommodate the latest on your system. If you don't keep the machine current and suddenly have printer/camera/etc. firmware updates to balance a firmware version you're not running, then you just took two steps back.

    20" iMac Intel Core Duo 2.0 GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   -Dual Boot XP Pro
  • by Mac Convert,

    Mac Convert Mac Convert Apr 6, 2006 10:41 PM in response to mofli
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Apr 6, 2006 10:41 PM in response to mofli
    On my 20" iMac, after wiping my HD, the Apple iMac firmware update worked first try, after repeatedly failing before I had cleared my HD and reinstalled Macintosh. I'm not sure why a firmware upgrade would be affected by a previous software pack, but apparently it is.
  • by mofli,

    mofli mofli Apr 7, 2006 5:43 AM in response to TAV
    Level 2 (345 points)
    Apr 7, 2006 5:43 AM in response to TAV
    Thank you TAV,

    That was very well put and I think other people such as myself who are sitting on the fence regarding this issue will find help in your answer.

    We might never know if this firmware addresses other issues apart from Boot Camp. However it is good to know that there are additional reasons to instal the upgrade. I was concerned that if I didn't do it now I may be required to do it later to bring myself up to the ready when firmware upgrade number two rolls out.

    I am also encouraged by the reports from those who have successfully updated their systems without any difficulty. This too is a comfort to people preparing to update. Thank you all.

    Cheers.
  • by toonv,

    toonv toonv Apr 7, 2006 11:49 AM in response to mofli
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2006 11:49 AM in response to mofli
    I installed the firmware update following the instructions. After it was done, i got a message that the update was succesfully installed. Now i get this message everytime i restart my mac. I called to the 'Apple care support' technicians and they couldn't solve my problem, they even made it worse. They also told me that it can't be repaired under guarantee. I tried the firmware restoration cd but this doesn't work. Now i have a problem that cost me a lot of money (why have i bought an Apple Care protection Plan?). Apple give no support on there own update.
    My advice: don't install it.


    intel iMac 20" 2GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  
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