1.5.1 firmware successfully installed... but wait, it's not!

Push in the power button and hold long enough until you hear a long chime as the Mac boots up. After the chime, release and Voila. Firmware updated.

Levente Orban wrote:
For the past few weeks I noticed that my Macbook Pro is asking me to install firmware upgrades... I thought to myself how curious, that's a lot of firmware upgrades. Until today I looked at the upgrade a little closer, and it's the same one 1.5.1 firmware upgrade trying to install itself. When I hit install, the firmware downloads and I receive a "successfully installed" message. However, when I look at the ROM version I still see the B02 displayed. Restarting the computer does not help.

In sum, I receive a successful installation message of the 1.5.1 firmware upgrade, but the firmware is not actually applied on my computer. When I run the software update, the firmware installs itself again and again "successfully".

Does anyone have any ideas what might be going on?

I believe you are only seeing the successful installation of the installer itself, not the actual update.
It's a two step process.

Maybe Painkiller is suggesting something different. Read his post more carefully.

From me no, I had used that 'hold down the power button' for something way way back in the day. Just couldn't remember what.
Sorry.

There are two distinct steps in the firmware upgrade.
The installation of the software
The actual installation of the firmware.

When I downloaded 1.5.0, I got the message that the install was successful.
After a few minutes a second window popped up describing the firmware installation.
I clicked restart and the process continued, requiring the holding down of the On button upon reboot.
If you did not wait for or did not see this second window, then you have to actually find and run the software in OS-X and then it will install. You problem is that the upgrade software app has not yet run, which is why step 2 is not working.
I still have mine, so I know where they are located.
Look in your Applications->Utilities folder
The particular app is named
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update.app
Yours may have a slightly different name, since mine is 1.5.0 but you can go by the date.
Run the app and you should see the second window with the firmware install instructions.

Levente Orban wrote:
That solved the problem - Thanks! I am surprised because I saw the "Macbook Pro EFI Firmware Update" run in the top left corner as the computer was shutting down. I guess it did not complete the installation. I never did see the second pre-installation window pop up though....

Thanks everyone for your input!

Glad to have been of assistance. It's always fun and when a problem is solved it's a delight.
Now go and enjoy !