Help: Stuck in an infinite loop with firmware update

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Level 1

11 points

Help: Stuck in an infinite loop with firmware update

Need some help here.

I have a 2013 21.5" iMac, running Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9.

Recently, during a firmware update, my kids pulled the cord (they claim innocence). Now, when I boot the machine, it goes to the white firmware update screen, does the full progress bar, and then shuts down.

It doesn't restart itself.

When I power it back on, it does the firmware update again.

How can I fix this? I have access to other Macs, USB keydrives, Firewire cable, etc. Just need to know exactly what to do. Tried searching the web, but didn't find an answer for this situation. I'd rather resolve myself than truck it down to the Apple Store.

Posted on Jul 6, 2014 5:51 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jul 6, 2014 6:03 PM in response to adamnash

Firmware updates not being installed

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Answer 2

adamnash Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 6, 2014 6:10 PM in response to Linc Davis

I'm not sure I see the connection. The users in (all) of these other threads had updates that kept appearing in their app store as updates. I'm stuck in a boot-sequence that keeps installing a firmware update over and over again.

I could theoretically boot of a Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks USB keydrive and try to reinstall Mac OS X, but will it even apply that over a new OS without wiping the drive?

I was imagining a simpler solution, something like:

- Boot off Mac OS X 10.9 USB Key

- Run Disk Utility, etc

Or something like:

- Boot the iMac in target disk mode, plugged into another mac by Thunderbolt

- Go to this folder - delete it

- Go to this plist - edit it

Not trying to be difficult, but doing a clean wipe & full restore will have it's own issues.

Adam

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Jul 6, 2014 6:21 PM in response to adamnash

You can try this:

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

If that doesn't work, see below.

Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional—ask if you need guidance.

If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.

Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair

Apple also recommends that you deauthorize a device in the iTunes Store before having it serviced.

*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

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Answer 4

Jul 6, 2014 6:48 PM in response to adamnash

IIn addition to Linc,s answer I find that a simple restart of your computer before you attempt to update your firmware.

I Find this to be a big plus for you no matter for firmware or any download like. Updating Software

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Answer 5

adamnash Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 7, 2014 8:27 PM in response to Linc Davis

The symptoms here are definitely not the same as any described for the SMC reset. And reformatting the hard drive is exactly what I want to avoid.

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Answer 6

adamnash Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 7, 2014 8:27 PM in response to Donald Morgan

If you re-read my issue, you'll see that restarting the computer is not possible. I boot the computer, it installs the firmware update, then shuts down. When I boot it again, it repeats. It never is in the Finder, I can never "restart".

Adam

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Answer 7

adamnash Author

Level 1

11 points

Jul 10, 2014 8:17 PM in response to adamnash

I posting the answer here, since I didn't get a valid one and someone may come looking for this issue some day.

The reason it was stuck in an infinite loop was... the hard drive could not mount. When my kids pulled the power cord, they must have hard crashed the drive. So the firmware update installed, but failed to be able to mark the hard drive as a boot drive.

To diagnose, I held down the Control-Key at boot. This gave me the startup manager for Mac OS 10.9, which allowed me to boot off a USB Key Drive I had set up as a bootable Install Mac OS X drive. Using Disk Utility, I could not repair the volume. But I could repair the partition map of the hard drive, re-partition around the bad blocks, and then do a clean install of Mac OS X 10.9.

Fortunately, I have dual backups, so restoring the machine will not be a problem. But it was surprising to me that I could not repair the volume, only repair at the partition level.

Adam

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