"To install macOS High Sierra, a firmware update is required."

So, it seems like I'm not the only one with problems installing High Sierra on a Mac Pro (2010/MacPro 5,1). I too have tried and tried but no success. I've checked my firmware and it matches the one posted by Apple in the above post. I've tried to update the firmware manually, but it tells me "Software not necessary" and shuts down, can't do anything with the Boot Rom, not like I'd want to... I've done what everyone else here has done: SMC and pram reset, running Disk Utility, etc, and nothing. Guess we'll have to wait for a fix for this...until then, I'd say forget it...

John B

The issue for me was caused by my firewire external hard drive. Once I turned off the drive and booted back into the firmware update screen, the firmware loaded quickly and successfully.

The I could install High Sierra.

If you don't have the Shutdown button on the installation window available, then the firmware will not be installed. The update helper needs to copy the firmware update to your computer first, before the shutdown and boot into the firmware update screen.

I got this to work, all I had to do was run the firmware update from an OS, not from a USB drive, You CANNOT update the firmware from a USB drive. After Apple put up El Capitan again on the App Store I simply installed that then downloaded the High Sierra installer from the App Store then ran it and boom it updated.

Quote: Expo Bill - "shame on apple for having us go through this, and still will not ever upgrade or buy anything from them again!"

LOL, Sorry I really have to laugh out loud at that statement. If you are really that mad at Apple, go ahead and buy yourself one of those "state of the art" PCs and deal with all the virus', malware, software glitches and so forth. I have been on both systems since 1984. I was forced to learn PCs to learn how to repair them. I learned Mac because I saw just how good they are. Myself and friends who were leads in IT departments dealt with crappy PCs at work, but we all came home to our Macs, to be able to relax and not deal with the crappy PC systems. There are so many PCs out there in business because they provide JOB SECURITY for IT departments. Most of the PC IT departments I know of have 10-20 techs to keep 100-200 PCs running. Most Mac IT departments have 2-4 people for the same amount of Macs.

Yes, you have encountered a glitch with HS, so have I. Mine does the installation, I can push the "Shutdown Button" and I get the lights and long tone when holding the power button. Then it looks like it is doing its thing, only to have it boot back into macOS 10.12.6. Yes, I am frustrated after repeating this about 10 times (what did they say about doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result?)

The difference on my MacPro is it is a 2009 4.1 that was flashed to be a 5.1 to be able to run Sierra. I also have a SSD mounted onto a Pci-e host card (makes for faster access) along with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB video card.

Now there are a couple of applications that I have to run PC system…via Parallels Desktop, which runs faster than the HP Laptop that I have collecting dust on my desk (because I REALLY hate maintaining it). BUT, they will have to PRY my Macs (I have Mac Pro PowerBook, MacPro tower along with iPad air2, iPad Touch 5) from my cold, dead hands.

Cheers

I am currently upgrading my 2010 Mac Pro to High Sierra. It did properly update the firmware, right as the screen said. Maybe some of you have problems since Macintosh HD is not selected as startup disk? When the CD drive opens, that means that CD has priority over HDD in startup sequence.

A new feature of macOS High Sierra is to programmatically check for firmware update. This is related to the fact that EFI could be one point of weakness that could possibly lead to compromise the entire computer.

If you are interested on the argument you can read here.

You can also check if EFI firmware for your MacPro is the latest available, running this little program developed by the Duo Labs guys.

Back to your issue. Have you tried running High Sierra installation without the internet connection?

Hi - I have the same model Mac Pro (mid-2010, 2.8 GHz Quad) and was having similar issues - but you might want to try the following:

In the instructions in the screen shot you posted, it tells you to hold down the power button until the power indicator light flashes OR you hear a long tone.

The first time I attempted the update I held down the button until the power light flashed and then let go. The long tone happened after I let go of the button and I got a normal looking startup screen (grey Apple logo with black status bar).

Upon restart, I was just taken to the same screen advising me that I needed to update the firmware.

The second time I attempted the update, I kept my finger on the power button past the flashing power light and until the long tone sounded. Only then did I let go of the button.

This time a different (old school/low res) startup screen showed up where both the Apple logo and the status bar were grey. The SuperDrive tray opened, the status bar went to completion and the SuperDrive tray closed itself again.

When the machine restarted it took me to the screen where I could proceed to install High Sierra, which happened successfully.

I'm not sure of the technical reason why this worked, but it did. Hope it helps you too.

I found this article on iFixIt. Even though it is intended to upgrade the 2009 Mac Pro firmware to a 2010 Mac Pro firmware, it is worth reading, especially the "MOST HELPFUL ANSWER" I linked to, that explains the process involving firmware upgrade.

All I can tell you is what worked for me. Ran disk utility-checked ok- ejected hard drive #2( I have 2 hard drives in there)- when doing the firmware update, nothing else should be running at same time. Just do what it says-press and hold the power button until you see the blinking lights AND hear the long tone, then let it go-not before- then you should see the grey screen and the progress bar. I also have a dual boot video card, so I changed the switch on it from 2 to 1, and it worked. Why? Don’t exactly know/ but it did

Jb

2 Firmwares in a MacPro one the Motherboard the other in the CPU the 2 x 6 Cores later upgraded

For the 2009 Mac Pro Firmware update, you need to disable System Integrity Protection first. Here's a quick data dump--I'm about to do this myself. As you may know, some Mac Pro models have been introduced that are identical or very nearly identical to the model that preceded them. Such is the case with the 2007 Mac Pro (MacPro2,1) and the 2010 Mac Pro (MacPro5,1). I decided to see if it was possible to come up with a way to update the firmware on the 2009 Mac Pro with the firmware from the 2010 Mac Pro. The hardware of these models is very close. The only thing that differs is the CPU socket mechanism on the dual CPU model, which uses Xeon CPUs with the IHS (Integrated Heat Spreader) removed, and the SMC firmware version. The CPU socket issue is transparent to the firmware, and the SMC firmware difference between 2009 and 2010 models is not an issue. As long as the SMC firmware version matches between the main board and the CPU board, everything works perfectly.

Hi scoogy.

I had the same problem with my 2009 mac pro. I've updated the firmware to 5.1 ages ago but trying to install this new os from Sierra to High Sierra resulted in the same issue.

The fix for me was to remove my newer non EFT nivida card and put back in the old red ATI card. Once that was done I could update the firmware and then continue with the install as per the instructions... reboot from the install prompt as per you image, on power on, hold the button past the flashes and tone then let go.

TTFN

I had the same issue (firmware update wouldn’t apply, even when following the instructions). For me, the issue seems to have been the third-party video card I was running (a hacked Radeon 7950 that doesn’t have proper boot-time video support). After digging up and installing my original NV120 card, the firmware update applied properly, and I’m currently installing High Sierra.

What finally worked for my 2010 Westmere was:

After clicking on "shut down", I held the power button until after the flashing power light, after the booooooop tone and after the OSX chime. Only then, did I get to the firmware update progress bar. After a reboot, I was able to successfully install HS.

Hopefully, this is helpful for others.

Ugh...I bet that is my problem too. I also have a 2009 bumped up to the 5.1 firmware (in preparation for the Pindelski CPU upgrade), and I have already swapped out the 120 with an nVidia GeForce GTX 660 (which works great btw!). Glad I didn't can the old card. I will swap it back in and see if that cures the problem, and report back.

For the record, my behavior was hold the power button down (until long beep, not flashing light), computer is working for a long time, then boots back into Sierra with same message. I was always able to click the shut down button in the dialog.

What worked for me:

Just keep power button pressed longer! First few attempts I was releasing it after computer wakes up and starts, and was greeted by same "upgrade firmware message".

You need more! For me that was keeping the button for like 30 seconds, waiting for unusual booooooop tone, and than all worked