I have a mid-2010 MacPro. I'm trying to install High Sierra, but I keep getting this message: "To install macOS High Sierra, a firmware update is required." I can't find any firmware updates. I've tried holding the start button down several times, but I still get the message.
Mac Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.6), MacPro 5,1, with 2.8GHz quad-core
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.
Me too. Pressing and holding the power button does nothing. On restart the firmware dialogue is still there.
Mac Pro (Mid 2010)
2 x 2.66 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 4096 MB
I have followed the on screen instructions and the firmware update opens the cd-rom drive. I don't have a cd-rom with the firmware update on it. When I close the cd-rom drive with nothing in it and wait for the firmware update to load nothing happens. And I let it sit for 12 hour, still nothing happened.
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
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.
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.
I'd say it's worth installing El Capitan and and try doing it from there. A fresh install of an OS can do a lot of good and on a Mac it's pretty darn easy.
"To install macOS High Sierra, a firmware update is required."
