Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

2009 Mac Pro does not boot firmware update?

MacZoltan

MacZoltan

macrumors member
Original poster
May 18, 2016
94
9
So I have a 2009 Mac Pro which seems to boot just fine but I have no display out at all.
So I am wondering if there is any program or image I can use without screen to update the 4.1 firmware as I read about it
that can solve the issue. I would use apple 4.1 official just to overwrite the faulty firmware. With the holing of the power button I would be able to initiate an USB firmware update maybe?
Please advise
 
What makes you think flashing the firmware would solve a display problem?

What model of video card is in the machine? If it's not one made specifically for the Mac Pro or one that specifically has built-in drivers then you would not get any image on it at all.

A firmware flash would not do anything to resolve this. You should troubleshoot the video issue before even thinking about a firmware upgrade.
 
gt120, i did check the diagnostic lights and all the parts in an other mac pro.
all confirmed working and all original apple.
if you check apple reset smc description it says the firmware can cause no display and also i know apple has a program which can reflash a faulty firmware without screen attached.
just cant find it...
should be similar to pc bios flash usbs
 
Are you talking about the firmware restoration CD? You can download it and try it but I believe it only helps when the firmware is totally corrupted (in which case the Mac Pro wouldn't boot). If yours is booting up then I don't think your bootrom is the problem.

If you haven't already, try the GT120 in each of the four PCIe slots. Also, have you tried a PRAM reset?
 
i tried in 2 slot, pram reset i did, restoration disk i would but does not open the tray:)
 
Do you have another GPU you can try? Have you tried the both the mDP and DVI output on the GT120?
 
And are you sure the monitor is working? Cords are all plugged in? Cables are all good? I have been amazed over the years what can instantly go bad.

Lisa
 
MacZoltan said:
gt120, i did check the diagnostic lights and all the parts in an other mac pro.
all confirmed working and all original apple.
if you check apple reset smc description it says the firmware can cause no display and also i know apple has a program which can reflash a faulty firmware without screen attached.
just cant find it...
should be similar to pc bios flash usbs
Click to expand...

Where this come from? Can you make a screen capture and point it out?

I couldn't find it.

https://support.apple.com/en-hk/HT201295
 
bookemdano said:
Do you have another GPU you can try? Have you tried the both the mDP and DVI output on the GT120?
Click to expand...
yes, I tried both
[doublepost=1539256907][/doublepost]
lclev said:
And are you sure the monitor is working? Cords are all plugged in? Cables are all good? I have been amazed over the years what can instantly go bad.

Lisa
Click to expand...
yes it does, I use it for regular testing, it is working right now:)
[doublepost=1539256962][/doublepost]
h9826790 said:
Where this come from? Can you make a screen capture and point it out?

I couldn't find it.

https://support.apple.com/en-hk/HT201295
Click to expand...
next time I should link it,... can find it anymore , but will find it again
 
Did you tried to install 10.11 (most recent that works on a 2009) on a empty disk using another Mac, enabling screen sharing, then installing the HDD on your 4.1 and checking if the Mac works?
 
tsialex said:
Did you tried to install 10.11 (most recent that works on a 2009) on a empty disk using another Mac, enabling screen sharing, then installing the HDD on your 4.1 and checking if the Mac works?
Click to expand...
yes, I do this for years:) that was the first thing.
I mean I did have a clean install of Mavericks popped into the dead mac pro, but nothing.
What do you mean by screen sharing in this situation?
[doublepost=1539422014][/doublepost]did some extended testing, the diagnostic leds see on the picture.
I changed all the parts from a working 4.1 still 0 success.
Tried the restoration dvd but when I hold the power button and it starts blinking it does not give the beeeeeep nor open the tray.
If i open it myself or insert the DVD before does not work either.
Tried all the PCI-E slots with a confirmed working Graphics card, 2 of them both Apple riginal GT120 and 5770.
Running out of ideas:)
The CPU tray works 100% also with original CPUS.
I tried a working DVD rom from an other mac which I used to burn the restoration DVD.

Any suggestion?
 

Attachments

  • 2018-10-13 10.05.19.jpg
    2018-10-13 10.05.19.jpg
    3 MB · Views: 132
MacZoltan said:
yes, I do this for years:) that was the first thing.
I mean I did have a clean install of Mavericks popped into the dead mac pro, but nothing.
What do you mean by screen sharing in this situation?
[doublepost=1539422014][/doublepost]did some extended testing, the diagnostic leds see on the picture.
I changed all the parts from a working 4.1 still 0 success.
Tried the restoration dvd but when I hold the power button and it starts blinking it does not give the beeeeeep nor open the tray.
If i open it myself or insert the DVD before does not work either.
Tried all the PCI-E slots with a confirmed working Graphics card, 2 of them both Apple riginal GT120 and 5770.
Running out of ideas:)
The CPU tray works 100% also with original CPUS.
I tried a working DVD rom from an other mac which I used to burn the restoration DVD.

Any suggestion?
Click to expand...
If you tested all parts, your backplane is the problem. Probably your BootROM is corrupted or you have a hardware problem. The next step is desoldering the SPI flash memory, reprogram it with a external programmer and soldering again.
 
tsialex said:
If you tested all parts, your backplane is the problem. Probably your BootROM is corrupted or you have a hardware problem. The next step is desoldering the SPI flash memory, reprogram it with a external programmer and soldering again.
Click to expand...
never did that neither have the tools, thanks for your reply!
 
I see, thanks. I just sell the case and PSU and other parts and buy an other Mac Pro out of that:)
In the UK parts goes crazy including the backplane... if you can find one, from the US they charge import fee so...
 
MacZoltan said:
I see, thanks. I just sell the case and PSU and other parts and buy an other Mac Pro out of that:)
In the UK parts goes crazy including the backplane... if you can find one, from the US they charge import fee so...
Click to expand...
You don't have a friend that can solder and desolder the SPI flash for you? It's a 8-pin SOIC chip, easy to desolder and easy to program. With $20 you can buy a ch341a plus a SOIC-8 clip to reprogram the SPI flash.
 
tsialex said:
You don't have a friend that can solder and desolder the SPI flash for you? It's a 8-pin SOIC chip, easy to desolder and easy to program. With $20 you can buy a ch341a plus a SOIC-8 clip to reprogram the SPI flash.
Click to expand...
is there any pictured tutorial for that? I might buy a soldering kit myself and that chip
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back