Actually I found the solution on Netkas.org. The site was down for a good portion of today and I wasn't abel to search their archives.
Apparently all you have to do is this:
Download the Mac Pro Firmware update 1.5 (MacProEFIUpdate.dmg) from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321
With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image.
Run the Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool. It will automatically locate the package and proceed to the next phase of reboot and power switch hold until the little light above the power button begins to flash or you hear a long beep.
There is no need to rename or replace anything. The Firmware Tool grabs the package and proceeds with the process with no 5570 error message.
Hope this helps other Mac Pro 2009 users who are attempting this firmware update.
You appear to have misread my post, flehman. I got the install dialogue to pop up once, indeed, by following that formula. But upon the restart, the firmware had not changed, and now I am unable to get the firmware to install 'again', even though it didn't take. In addition, I am no longer getting the 5570 error, but rather 5530.
I didn't misread your post. I was confirming the correctness of that solution for people who encounter the 5570 error. In your case, maybe try running the firmware update tool off a Mavericks or Yosemite install in case El Capitan and SIP is still the culprit. Or, you could try running the "downgrade" to 4,1 firmware and then re-attempt. Try zapping PRAM a few times. Disconnect all unnecessary peripherals/hardware. Maybe safe mode or single user mode? Just spitballing at this point.
I didn't misread your post. I was confirming the correctness of that solution for people who encounter the 5570 error. In your case, maybe try running the firmware update tool off a Mavericks or Yosemite install in case El Capitan and SIP is still the culprit. Or, you could try running the "downgrade" to 4,1 firmware and then re-attempt. Try zapping PRAM a few times. Disconnect all unnecessary peripherals/hardware. Maybe safe mode or single user mode? Just spitballing at this point.
I can't run the downgrade, because the only option on the firmware update took that I can choose is the upgrade option, which fails. Already removed all hardware but the mouse and keyboard. I'll try your other suggestions, and we'll see. I have the sinking feeling, however, that I have hit with uncanny precision a sort of unholy nirvana of "can't go forward, can't go back". Just my luck.
-_- User in Hong Kong is okay with software piracy...shock.
To my way of thinking, firmware 'hacking' is more about enabling disabled capabilities, at least in this implementation. At worst, doing this will void my non-existent warranty on my secondhand Mac Pro. Sure, it occupies an ethical grey area, but I thought that, as a species, we'd moved away from 'all crimes are the same and must be viewed as such'?
Call me cynical, but that's a long ways from downloading a piece of retail software from a torrent site. Just because it's no longer commercially available from the manufacturer doesn't make it suddenly free reign. If we're treading the murky waters of software alteration, my view places "software piracy" a bit farther in the deep end when juxtaposed against "firmware hacking".
These are, of course, totally subjective views, and I don't expect you, or anyone really, to agree with me 100%. But it's a step that I'm just not willing to take.
Finally. The only solution was, indeed, to install Yosemite and apply the update from within 10.10.
Vanity is assuaged.
Will this work on a stock early 2009 Mac Pro 2.66?
Thanks. Just so I don't confuse the issue...this firmware tool is for some other kit or hardware...not just a patch from Apple that I could run on my old Mac? (Also, is there any risk?)
Actually I found the solution on Netkas.org. The site was down for a good portion of today and I wasn't abel to search their archives.
Apparently all you have to do is this:
Download the Mac Pro Firmware update 1.5 (MacProEFIUpdate.dmg) from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321
With the downloaded .dmg on the desktop, double click to mount the image.
Run the Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool. It will automatically locate the package and proceed to the next phase of reboot and power switch hold until the little light above the power button begins to flash or you hear a long beep.
There is no need to rename or replace anything. The Firmware Tool grabs the package and proceeds with the process with no 5570 error message.
Hope this helps other Mac Pro 2009 users who are attempting this firmware update.
So I did all of this on my Quad 266. Held the power button until the flashing led, let go of the power button, then the long tone came on. The grey screen with Apple logo and status bar came up very briefly, then my system rebooted itself. After it started up, I checked system profiler, but still says 4,1.
Tried it twice. No error messages, and proceeds as it's suppose to. But it's not taking. I'm wondering if it's this file that is the issue? http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1321
I'm wondering, because my 4,1's boot rom ends with B04, according to system profiler. Apple's site says early 2009 1.4 firmware boot rom should be B05 (which I'm guessing mine should be, but isn't). And 2010 MP 5,1 1.5 firmware boot rom is B03. Any idea why my boot rom is different? And could this be the reason why they firmware won't update? Any fix?
Thanks