iMac 17,1 (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) EFI firmware update failures

[zorinlynx]

There have been numerous reports of this iMac model not updating to the latest EFI firmware and being stuck on 170.0.0.0.0. My machine has this problem, along with many others who commented on this post:

Do you have an iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015? (iMac17,1)

Many users of iMac 17,1 models – described officially as the iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015 – have been unable to get those Macs to update their firmware. I’m hearing reports th…

eclecticlight.co

This failure to update the firmware has been happening for some time; 170.0.0.0.0 is from the Mojave days. The reason I'm posting about this here is to bring some attention to this issue, so hopefully we can either collectively come to a solution, or get Apple to fix the problem.

If you have an iMac 17,1 (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), updated to the latest version of Catalina (released Tuesday), post your EFI version here so we can get more data. This information is available in Apple -> About this Mac -> System Report under "Boot ROM version".

 

[jazz1]

There have been numerous reports of this iMac model not updating to the latest EFI firmware and being stuck on 170.0.0.0.0. My machine has this problem, along with many others who commented on this post:

Do you have an iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015? (iMac17,1)

Many users of iMac 17,1 models – described officially as the iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015 – have been unable to get those Macs to update their firmware. I’m hearing reports th…

eclecticlight.co

This failure to update the firmware has been happening for some time; 170.0.0.0.0 is from the Mojave days. The reason I'm posting about this here is to bring some attention to this issue, so hopefully we can either collectively come to a solution, or get Apple to fix the problem.

If you have an iMac 17,1 (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), updated to the latest version of Catalina (released Tuesday), post your EFI version here so we can get more data. This information is available in Apple -> About this Mac -> System Report under "Boot ROM version".

Will do tomorrow.

 

[724699]

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 16 GB
Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.34f3
Hardware UUID: E29E92CA-E71D-5502-B554-3C9ACADF5709

On the same firmware myself, didn't know there was an update! I've not seen any errors whatsoever, so this doesn't seem pressing but I'm sure there are security updates and compatibility updates. I've read to fix this, you have to boot from a bootable USB stick and complete wipe the internal drive, then re-install MacOS without formatting it to force a firmware update.

Any truth to this?

 

[Philuk20]

I have the same problem. Same iMac. Been happening for weeks and I though I’d been hacked. Glad I’m not alone. Today tried a fresh Sierra install then App Store update to Catalina. Firmware still stuck at 170.0.0.0.0 getting errors periodically and iTunes library reports damaged after a while with High Sierra OS or above. Will see if Sierra is stable...

 

[jazz1]

There have been numerous reports of this iMac model not updating to the latest EFI firmware and being stuck on 170.0.0.0.0. My machine has this problem, along with many others who commented on this post:

Do you have an iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015? (iMac17,1)

Many users of iMac 17,1 models – described officially as the iMac Retina 5K 27-inch Late 2015 – have been unable to get those Macs to update their firmware. I’m hearing reports th…

eclecticlight.co

This failure to update the firmware has been happening for some time; 170.0.0.0.0 is from the Mojave days. The reason I'm posting about this here is to bring some attention to this issue, so hopefully we can either collectively come to a solution, or get Apple to fix the problem.

If you have an iMac 17,1 (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), updated to the latest version of Catalina (released Tuesday), post your EFI version here so we can get more data. This information is available in Apple -> About this Mac -> System Report under "Boot ROM version".

176.0.0.0.0 is my Boot Rom version with 10.15.4 OS. Is this the latest? Still, mine re-boots or crashes while sleeping almost every night. I've got some OWC RAM on the way. I'm hoping this might help. Heck it couldn't hurt

Has anyone asked Apple about this firmware issue?

 

[holty]

Yep go here : https://eclecticlight.co/category/macs/

 

[MilaM]

Same here. Two iMacs 17,1 (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015) stuck on Boot ROM Version 170.0.0.0.0.

Today's update hasn't changed the situation. Fortunately the OS (Mojave) is stable and no issues.

 

[vangeliis]

And here. Also stuck to 170.0.0.0.0

Apple has been telling me there is a problem with my iMac but offer no solution. How can I update my iMac's efi firmware to the latest version?

I'm on the latest Catalina.

/usr/libexec/firmwarecheckers/eficheck/eficheck --integrity-check
EFI Version: IM171.xxx.F000.B00.19xxxxxxxx (Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0)
Matching allowlist not found in EFIAllowListShipping. Searching in EFIAllowListAll.
Fetching allowlist data update.
Waiting for allowlist data download to complete.
Downloadable allowlist data update is already present on system or cannot be found on server.
Primary allowlist version match not found for version IM171.xxx.F000.B00.19xxxxxxxx (Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0).

 

[rgmenke]

I've tried everything recommended so far, even a wipe and new install and still get the same result. The last step would be to take it to the Apple Store but that seems like a silly thing to get over an obvious bug.

 

[legaleye3000]

I got my EFI firmware to update on my Late 2015 27inch iMac. I'm not 100% what did it, but this is what I did... I installed a brand new ssd (not an addition, a replacement) and installed macOS fresh from a thumb drive version 10.15.5 supplemental. I did not clone.

Before installing the new ssd, I tried wiping all partitions, etc., which did not work. I believe the issue, I could be wrong, that prevents all of us from updating is something with the EFI partition that remains.

 

[rgmenke]

Thanks for the info. I reformatted the drive so you may be on to some hidden remnant remaining. It does seem odd that this particular model is the most affected.

 

[vangeliis]

I got my EFI firmware to update on my Late 2015 27inch iMac. I'm not 100% what did it, but this is what I did... I installed a brand new ssd (not an addition, a replacement) and installed macOS fresh from a thumb drive version 10.15.5 supplemental. I did not clone.

Before installing the new ssd, I tried wiping all partitions, etc., which did not work. I believe the issue, I could be wrong, that prevents all of us from updating is something with the EFI partition that remains.

Please can you share the updated EFI and Boot ROM Version?

Many thanks,
vangeliis

 

[legaleye3000]

Boot ROM Version: 178.0.0.0.0

 

[rgmenke]

Same: Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0

 

[vtec]

I recently just bought this Mac from Facebook market...dont know what version it originally came with, but as soon as I got it home I un-fused the Fusion drive, replaced the 1TB drive with a Samsung 860 EVO SSD, and installed a fresh copy of Catalina from a USB stick. Here is what mine shows:

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 8 GB
Boot ROM Version: 428.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.33f12

 

[Realityck]

Just saw this thread,

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7

Boot ROM Version: 428.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.34f3

This what it is with also a fresh install of 10.15.6 Catalina

 

[rgmenke]

Has anyone had an iMac 17,1 upgrade the firmware with non-Apple memory installed? It shouldn't matter but I was curious?

 

[rgmenke]

I spent 2+ hours on the phone with Apple yesterday without a solution or an effort to fix it. Basically, I was told that if the updater didn't update it... then it shouldn't be updated. They also questioned how I know that there is newer firmware out there...

 

[Mikey86uk]

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 16 GB
Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0

 

[pwm86]

Catalina 10.15.6 (19G73)

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i7
Processor Speed: 4 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 8 MB
Hyper-Threading Technology: Enabled
Memory: 32 GB
Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.34f3

 

[youvan]

10.15.6 (19G73)

Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 3.3 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 16 GB
Boot ROM Version: 170.0.0.0.0
SMC Version (system): 2.34f3

 

[zeratul75]

iMac 17,1 with i5 6500@3,2ghz
Latest Catalina

Boot rom 428.0.0.0.0
Smc 2.33f12

 

[rgmenke]

Upgrading to the Big Sur consumer beta 1 did not upgrade the firmware. Still stuck on 170.

 

[ThugFreak]

Deleted

 

[rgmenke]

Public Beta 2 still no update. 170.0.0.0.0