imac Firmware Update problem....

[whynot83706]

I am having a problem with the new iMac firmware update 1.3...for some reason it is giving me an option to update firmware almost every day even though i have already updated firmware....when I check my installed updates I can see it has been updated several times (see photo)....so what should i do?

 

[eji]

so what should i do?

It's better to download the updater separately and then follow the instructions.

The firmware update actually requires several extra steps -- shutting down the iMac, holding the power button, etc -- that for some reason you aren't alerted to when installing via Software Update.

I had this exact same issue. The v1.3 update kept popping up in SU. But when I installed it manually from the .dmg, everything worked fine.

EDIT: If you look in your Utilities folder (Applications > Utilities), you'll find the "iMac EFI Firmware Update" there. So if you like, you can also skip downloading the .dmg I linked to and just double-click on the updater that Software Update has already downloaded.

 

[NilVeres]

I did the update yesterday and I did not have any trouble at all. Just downloaded, told the application to shut it down, press the power button until a long tone sound came up and waited.

 

[eji]

I did the update yesterday and I did not have any trouble at all.

Well, then you had better luck than the both of us.

After installing the v1.3 firmware updater via Software Update, no further instructions were offered. So I had no idea that I had to shut the machine down or press the power button until a long tone sounded. Does that make it clear where the problem stems from?

I don't find posts of the "I personally didn't have any problems" nature very helpful. They refuse to acknowledge a problem and therefore get no closer to a solution.

 

[whynot83706]

Well, then you had better luck than the both of us.

After installing the v1.3 firmware updater via Software Update, no further instructions were offered. So I had no idea that I had to shut the machine down or press the power button until a long tone sounded. Does that make it clear where the problem stems from?

I don't find posts of the "I personally didn't have any problems" nature very helpful. They refuse to acknowledge a problem and therefore get no closer to a solution.

Hey thanks a lot...I have downloaded the file you linked and it did give me simple instructions to follow...

Since I am new to Mac i did not really know whats the process for uploading the firmware...its just weird that I did not got any instructions when used automatic download/upload....

one more time...thanks

 

[bogg]

Hey thanks a lot...I have downloaded the file you linked and it did give me simple instructions to follow...

Since I am new to Mac i did not really know whats the process for uploading the firmware...its just weird that I did not got any instructions when used automatic download/upload....

one more time...thanks

The updater in software update only installs the firmware updating utility, it does not launch it (just as it does not launch iTunes after updating that, or Quicktime and so on).

You have to manually start the firmware updater and there get instructions on how to proceed. I found it equally confusing the first time, but it is quite logical after all.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Well, then you had better luck than the both of us.

After installing the v1.3 firmware updater via Software Update, no further instructions were offered. So I had no idea that I had to shut the machine down or press the power button until a long tone sounded. Does that make it clear where the problem stems from?

I don't find posts of the "I personally didn't have any problems" nature very helpful. They refuse to acknowledge a problem and therefore get no closer to a solution.

In this case there is absolutely nothing wrong with someone posting that they did not share your problems with the software updater.

You're claiming the firmware update offered on the Software Updater is broken because it is not displaying the installation instructions. He replied that it did in fact list the installation instructions for him and installed perfectly. It also displayed and installed just fine for me with the Software Updater.

In fact, yours is the first report I have yet to see of this supposed issue. Is it at all possible that the problem is specific to your machine? I guess the only way you'd find out is if a bunch of people wrote in to describe how they did not share your experiences.

No one is refusing to acknowledge your experience and I'm all for helping you figure out just why it didn't work for you if I can.

As for the poster above who says that the Software Update just downloads the updater and does not run it, yes and no. For me it downloaded it and then executed it so that the installation button was right there waiting to be pressed. I found nothing confusing about it at all.

 

[CWallace]

I am having a problem with the new iMac firmware update 1.3...

When your iMac powers down, you need to press and hold the power key until you hear a very long beep.

At that point, release the power key and the iMac will boot and install the firmware (you will see a progress bar) and then reboot again.

I didn't read the instructions ( ) the first time and just powered it on normally and I received the same screen. But the instructions on that screen say "If you see this screen again, you didn't hold down the power button long enough".

 

[eji]

You're claiming the firmware update offered on the Software Updater is broken because it is not displaying the installation instructions.

I'm not claiming anything either way. All I know is that I had the exact same problem as the OP, and it was fixed by downloading the update separately.

I wouldn't categorize the "no problem here" post as wrong, just unhelpful. The update worked fine for lots of people. Hooray for them. It just didn't work smoothly for us, and this thread is for figuring out possible solutions. It's not a poll asking whom it did or didn't work for.

 

[whynot83706]

As for the poster above who says that the Software Update just downloads the updater and does not run it, yes and no. For me it downloaded it and then executed it so that the installation button was right there waiting to be pressed. I found nothing confusing about it at all.

Although my problem has been resolved....

You are right, firmware was downloaded and executed but it came to the point where it was just sitting there and I was unable to press "Install" key...since there were no vsible instructions I was confused.....

 

[SaSaSushi]

Although my problem has been resolved....

You are right, firmware was downloaded and executed but it came to the point where it was just sitting there and I was unable to press "Install" key...since there were no vsible instructions I was confused.....

I can't remember for certain since I ran the updater the day it was released but don't those instructions appear on the screen after you hit install and it completes the installation? I obviously can't run it again to find out but that is certainly how I recall it. Once you hit install and it finishes it pops up the message with instructions on holding down the power button until the tone sounds.

 

[SaSaSushi]

I'm not claiming anything either way. All I know is that I had the exact same problem as the OP, and it was fixed by downloading the update separately.

I wouldn't categorize the "no problem here" post as wrong, just unhelpful. The update worked fine for lots of people. Hooray for them. It just didn't work smoothly for us, and this thread is for figuring out possible solutions. It's not a poll asking whom it did or didn't work for.

Is it not possible to glean possible solutions by comparing your own system with those who did not experience your problem?

That is not to mention that seeing reports from those who successfully ran the update might be helpful to those reading this that have not yet done their update and might be discouraged otherwise reading only your reports of failure.

There is no reason to get all bent out of shape in any event.

 

[mrpalmer420]

In fact, yours is the first report I have yet to see of this supposed issue. Is it at all possible that the problem is specific to your machine? I guess the only way you'd find out is if a bunch of people wrote in to describe how they did not share your experiences.

I had the same issue. i had no idea i needed to hold down the button. in fact i set the downlads to install overnight i clicked the restrt button and went to bed. Woke up 6 hours later to a blank Desktop screen. Only when i held down the Power button out of frustration did the machine reboot and i realised that this is what i needed to do.

 

[Salmar]

The instructions did appear on the software update and of course I didn't read the instructions carefully and it didn't work the first time. I did exactly what CWallace in the above post did. Maybe we should both learn to follow directions the first time, right CWallace?? I'm a recent switcher so that probably explains it. But hey, we live and learn.

 

[kerwin]

Same problem

I am having the same problems, I thought I was the only one having the particular update problem. It shows all the steps completely, then when it asks you to click shut down on the firmware update screen, it does shut down the imac. Problem is when i hold down the power button all it does it make the chime that the imac makes whenever you power up and then shuts off on its own. Am I holding down the power button too long? If I release it right after the chime, it shows a small bar that quickly fills up and disappears which i thought was a quick firmware update, and when the machine automatically reboots, it just shows the update screen once again, saying you have to repeats steps 2,3 and 4.

I have repeated this several times with no luck. I can't get my bootcamp to load windows it just freezes at the screen that says now starting windows and gets stuck. Although if i instal my windows thru vmware's fusion it works without a hitch.

I just need some answers to help me out like:
1. how long do i keep the power button pressed?
2. is it normal that after holding down the power it starts up then shuts down? (do i keep the power depressed for several more mins?)

I hope someone can assist me.

Best regards,

Kerwin

 

[babsvii]

hey i have a question for you all... when i came on my computer today there was the update u are all talking about... so i went to update it and it tells me i cant cause it has to be guild partition or something... i know nothing about this and dont understand why my computer came to me with out being able to be updated.... also if i go and do the manual update someone had suggested it tells me that my computer doesnt need this update... and then if i go and search for updates it tells me i do??? how is this possible what am i supposed to do?

 

[lee.perrin]

External hard drive

Hi there

I just updated my firmware and my macbook pro won't except my external hard drive.

Is there a easy fix?