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avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
We cannot get Mac OS 9.1 installed on our imac powerpc g3 333. When we try to install, we get a firmware not appropriate message. My OS Boot ROM is 3.0.f10 but I don't know if that is the same as the firmware version. Anyway, we downloaded firmware 1.2 but we could not find the application named "imac firmware updater" so all we did was to stuffit expand the bin that we downloaded, and then double clicked the expanded file, and all that happened was a quick window popped up and said "verifying" and then nothing happened. We still cannot install 9.1 because of the same firmware error. Are we required to do that trick with the paperclip pushing the reset button by the usb port? Or is there some other action we need to take? The firmware error message says that the firmware I need is in the "CD extras" folder on the install CD, but there is no firmware there, nor is there any firmware updater program there. Pretty sad aint it? Happy holidays from Ron and Diane.
 

electronboy

macrumors 6502
Sep 27, 2005
274
0
This may be the wrong approach, but do you have access to a 9.2 or later install CD?

The firmware updater should have launched and then asked you to shutdown the computer. Each computer then has a different procedure to power it back up to start the firmware update process. Did you ever get the message to shutdown your Mac and begin the update process?
 

umrdad

macrumors member
Dec 13, 2005
74
0
does your machine have firewire? do you have a friend w/firewire computer? sometimes it's easier to use a target disk than trying to do regular install. . . .just happened to think is this an original disk for that exact machine? there were reports of apple being pretty slick about keeping the OS out of the hands of "pirates" . . . .ahoy matey
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
Thanks for your reply.
All I have is the 9.1 CD that I bought from Other World Computing. I could not find any program to do the firmware updating, either on my 8.5.1 hard drive nor on my 9.1 install CD. But when I clicked on the 1.2 firmware that I downloaded from apple, all that happened was an animated status bar saying "verifying....." and then nothing happened; no shutdown request, no message about beginning the update process. Ideas?
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
Thanks for replying. I will check to see if I have the firewire port, but how would I use that for this situation with the firmware? The 9.1 CD is one that I just purchased from Other World Computing for $40. Ideas?
 

840quadra

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,490
6,391
Twin Cities Minnesota
You either need to update the firmware on your system, or you are trying to install OS 9.1 from the wrong media. If the media you are using to istall it with came from the restore pack for an other system, you will not be able to "Legally" install it onto this system.

If it is the correct Restore CD, after a point in time Apple forced a specific set of restore disks to only work from within OS X. If this is the case of your disk, you will need to have OS X installed first, and execute the install from within. You can then set your startup disk to boot from classic.

For firmware information from Apple
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75130

For more help and a good thread on this
http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-13960.html
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
Thanks for your reply.
I do realize that I must install different firmware on my system - that's what I have been trying to do actually. I downloaded firmware 1.2 from apple and I cannot get the system to do the update. I have tried booting from the 9.1 CD and from the 8.5.1 hard drive, and neither has any imac firmware updater program. My system is a tray loading CD not a slot loading CD. The 9.1 CD is one that I just purchased from Other World Computing. Should I return the CD and ask for a refund? The CD appears to be a true Apple CD.
 

840quadra

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,490
6,391
Twin Cities Minnesota
Have you tried to install the OS when booted into os 8.6? Or does it just kick you out and attempt to boot from it?

::EDIT::

The Imac Firmware update program should be included in the file you attempted to open. The fact that the program closed itself is ok as it is intended to be run from within OS 9.0 or higher.

Have you attempted to install the older Firmware 1.0? What does it do when you attempt this install?

A good URL for updates on the iMac line
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58174
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
Have not tried to install the OS when booted into my 8.5.1. The instructions that came with the CD say to boot off the CD and then click on the install and thats when it grouses about my firmware.
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
OK, so what this tells me is to download and install the 2.0 firmware, instead of the 1.2??
Does the 2.0 firmware supersede the 1.2 firmware?
Then I still have the problem with not finding a "imac firmware updater" application. Someone told me that when I double click on the firmware, it builds an icon on my desktop that contains that app - is that true?
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
I just looked at the readme file that comes with the 2.0 firmware and it states, "The iMac CD Firmware Update application places new firmware on the CD-ROM drive to reduce the amount of disc vibration."
Does this mean that it only replaces the firmware on the chip on the CD drive, but it does not replace the system boot firmware??? If so, which firmware should I be installing??
 

840quadra

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,490
6,391
Twin Cities Minnesota
avron said:
I just looked at the readme file that comes with the 2.0 firmware and it states, "The iMac CD Firmware Update application places new firmware on the CD-ROM drive to reduce the amount of disc vibration."
Does this mean that it only replaces the firmware on the chip on the CD drive, but it does not replace the system boot firmware??? If so, which firmware should I be installing??


Unless you are having issues with your CD ROM, skip that and just do the update for the system ROMs or other motherboard updates.
 

avron

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 5, 2005
14
0
Sorry, I am being obtuse. Are you saying to install 2.0 or 1.2?
 
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