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Need help... DOWNGRADING MacPro 5,1 -> 4,1

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AnimeFunTv

AnimeFunTv

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 7, 2009
218
45
San Antonio
I need to downgrade my original 4,1 (that was upgraded to 5,1 via FW update tool) back to 4,1... reason being need to warranty out the system for an unrelated problem and i’m afraid they won’t be able to help me if the firmware has been modded.

The only thing is it keeps failing to downgrade


Current FW is MP51.0087.B00 that was supplied with High Sierra FW update


I downloaded the patched version of the FW tool http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,852.msg31640.html#msg31640


I kept getting a 5570 error.


I think I have an idea whats going on, I Believe I have to downgrade MP51.0087.B00 to MP51.007F.B03 and then to MP41.0081.B07?


or can it go MP51.0087.B00 right to MP41.0081.B07?


Okay so under OSX High Sierra with SIP disabled, i downloaded both FW packaged from Apple 1.4 & 1.5 with the DMG mounted to the desktop the patched FW utility was able to create a ramdisk and said to shut down.


I did the whole flash procedure (hold power button till light flashes & deep beep) however something isn't right, the apple logo appears and the flash progress bar appears but it goes from 0% to 100% instantly (I'm talking blink and you'll miss it) and nothing happens afterward. If I shut down and reboot, firmware is still MP51.0087.B00


Remember I'm trying to DOWNGRADE, yes, I'm using all the original 4,1 OEM hardware CPU/GPU.


I don't know whats keeping it from flashing or at this point its even possible anymore.


I saved the contents of the ramdisk before I shut it down to attempt the flash

http://www.animefuntv.com/wp-content/uploads/RamDisk.zip

Perhaps someone could help shine some light on this.
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
Suggestion:

1) Download the latest High Sierra, if you don't have it. On the Contents/Resources/Firmware you have the MP51.0087.B00… BootROM.
2) Rename the MP51.007F.B03… to MP51.0088.B00…, replace the MP51.0087.B00… with the renamed BootROM.
3) Run the HS installer, it will ask to shutdown/press power button etc.
4) Check if the "upgrade to the old version" occurred.

You can now downgrade MP51.007F.B03 to MP41.0081.B07 using the procedure on Netkas forum.
Click to expand...


just want to clarify,

Do I need to create a HS usb installer with the swapped out/renamed rom and install it on anothet hard drive?

or within the current HS loaded and running, do i go into the downloaded HS installer file, change out the files and start the HS installer within the HSOS?
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
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tsialex said:
It's more complicated. If you have 10.13.5 installed on a SSD, APFS, you will not boot when downgraded to MP51.007F.B03. So, will be in trouble if you use APFS. I'm not certain if MP51.007F.B03 can boot High Sierra onto a HFS+ disk, but I'm certain that it can't boot a AFPS one.

If I was doing this downgrade, I'd install El Capitan on a HDD, download the 10.13.5 app from the Mac App Store and then I'd start the whole process.

You don't need to create a usb-key installer, just replace the BootROM on /Applications/Install macOS High Sierra/Contents/Resourses/Firmware/ and after that, run the High Sierra installer.
Click to expand...

that’s no problem, i can install a blank hard drive and fresh install el capitan

so when I download HS installer in EC i don’t let it run automatically, i close it and change out the files within the HS installer app, then run the HS installer?
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
No, the Mac Pro Firmware upgrader is dumb as mule. The only check is if the NAME on the file is greater than the actual BootROM. Security wise, it's a disaster.

Remember to do this with a Mac EFI GPU.
Click to expand...


Did as you said, under El Capitan, took the apple MP51.007F.B03 rom, renamed it to MP51.0088.B00, placed it in the HS installer app in the firmware folder, removed the original MP51.0087.B00 from the folder.

Ran the installed and it prompted me to shut down and do the 'FW update'

Unfortunately however, once the apple screen & progress bar appear the progress bar fills up instantly and it just idles, i can shut it off and go back to the system profiler and it still shows MP51.0087.B00.

Now, i'm taking MP51.007F.B03 from the Apple update installer; or do I need to find a MP51.007F.B03 PATCHED?
[doublepost=1531114282][/doublepost]
VanneDC said:
Wow, you have warrenty on your 4,1??
Amazing..
Love the 4,1 btw ;)
Click to expand...

I have to 'virgin' my Mac Pro since I just got it from a reseller and i only have a limited time to return it for any defects. I does have one but not because of the firmware. lol
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
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tsialex said:
View attachment 769673
I've downgraded from 0087 to 0085 last month exactly as I suggested you, do you have 0085 to test the downgrade? Maybe you have to do this by little steps…
Click to expand...

Let me clear things up.

the MP51.007F.B03 rom i'm using is directly from apple, not the one created by the FW upgrade/downgrade tool (perhaps thats why its failing to update?)
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
To me seems that the changes on the firmware are greater than what the Apple firmware update can overcome, I think this has to be done on little steps.

Try downgrading 0087 to 0085, this works. Download Mojave Public Beta (1 or 2, has the same 0085 firmware) and try with it first. If it works ok, we can get from there.
Click to expand...

I might be getting confused on the FW versions...

(original 4,1 MP FW) MP41.0081.B07 - El Capitan <Wanna go back to
(FW Updater Tool 4,1->5,1) MP51.007F.B03 - Sierra
(High Sierra FW Update) MP51.0087.B00 - High Serra <Current

so Mojave has MP51.0085.B00?
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
Yes. Lets try one simpler then that big jump.


Yes, correct.

High Sierra 10.13.5 full installer came with the bugged 0087.
High Sierra 10.13.4 full installer came with 0085. Mojave betas backtracked to that.
High Sierra 10.13.0 full installer came with 0084.



Yes, Mojave Public Beta has 0085. 10.13.5 has 0087 and that update missed the Xeon microcode, so Mojave came back with 0085 to update people on previous versions to the one working.
Click to expand...


Ah, I get it now..

So, i have Mojave's 0085 FW, Do i try and just install Mojave beta and let it do everything by the book and then attempt to downgrade or should I do the whole file swap/rename under el Capitan, with the HS installer?
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
No. If you install Mojave Beta, nothing happens since the firmware update can't downgrade to a previous version. You have to fool it.

Rename the 0085 to 0088, put that on the High Sierra 10.13.5 Firmware folder then do the "upgrade to a earlier version".
[doublepost=1531117744][/doublepost]

Another thing copy the MP51.crc32 from the Mojave Beta to the 10.13.5 full installer View attachment 769683
Click to expand...


Okay, all the files have been moved/renamed, ran HS installer. Shut down.... held the power button and yes! it began flashing the FW, the cd drive ejected and the progress bar is now filling up...... and filled to 100%...... and stuck at 100%........ D:
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
tsialex said:
What peripherals you have installed on your Mac Pro? Another hard drives?

Do you have a PCIe SSD?

What PCIe cards?
Click to expand...

None, its just one hard drive and the original CPU's & GPU, this mac hadn't been upgraded with anything other than the FW.
[doublepost=1531119393][/doublepost]
AnimeFunTv said:
None, its just one hard drive and the original CPU's & GPU, this mac hadn't been upgraded with anything other than the FW.
Click to expand...

Alright, looks like it was successful overall. I let the mac sit since my post about the percentage and it never rebooted. So I took a leap of faith and held the power button to turn it off, once it did, the mac powered up on its own and checked the firmware and nows its MP51.0085.B00!
 
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
Info provide here is obsolete and unsafe, I edited all my posts.
 
Last edited:
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