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A possible fix to the firmware upgrade problem System
You know the iMac Firmware and Jag issue, right? [See this hint - editor.] I just discovered, and perhaps I'm not the first but I do feel a bit like Columbus, how to get enough video back on the iMac to upgrade the firmware without doing Apple's hokie pokie with FireWire targets and ANA or having to take it to a repair Shop.

The other day I was trying to clear the firmware on an XServe to clear the Open Firmware password. I did this by adding memory and then clearing the PRAM three times. I decided to try it out of desperation on this dead iMac, mostly because this iMac slot loader didn't have FireWire to target my TiG4. After adding RAM, I started the computer, cleared PRAM three times and, "BAM!", an ugly blue screen appeared and then the iMac proceeded to boot into OS 9. You may be able to do this by removing RAM and clearing PRAM three times as well, instead of adding it.

I had to upgrade the OS to 9.2.1 to put the firmware on, and I did it all on this ugly blue screen and "BAM!" after it's success, I succesfully upgraded the firmware! This is the only computer I have tried this fix on; I would love to hear others try it and hopefully their success stories.

[Editor's note: If you've got firmware issues, this might be worth a shot before resorting to the repair shops...]
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A possible fix to the firmware upgrade problem | 8 comments | Create New Account
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hook it up to another monitor
Authored by: syko on Jan 11, '03 10:31:29PM

hook it up to another monitor



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hook it up to another monitor
Authored by: rkleim on Jan 11, '03 11:27:11PM

question -

I have an imac 233 and remember upgrading firmware a couple of years ago. I installed osx 4 months ago and it seems fine. no video problems except maybe the display is about 1/4 inch smaller all around than the screen. It can be fixed using display Sys pref. When I check system profiler under bootrom it says 3.0.f1 - my question is - how can I tell if I really am OK other than redoing the firmware upgrade? thanks



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hook it up to another monitor
Authored by: DMCrimson on Jan 12, '03 05:46:55AM

there's absolutely no way of hooking it to another display unless you take the back cover out, and rev. a-d iMacs have suffered no display problems other than screen ersize and tilt (some 5mm from display borders, tilted some 5° counterclockwise) and there apparently is no fix for this. I've tried zapping pram, booting to OS 9 and adjusting there, booting with MacTestPro and using Apple's DAU (Display Adjustment Utility) to no avail, next reboot, first screen is ok, then it resizes and tilts again...



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Use another monitor
Authored by: bondiblue on Jan 12, '03 01:22:19AM

absolutely agree with the above - many iMac users are unaware there is a VGA socket lurking under a curved cover at the back of the iMac. The video on this works fine even if the iMac screen is blank.

Cheers, Bondi.



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Use another monitor
Authored by: Ledbelly on Jan 14, '03 11:38:08PM

This is an excellent idea and sounds like it would work for the DV models, but not all iMac slot loaders were DV models. Which was my case no DV out and no FW.

Chuck



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Use another monitor
Authored by: m4cg33k on Jun 05, '03 09:42:12PM

luckily I did have a spare monitor and used the vga port hidden under the oval grill.. but then on the first try, the *wake-from-sleep" method got me a blurry blue image, and I reset the monitors to 640x480 @ 256, no problem after that.

btw, firmware 4.1.9 wants to be installed from 9.1; refused anything less.

- z



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A possible fix to the firmware upgrade problem
Authored by: petectid on May 25, '03 05:38:52PM

Worked for me put requires a bit of patience, had to remove memory and put it back in as I lost and gained video, which is poor but sufficient for the task. I did find though after installing Os9 and the update and then the Firmware that the 400Mhz DV Imac would always boot with no video, I discovered that if you held the power button on the front of the Imac it would go to sleep, indicated by an orange pulsing power button, if you than woke the Imac by pressing the power button again it would wake with video. Which after the Firmware update was perfect though I gave the mac about 5 full minutes so that I was sure the Firmware update had completed before I did the above sleep and wake routine. Great fix I am sure this will save a few more people like me who didn't have a spare monitor.

---
Petectid



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A possible fix to the firmware upgrade problem
Authored by: jkendall95 on Jan 14, '04 03:09:27PM

I had a student install Jag, of course I forgot to tell this PC corrupted lad to do the firmware update. I did find a fix, it will require another mac. I used a G3 Blue and White. I took the HD from the iMac 350, used it as the boot drive for the G3. I booted from the 9.2.1 CD, formatted and did a custom install of a universal system. I them placed the firmware update in the startup folder and removed the os assistant. I then removed the HD from the G3 and put it back into the iMac. It started and I followed the firmware update instructions from memory since the screen was still blank. It updated the fimware. It took a few times removing and replacing ram to get it to finally start up, but at least this was a start. The board IS NOT DEAD, as the Apple Techs want you to believe. It does take time to accomplish, but it can be done.



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