Do you have an older model 2009 Mac Pro (pre-Trash Can Mac Pro) that could use a makeover? Updating your firmware could give you added benefits such as the ability to install faster processors, faster memory, and newer macOS versions. We show you how!
Mar 24, 2018 If you absolutely cannot have a non-working Mac Pro, then do not perform this upgrade. If you Mac Pro was installed to boot into 32-bit mode for 32-bit drivers for some hardware then this will make that hardware unusable as it defaults into 64-bit mode. Secondly, the firmware upgrade performed in these steps are specifically for a 2009 Mac Pro. Nov 26, 2012 In order to boot mac from usb, select the '.dmg' file (that we've copied on the desktop) for the source folder and drag the usb hard drive for the destination folder. With that done, click on the. Nov 23, 2016 In this video I will show you how to create a bootable USB Flash Drive for macOS Sierra, and will also show you why you need it and how to use it in the future if required. Requirements to create.
Some words of caution
Getting added benefits is great. Bricking your Mac Pro is not. Note that upgrading your firmware could result in a dead system if performed incorrectly. If you absolutely cannot have a non-working Mac Pro, then do not perform this upgrade.
If you Mac Pro was installed to boot into 32-bit mode for 32-bit drivers for some hardware then this will make that hardware unusable as it defaults into 64-bit mode.
Secondly, the firmware upgrade performed in these steps are specifically for a 2009 Mac Pro. Although some have reported success with upgrading firmware on the 2007-2008 Mac Pros, we did not test this and cannot state for certain that these steps will function for you.
Checking your firmware revision
This firmware upgrade for all intents and purposes makes your 2009 Mac Pro into a 2010 Mac Pro. Before getting started, you'll want to see if you are already at the latest firmware revision possible for your Mac.
- On your macOS desktop click .
- Select About This Mac.
Click System Report….
What should appear is a report with a 'Hardware Overview' of your Mac Pro. Look for the Model Identifier entry. If it says 'MacPro5,1' the no upgrade is to be done. If it says, 'MacPro4,1' then an upgrade is applicable.
Pre-upgrade
Before performing the upgrade, make certain that you do not have any unnecessarily attached USB devices plugged in. Attached peripherals can sometimes cause compatibility issues.
Similarly, make certain that your original Mac hardware (or at least officially Apple supported hardware) is what is running inside the computer. Again, non Apple sanctioned hardware can cause compatibility issues.
Upgrading your firmware
The overview of upgrading your firmware is to download the Firmware utility, download the firmware, run the upgrade, and finally check that it all worked out.
- Navigate to the Netkas Forums and download the MacPro2009-2010FirwareTool.zip file.
- Navigate to Apple's support site and download the Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5.
- Move the downloaded MacProEFIUpdate.dmg to your Desktop.
- Double-click the MacProEFIUpdate.dmg and leave the package open on the desktop. Do not double click the *.pkg file.
- Double-click the Mac Pro 2009-2010 Firmware Tool.
- Click Open.
- Read the instructions presented before continuing.
- Click Upgrade to 2010 Firmware.
- Enter your Password if prompted.
- Read the instructions.
Press OK.
- On your desktop click .
- Select Shut Down.
- Press and hold the power button on your Mac Pro until the power indicator flashes, or you hear a long tone, then release the power button and wait.
The update can take some time but do not unplug, shutdown, restart or disturb you mac Pro while the update takes place.
The machine should display a grey screen with the Apple logo while it updates. It will automatically reboot to the login screen when completed.
Check that the upgrade worked
Once the machine is rebooted and you have logged in check the following:
- On your macOS desktop click .
- Select About This Mac.
- Click System Report….
The same system report you looked at earlier should now appear. Look for the Model Identifier entry. If it says 'MacPro5,1' the upgrade completed successfully!
Final comments
Now with your newly updated Mac Pro, you can go forth and peruse the sea of used Westmere Xeon CPUs on eBay for procurement, or install the latest macOS High Sierra. You've just added new life into your old Mac Pro! Have you upgraded your firmware on your Mac Pro? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!
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The BIOS is the Basic Input/Output System that gets your computer up and running before Windows, Linux, or macOS even starts. That is, it’s the firmware on your motherboard that makes everything happen. The BIOS settings can be changed to tweak low-level system hardware settings, enable or disable boot devices, add password protection to your computer, and apply other settings.
Like any configurable part of your computer, the BIOS can get corrupted. You can make inadvertent changes that destabilize your system, fall victim to malware or a botched BIOS upgrade or power outage, or just plain forget your BIOS password. In these cases, resetting your BIOS to its default settings can get you up and running again.
If you are experiencing problems attempting to installing Windows 10 from a USB or DVD, resetting the BIOS might also help. In this article, we’ll take a look at a couple ways you can reset your BIOS back to its original factory state, also known as clearing the CMOS cache.
Clear CMOS Cache on a PC or NVRAM on a Mac
Due to the variety of makes and models, this guide is far from comprehensive, but the basic principles for accessing the BIOS or UEFI firmware interface can be found in our BIOS setup guide.
Finding the setting to reset your BIOS will vary depending on your computer. On my HP desktop and laptop, the reset feature is under the File -> Default Setup menu and is called Restore Factory Settings as default. Users should look for wording relating to Restore Defaults or Factory Default. Usually, you will need to press the F10 to confirm changes before exiting.
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Physically Clearing the CMOS Cache
Another way users can reset their BIOS defaults is by manually resetting a jumper on the motherboard. When I just started working as a system administrator at a local high school, students would enter the BIOS and setup a password locking out other students. Resetting the jumper on the motherboard then applying a standard BIOS password to access prevent access resolved this issue.
Before you begin, ensure your computer is powered down, the power cord is disconnected from the outlet then wait about 30 minutes for your system to be cooled down. Reason why? Some electrical charge might still be present even when powered down and disconnected. You don’t want to risk any chance of electrical shock or damage to components.
Proceed to open the system unit then look for a small jumper—there might be two: one for resetting the BIOS and one for just the BIOS password. Remove both, reconnect the system unit to AC power, boot the system then wait about 10 minutes. Once your BIOS has been reset, reconnect the jumpers, then close the system unit, reconnect external devices, then power on the system.
On my HP desktop, the CMOS jumper is actually a button, which I simply press and hold for about 5 seconds. So, this process varies depending on the make and model of your computer.
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Another method users can attempt is to simply remove the CMOS battery itself. The CMOS battery looks like a small silver coin.
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What about the Mac?
Macintosh computers have a similar setting called the NVRAM (nonvolatile random-access memory). It keeps some information about your Mac such as volume, screen resolution, startup disk, time zone, and recent kernel panic information. Macs are very proprietary, so, any default settings are done externally. Thankfully, it’s very easy to reset them. First, power down your Mac, turn it on then immediately press the following keys at the same time: Option, Command, P, and R. You can release the keys after you hear the startup chime. Apple says you might need to readjust settings for volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and time zone afterward.
That’s a quick look at resetting your BIOS defaults. Let us know in the comments if this something you have done before.