# Macintosh firmware problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890 "2002-11-15T17:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890/1 "2002-11-15T17:53:12Z")
I’ve got one of the older G3 iMacs, with a 233MHz processor and OS8.5. I want to upgrade it to OS8.6 or 9, but when I try and do so I get a message that I need to update my firmware and to go to the install CD to do so. But I don’t see anything on the install disk that seems to be what it’s asking for. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to go about this, either what it’s asking for from the install CD or where online I may be able to find it? I’ve Googled myself almost to numbness and can’t find anything. Help! ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890/2 "2002-11-15T17:58:34Z")
Dude, [www.apple.com](http://www.apple.com) is the answer to everything. It’s the best manufacturer’s support site out there. From the [knowledge base](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60326&SaveKCWindowURL=http%3A%2F%2Fkbase.info.apple.com%2Fcgi-bin%2FWebObjects%2Fkbase.woa%2Fwa%2FSaveKCToHomePage&searchMode=Assisted&kbhost=kbase.info.apple.com&showButton=false&randomValue=100&showSurvey=false&sessionID=anonymous%7C157859261): > [@](#): > > You can find the update in the CD Extras folder of the Mac OS 8.6 disc or you can download it from the Apple Software Updates Web site at [http://www.apple.com/swupdates](http://www.apple.com/swupdates). > > A list of all updates for each model of the iMac is available in document 58174 titled "iMac: When to Install Available Updaters. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890/3 "2002-11-15T18:19:34Z")
I’ve just now started digging through the Apple site, and I may have found what I need. Any idea what the updater that’s supposed to be on the CD might be called? There’s nothing in the CD Extras folder that says “firmware.” ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890/4 "2002-11-15T18:54:19Z")
OK, try this: [http://download.info.apple.com/Apple\_Support\_Area/Apple\_Software\_Updates/English-North\_American/Macintosh/iMac/iMac\_FirmwareUpdate\_1.2.smi.bin](http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English-North_American/Macintosh/iMac/iMac_FirmwareUpdate_1.2.smi.bin) ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macintosh-firmware-problems/136890/5 "2002-11-16T01:42:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FlyingDragonFan \* > \*\*Any idea what the updater that’s supposed to be on the CD might be called? There’s nothing in the CD Extras folder that says “firmware.” \*\* I got curious, so I checked my own iMac CDs (the orange ones). I know they install OS 9.0, as I’ve used them to install the OS after a hard drive reformatting. And you’re right-- nothing in the Software Install CD’s CD Extras folder has anything to do with firmware updates. Ditto for the Software Restore disc. Then I checked the OS 9 disc I got when I purchased OS X this summer. This CD’s different-- there’s an orange 9 with a white background on it. In this disc’s CD Extras folder, there is indeed a folder called “FirmWare Updates”. It contains seven subfolders which in turn contain firmware updater installers for various Macintosh models. So it appears that the firmware updates aren’t on every OS installer CD. How are you installing the upgrade? I assume you have at least one installer CD, for either OS 8.6 or 9. Which one have you been searching-- the ones that came with your 'puter, or the upgrade CD? Check the upgrade CD if you haven’t been doing so. If you have, well, at least you can find what you need online.