Got an old iMac, need to upgrade the firmware, How?

[bjy20716]

I got an old iMac for free and want to just mess around with it.
I have a 9.2.2 CD but the iMac currently had 8.5
Apple's site says I have to upgrade the firmware to 1.2 first before 9.2.2 will install.
I downloaded iMac_FirmwareUpdate_1.2.smi.bin
And put it on a cdrw and read the cd in the iMac.
How do I update the firmware? I don't see an firmware updater in the control panel type list.

Someone told me I had to extract the file with stuffit but I got the windows version and it cannot read the file.

Thanks.

 

[mdchesne]

if it's a .bin, download stuffit expander for mac (try download.com and search under mac). then doubleclick .bin and it should automatically unstuff. then find the install file and open that. bada-bing!

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: bjy20716
I got an old iMac for free and want to just mess around with it.
I have a 9.2.2 CD but the iMac currently had 8.5
Apple's site says I have to upgrade the firmware to 1.2 first before 9.2.2 will install.
I downloaded iMac_FirmwareUpdate_1.2.smi.bin
And put it on a cdrw and read the cd in the iMac.
How do I update the firmware? I don't see an firmware updater in the control panel type list.

Someone told me I had to extract the file with stuffit but I got the windows version and it cannot read the file.

Thanks.

The Mac, particularly in pre-OS X days, had funny file formats, and you couldn't extract files for the Mac on other platforms (sometimes), so that may be what you're running across. (Resource forks and all that.)

I suggest hooking the Mac up to the internet, downloading the firmware updater straight from Apple, and running it then.

 

[bjy20716]

The iMac came from a school so I think the internet stuff is all deleted.
Something about a alias does not exist.

I downloaded stuffit 7.0.3 classic
StuffItSTD703Classic.sit

I copied that file and the file that was extracted from it
StuffIt STD 703 Classic Install (no file extention)

And put them on a cd to try to use in the iMac but I dont know how to run either file.
Clicking on them does nothing.

Any stuffit 7.0.3 says it needs 8.6 anyways and I have 8.5 on the computer.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: bjy20716
The iMac came from a school so I think the internet stuff is all deleted.
Something about a alias does not exist.

I downloaded stuffit 7.0.3 classic
StuffItSTD703Classic.sit

I copied that file and the file that was extracted from it
StuffIt STD 703 Classic Install (no file extention)

And put them on a cd to try to use in the iMac but I dont know how to run either file.
Clicking on them does nothing.

Any stuffit 7.0.3 says it needs 8.6 anyways and I have 8.5 on the computer.

Again, you'll probably not be able to directly move a file to the Mac unless it's compressed, in which case you'll need the decompressor on the Mac, because you'll have the resources fork issue (which is exactly what you've described).

Do you have a decompression file on the Mac? If so, download the *compressed* version of that file from Apple (the .sit or .hqx version, not the .bin version) and see if that works.

(Bear in mind these are educated guesses; I'm no expert on the old Systems.)

The easiest way is probably just to find someone with a Mac to burn the file(s) to CD for you.

Doesn't the firmware updater come on the System 9 CD? Seems like you should be able to boot from that, run the firmware updater, and then install the OS, but it's been a long time since I've installed a Pre-OSX system on the Mac - perhaps I'm thinking more of OS X.

Say, you might try that - borrow a friend's OS X CDs, and IIRC there's an updater on those CDs. Run that, and you're in business (then you can reboot and install System 9 if you like).

Personally, I'd suggest upping the RAM to 256M or more and then installing OS X. OSs before that point were, to put it kindly, crap.

Oh, and delete the aliases - they're just like shortcuts. Use FIND to find out if you have, say, Internet Explorer or Netscape or similar browsers on the box. Or FTP. Or Fetch. Or something that would let you pull files off of another box with a network.

 

[Scott66]

to start the update process this has to be done by a special "reset" make sure the 1.2 update program is on the desktop. I am pretty sure it is a bin file
If you look on side of the imac where the usb cables and ethernet or modem cables attach, you will see a round recessed button about the diameter of a ink pen refill. You will need a pen to press this button. If look closely at the reset button.it looks like a sine wave drawn on it or what a heart beat looks like on those machines you seen on ER or other hospital TV show.

What you do is restart the computer and press this button with your pen and hold it down until you hear a 1-2 second long beep and then let it go. you should see on the screen some text and then finally a line saying the firmware update is successful. I think it will then ask you to push the power button.

edit : found an apple site
outlining the process

If you are not successful just post back with your problems

 

[dclive]

Scott66: The basic issue has been he can't get the file onto the Mac in a format the Mac understands.

I suggest having a Mac owner (or an Apple Store) burn the software onto a CD.

 

[Scott66]

Mac 8.5 OS already has stuffit expander, do a search of the hard disk for the word "stuffit" and it should point to the application. If you are fortunate enough to have the OS cd it is on it as well .

If you don't have any luck PM me your email address and I will email you an expanded version of it tomorrow when I am using my mac at work. I have it on my flash drive but it is still stuffed

And dclive if you read the complete original post I think bjy had a few questions on how the firmware process works as well.

 

[bjy20716]

I can't do step 1 because if I click on the .bin file it does nothing.

1. Double-click the iMac Firmware Updater icon to start the update.

I guess it is the problem with downloading the file on a PC and moving over to the mac.
I cant get online with the mac tho and don't know anyone with a mac.

If I try to go online I get the error.
Mac OS Error
A system error occured while exucuting an internet scripting command.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[dclive]

How are you "going online"? More details please. Also check Extension Manager to confirm all from-Apple extensions are turned on.

Do you live in a major metropolitan area (or near one) that has an Apple store? Typically they'd be happy to help.

Can you boot from that OS 9 CD? Does it have any firmware updaters on it? Why are you convinced you need to install the firmware prior to doing the OS 9 update? I'd at least try it...

 

[bjy20716]

I cannot boot from the cd but when I put the CD in and click the installer it says I have to have firmware 1.2 first before it will install.

I installed earthlink off the 9.2.2 CD so maybe tomarrow I can get on the web with the earthlink netscape web browser.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: bjy20716
I cannot boot from the cd but when I put the CD in and click the installer it says I have to have firmware 1.2 first before it will install.

I installed earthlink off the 9.2.2 CD so maybe tomarrow I can get on the web with the earthlink netscape web browser.

Sounds like you've got a plan.

The CD should be bootable. Something's wrong with that CD.

 

[bjy20716]

I got the firmware to upgrade.
IE 5 installed with earthlink so I was able to get online and surspisingly the LAN was easy to setup.
The firmware did have to be downloaded on a mac for it to work, and not copied from a PC.
And 9.2.2 installed.