Mac Pro (mid-2006) EFI Firmware update (#2): Cannot be installed when booted from RAID startup array; White screens after restar
Mac Pro (mid-2006) EFI Firmware update (#2): Cannot be installed when booted from RAID startup array; White screens after restar
Cannot be installed when booted from RAID startup array If you are booting from a RAID setup, you will not be able to install the EFI Firmware update on your Mac Pro. In order to install the update, you must boot from an alternate, single-drive startup disk. You will then be able to run the firmware updater properly and resume normally booting from your RAID configuration.
MacFixIt reader Robert Fusfeld writes:
"The EFI firmware update will not run from a raid mirrored boot drive. It will run from a clone that is set as the boot drive."
WeirdOz adds:
"My Mac Pro refused to install the currently released Firmware-Updates (EFI- and SMC-Update). The software itself installed flawlessly and also the special sound (a long beep) could be heard after rebooting, indicating that update mode has been enabled. But instead of the expected progress bar, the machine booted normally and claimed that the update has not taken place.
"Digging a little bit deeper, it appeared that the following issue could be the cause: I use a mirrored raid (two internal S-ATA disks converted into a Level-1-RAID by Apple's Disk Utility) as boot partition, and maybe the non-standard boot block scheme prevented the update from getting installed. However, I tried to update again when booted from a standard, non-RAID internal disk, and things went fine."
White screens after restarting A handful of users have reported issues during the restart required for application of the EFI firmware update.
One reader writes:
"Just tried to run this update, followed the instructions (I've updated firmware on dozens of Macs), shutdown the computer, restarted after holding in the power button until blinking light, and the computer restarted to white screen and never went further. I turned the power off with the power button, restarted, and the firmware update program eventually came up asking to be run (phew!). I'll wait and see if others have problems with this before trying again."
[For instructions on installing the EFI firmware update, and a download link, see yesterday's coverage]
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