EFI Boot Menu

[Cindori]

i guess you can do it without sending away your logic board

you can

desolder the firmware chip

program a EFI flasher utility

extract firmware from the update

reflash EFI


Unless you are up to that, no. Send your computer to Apple. The logic board is about 450$.

It's a mac. This is the path you chose

 

[LeeTom]

perhaps it is my logic board...but i'm soo pissed that i have to spend $1000 for another logic board when it was from a simple software update...i mean how can a software update affect hardware like this?

It's very simple. The EFI chip has software on it (firmware) that it requires to run. If, in the middle of an EFI update (which is sometimes included in OS point updates), it gets interrupted, it will not have the firmware it needs to boot the computer. If that is the case, there is no longer a way to update it through the computer, as the computer won't boot. You need to plug it in directly to a chip burner. Or replace the logic board. Seriously though, it's an '08 Mac. Bummer that you didn't get Apple Care!!!

 

[lbodnar]

I somehow have a recollection that if Mac cannot successfully go through its EFI firmware code startup it would eject the superdrive and wait for firmware initialisation CD to be put in. I assume this is how it is inited at the factory or repair facility if the code malfunctions.

Typically you would have a small write-protected boot section in the boot EEPROM that is always protected and gets you out of the hole if you screw up during the flash process.
Also, for the last 10 years any grown up design had either JTAG or custom programming facilities for in-circuit programming of major EEPROMs.

The question is where to get the service CD for the Mac Pro?

Update from the Mac Pro service manual:

Diagnostic LEDs
The Mac Pro logic board includes a set of LEDs to help service providers troubleshoot the
computer. The LEDs are located toward the rear of the logic board, under the memory cage, next
to PCI card slot 1. You can view these LEDs by removing the computer’s side access panel and
looking through the memory cage to the logic board below. LEDs 2, 3, 4, and 5 are normally off
and will automatically illuminate if an error occurs. To read LEDs 1, 6, 7, and 8, you must press the
DIAG_LED button, which is adjacent to the LEDs. To press the DIAG_LED button, use the nylon
probe tool (Apple part number 922-5065).
...
LED 2 CPU B (Lower Processor) Error
LED 3 CPU A (Upper Processor) Error
Normally off. These LEDs come on if an error occurs or if the BootROM is corrupted. They do not
depend on the DIAG_LED button being pressed.
Related symptoms include no video or the computer is hung up. If the BootROM is corrupted,
the optical drive tray should eject, prompting for the insertion of a recovery disc to restore the
BootROM.

Press DIAG_LED button with something non-conductive and see if rightmost LED lights up green. If it does light up then EFI startup process has finished without errors.

 

[hyram]

1) Read up on the firmware restoration on the apple site. You'll need to burn a CD.

2) You should be able to use a paper clip or some sort of small poking device to get the drive open.

3) Insert CD. Get the drive shut, and turn off the computer.

4) Turn on the computer. Hold down the power button. It should beep 3 times slow, 3 times fast, 3 times slow. Sort of like SOS. If it works it should restore. If not, take it to apple.

FYI, this does not always work; as has already been mention, there is a partition in the firmware that should have been safe from the update. As long as this partition is ok then this should work, if it was corrupted then it's off to apple.

Good luck,

hyram

 

[lbodnar]

It should beep 3 times slow, 3 times fast, 3 times slow. Sort of like SOS.

This is OSO
73!

 

[gugucom]

If you cannot get the firmware restored again I would try to find a good AASP who can restore the firmware. It should be less expansive than a logic board replacement.

 

[hyram]

I don't want to come off as botom fishing, but if you don't get it resolved and have to get a new board, keep the old one. I'd be willing to give you a little something for it

It would at least offset the cost of the new one a bit.

 

[hyram]

This is OSO
73!

5x5... I said "like" SOS.

 

[persianz8]

thanks to all and your suggestions. I came to the conclusion that the best thing for me is to take the bloody thing to the store and have them replace my logic board which will cost me $893.83 canadian.

but all of your ideas were helpful had I not tried them myself. THANKS TO ALL..

for the person who is interested in perhaps purchasing my old motherboard, we shal talk once the computer arrives in 7-10 working days!!!!

cheers

 

[hyram]

for the person who is interested in perhaps purchasing my old motherboard, we shal talk once the computer arrives in 7-10 working days!!!!

cheers

Ok... just PM me.

 

[akadmon]

You mean you didn't get Apple Care? If you bought your MP after 12/07/2008, you can still buy it, for a lot less than the cost of a new logic board.

 

[Cindori]

you are only allowed to purchase a logic board if you hand over the old one to Apple. this is a worldwide policy, afaik.

 

[hyram]

Too Bad. If you're handy with a screw driver you could always do this:

http://www.applepalace.com/apple-ma...el-xeon-logic-board-2.8--3.0-ghz-661-4449.asp

 

[Spacedust]

How much do you want for you old logic board ? I really need one - mine is dead ;/

 

[Spacedust]

you are only allowed to purchase a logic board if you hand over the old one to Apple. this is a worldwide policy, afaik.

http://www.sunsetmac.com/apple-logi...c-board-for-2-8-3-0ghz-cpu-661-4449-new-p-403

Does that mean "core exchange" ?

 

[Cindori]

How much do you want for you old logic board ? I really need one - mine is dead ;/

you do realise that his is also?

http://www.sunsetmac.com/apple-logi...c-board-for-2-8-3-0ghz-cpu-661-4449-new-p-403

Does that mean "core exchange" ?

probably

 

[lbodnar]

for the person who is interested in perhaps purchasing my old motherboard, we shal talk once the computer arrives in 7-10 working days!!!!

Just put it on eBay and give us all a link here. However if you send it to Apple or authorised repairer you won't receive your old one back. Remanufacturing Apple's stuff must be very lucrative business. Like reusing ink cartridges.

 

[Darth.nVader]

Hello,
Im new to this forum, and i've been looking around to find some help in regards my EFI issue that i've been having, and so this forum is the closes i could find to my issue.

A few days ago i performed a software update on my Mac Pro (2008 model) and after restarting, the computer would not boot! Infact the power button LED in front of the panel blinks non stop.

after quite a bit of research I found out that the EFI has been delete somehow!

So i took my mac to the apple store where the hopeless Genius guys told me that the logic board has been fried! but that didn't do it for me, so i started to do my own research and found out that the firmware that is housed in the EFI has been removed, now my computer does not boot. Infact the computer will not allow me to perform any startup keys. i wanted to reinstall the OS on t he computer by holding the mouse key so it would eject the cd, but nothing, i tried several shortcut ketys but it still doesn't respond just the flashing LED. no chime, no beeps nothing!

is there a way i can make a bootable USB or FIRE WIRE device that can house the EFI firmware so i can update the EFI, thats if i can somehow make the computer boot with any sort of ext. device?

can anyone please help me out here.
thanks

Maybe, Firmware Restoration CD 1.5

Hope this can help.

About Firmware Restoration CD 1.5
The Firmware Restoration CD can restore the firmware of an Intel-based Macintosh computer.

Note: Restoring your firmware will reset some of your computer's preferences to defaults.
You can only use this to restore the firmware after an interrupted or unsuccessful update. If your computer is already in this state, you'll need to download the software and create the CD on another Macintosh computer, or you can take your computer to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to restore your firmware. This CD can be created on either a PowerPC- or Intel-based Mac, but only works with Intel-based Macs.

Note: This CD cannot be used to return an Intel-based Macintosh computer's firmware to a previous version if a successful update has already been performed.

Download the correct Firmware Restoration CD image

Different computers use different versions of the Restoration CD. Please reference the table below to determine if this version of the Firmware Restoration CD is correct for your machine. If you do not see your computer in this table you may need Firmware Restoration CD 1.3 or Firmware Restoration CD 1.4 or Firmware Restoration CD 1.3 Firmware Restoration CD 1.3:
 

Computer	Model Identifier
Mac Pro (Early 2008)	MacPro3,1
To see your Mac's model information (Model Identifier), follow these steps on the computer you will be using the CD with

 

[Cindori]

wow. never heard of that. good stuff.

 

[Darth.nVader]

EFI has a Restore Mode/Rescue Mode as part of the standard, I've been digging around a bit with EFI.

Some Intel Boards can Load a Rescue Firmware form Disk(CD/USB) and give you a Graphical Shell to do the Restore.

Apple's EFI could be hacked to load EFI from Disk, so one could Test EFI Hacks, such as 64Bit EFI on an Older Intel Mac(32Bit EFI), without Flashing, so no real danger, but I'm still learning how to tie it all together.

 

[hyram]

Darth, Same thing I suggested 15 posts back. Be very careful playing around with this. I've been looking into this as well and while it does hold some promise it isn't the golden egg.

Within Apple's EFI there are 5 firmware volumes, I can tell you what 3 of the 5 are for, I'm still scratching my head on the other 2. Anyway, volume 5 contains the PEI code (Pre EFI Initialization); if this volume has been corrupted then the restoration will not work. And there is a check so that it will only load the correct file. You might be be able to change the name of the firmware you want to load to match what it's looking for, but I haven't tried this yet.

But one word of caution: be very careful, it is very easy to brick your Mac. I suggest thinking this all thru and devising a backup plan so that you have a recovery path should it brick.

 

[lbodnar]

I've been looking into this as well and while it does hold some promise it isn't the golden egg.

Is there any chance to have a look at all 2MB raw image of boot EEPROM?

 

[hyram]

Is there any chance to have a look at all 2MB raw image of boot EEPROM?

Not that hard to do. The files can be pulled from the restoration disks and firmware upgrade packages. Hexedit is your friend.

 

[lbodnar]

Not that hard to do. The files can be pulled from the restoration disks and firmware upgrade packages. Hexedit is your friend.

Then I want to get a busted logic board and read EEPROM in standalone programmer.

 

[hyram]

Then I want to get a busted logic board and read EEPROM in standalone programmer.

It can be done. The files don't match exactly as the EFI keeps some of it's info in volume 4, so this changes somewhat. The other volumes are static.

I'm sending you a PM.