I obtained a Mac Pro 4,1 and checked the serial number with About This Mac. It doesn't show a serial number. I have never seen this before on a Mac Pro. Does anyone have any idea what this might mean? I would be interested in learning more about serial numbers on motherboards, which apparently match the serial number appearing on the case. Is there anything that needs to be done (for legal reasons or otherwise) when replacing the motherboard? When that is done, the serial number on the case will, of course, not match the serial number that comes up in About This Mac.
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MP 1,1-5,1 motherboard without a serial number
- Thread starter cinclodes
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Before you do anything with these machine, please make a dump of the firmware.
See the link in my signature.
See the link in my signature.
Thanks, but I don't have any idea what it means to dump firmware or the reasons for doing so.
The firmware contains the NVRAM section and a LBSN block.
The NVRAM section contains the System Serial Number (SSN), a Sales Order Number, a hardware code,
The LBSN block contains a Logic Board Serial Number and a Build Date.
I'd like to see what's present in a firmware content without those data points.
I wrote a tool to dump (read) the firmware, to write it back (Mac Pro 3,1-5,1 only) and to display and analyse the data.
So I ask you to make this firmware dump file (and send it to me) before you run the tool to serialize the firmware.
At the end I want my tool to detect this blank firmware. (If it has not just empty NVRAM and LBSN streams, what is already detected).
There is a tool around to do that, but first I want to see the firmware dump before adding the serial ;-)
This seems very complicated. I found a video on YouTube that describes a very complicated (and confusing to me) approach. It also seems that it could be a bit risky, in terms of the board getting messed up. I am also concerned about potential legal issues. In my case, I would simply like for the motherboard to have the same serial number as the case, both of which are mine, but it's not clear to me if there could be any legal issues. I will probably just leave it be. Thanks for the suggestions.
Thanks for the warnings, but I don't use any of that stuff. The board actually has a serial number. The only issue is that, since it was a replacement for the original, it doesn't match the serial number on the case.
Thanks for all of the replies and for providing a service to Mac Pro users by making that tool available. Please bear with me; I have been using Macs for over 35 years and Mac Pros since the first model came out, but I'm not very knowledgable about this kind of thing. What is the purpose of doing this dump? Is this something that should be done for back-up purposes on all of my computers? I read in another discussion where someone lost the firmware for their Mac Pro.
yes, you should have backups of your Mac Pro's firmwares. This is not just a "BIOS" like on PCs, it contains machine IDs and your and the system's settings.
There are various problems what could come from a firmware with unhealthy NVRAM. Up to a brick, a Mac what could start no more.
One can get its firmware corrupted with Windows certificates from unsecured UEFI boot - or other occurances what can lead to a botched firmware. Also the chip itself can go defective from being worn out.
So its good to a) have a firmware backup, b) to know if there are problems inside the firmware
and a little c) is: sometimes it helps diagnose problems, like having the bootvars on the wrong ESP.
so yes, backup all your Mac Pros and keep the firmware files.
I could tell: use tool xyz to seralize, but I don't know how accurate this tool works. Thats the reason I want the state before the tool works.
Also: if it goes nuts you want to have the backup to repair it.
There are various problems what could come from a firmware with unhealthy NVRAM. Up to a brick, a Mac what could start no more.
One can get its firmware corrupted with Windows certificates from unsecured UEFI boot - or other occurances what can lead to a botched firmware. Also the chip itself can go defective from being worn out.
So its good to a) have a firmware backup, b) to know if there are problems inside the firmware
and a little c) is: sometimes it helps diagnose problems, like having the bootvars on the wrong ESP.
so yes, backup all your Mac Pros and keep the firmware files.
I could tell: use tool xyz to seralize, but I don't know how accurate this tool works. Thats the reason I want the state before the tool works.
Also: if it goes nuts you want to have the backup to repair it.
On the initial post you said you have no serial.
This is a complicated situation when it comes to the Mac App store and with some Apps licensing.
Having another serial than the case is no problem when you start new with this machine.
Changing a board and so getting a new serial can make headaches with some Apps.
An no, dont just change the serial with a hex editor, its more than just one data point, also it validates the Fsys checksum.
This is a complicated situation when it comes to the Mac App store and with some Apps licensing.
Having another serial than the case is no problem when you start new with this machine.
Changing a board and so getting a new serial can make headaches with some Apps.
An no, dont just change the serial with a hex editor, its more than just one data point, also it validates the Fsys checksum.
I recently acquired several Mac Pros along with enough spare parts to hopefully keep them going for many years. The board on one of them didn't have a serial number. As a side issue, I'm curious how that might have happened? It apparently isn't that uncommon because there is an app out there for fixing it. After making the initial post, I heard about the app and took care of that problem. The board has been replaced on one of the other machines. The serial numbers don't match, but I have decided that this won't matter for my applications. Thanks for all of the info!
My goal was to get this empty firmware dump to add additional analysing for that situation.
Do you have a dump before serializing it?
Do you have a dump before serializing it?
I've got a couple of prototype Macs as well, if you want those firmwares. (Pentium 4 Mac Pro and a proto G5 Mac Pro)
I told you about my tool and alternative approaches. As well as showed a youtube flick.
At least you had asked for support before. So we dont have a dump of such a board Apple sells as spare part.
What a pitty.
At least you can try to dump this board now. To check what is missing. As you run 10.8 or have it available its just running the tool and click backup firmware. Thats all.
It's hard to get what's not understandable.
It's just right-click the app and open it, then selecting <Backup Firmware>
That's all; the files will go to the current user's download folder, as indicated in the app's dialog.
When running on 10.9, you don't need any extra steps, like turning off system integrity policy.
I worked hard to set everything up to allow inexperienced users to create a bootrom backup.
This is often the case when an expert on a topic produces an explanation for people like me, who are clueless about the topic, to be able to understand and apply it. I have been a Mac user since 1987 and a Mac Pro user since the first model came out, but I don't understand 90% or more of the technical stuff that is discussed on this forum. That kind of stuff just isn't within my realm of experience. Sorry that I wasn't able to help.