Reinstalling with Internet Recovery

[rg13]

Hi, I'm new to Macs and trying to find some information. Basically I have a MacBook Pro 13 that will not boot into the OS. I have a blinking folder with a question mark.

I got into diagnostics and everything checks out good there. I found an article (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4718) that sounds like I can reinstall the OS from the Internet by booting into the Recovery System, but I need a firmware update. So my question is how do I install the required firmware update without being able to boot the OS in the first place?

Am I understanding this right? Is this possible? Thanks

 

[niteflyr]

Do the IR OSX install, then "software update" should install the firmware update.

 

[Weaselboy]

The firmware update was to add the recovery feature to older (2010) Mac portables. If you have not already applied the update there is no way to do it without the OS on there.

Let's back up a bit though.

That question mark means the computer can't find the OS to boot from. That usually means a bad drive or less commonly a bad drive cable (assuming here you did nothing to delete or wreck the OS install).

What year is your Macbook? What do you see if you hold command-r while booting?

 

[alex0002]

If you have been doing your software updates on a regular basis, I would have thought you would have those firmware updates, or at least recent enough. I know that when I did the OS X Lion recovery and then ran the software updates, it updated the EFI and SMC firmware. Do you know when your MacBook Pro was made?

Find the serial number and follow the instructions here:
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

It should tell you the model, e.g. MacBook Pro "Core i5" 2.4 13" Late 2011

What is the model? Is it on this list?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4904