Where can I download Firmware Restoration CD 1.8 for my Mac Pro?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Where can I download Firmware Restoration CD 1.8 for my Mac Pro?

looking for Firmware Restoration CD 1.8 (for Mac Pro 4,1). it's no longer available on the Apple site. anyone have the file?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on May 21, 2025 12:10 PM

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Answer 1

May 21, 2025 2:35 PM in response to andyedel

To the best of our collective knowledge, every Firmware update ever issued for the Mac Pro 4,1 or 5,1 is backward compatible, or was quickly superseded by a version that was properly backward compatible.

There is not now, nor has there ever been, any reason to install older firmware. And that is exactly the reason Apple has removed that firmware, because it is absolutely not needed.

what MacOS are you running now?

what macOS versions do you have in hand and in what form {ISO files, Installer Files, dmg files, release DVDs} ??

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Answer 2

andyedel Author

Level 1

4 points

May 21, 2025 3:17 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

my basic goal is to downgrade the Mac Pro's OS to a version that can run Pro Tools HD, version 10. Pro Tools utilizes PCIe cards for DSP and low-latency monitoring. so i need to use the old Mac Pro. my license is only valid through version 10, so an OS downgrade is required.

Mojave was previously installed, along with a crappy but functional Metal-compatible graphics card. the firmware had been flashed to 5,1.

in my first attempts to downgrade, installation failed at the point where it appeared there could be a graphics issue. i replaced the GPU with the more robust card that was previously installed.

subsequently when downloading OS installer apps the Lion version failed, but i was able to successfully downgrade to El Capitan, which is currently installed and generally working though it exhibits some erratic graphics behavior initially after boot.

i've been able to download additional OS installers, create bootable versions on an external drive, and run the installers; however at completion the installers want to repeat the installation process and when that's attempted they fail. those installer files are my only options.

restoring the Mac Pro's firmware seems like one of the few remaining options, if not the only option. however i'm open to suggestions!

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Answer 3

May 21, 2025 6:34 PM in response to andyedel

<< generally working though it exhibits some erratic graphics behavior initially after boot. >>

That should have been a really strong hint.

Many of the graphics card we take for granted today have Drivers that were only included in later (than the early versions) or MacOS.

To be successful running 10.7 Lion, you need a graphics card whose drivers were included in MacOS Lion.

¿What card or cards do you have on hand, and Readers can look up when their drivers were included in MacOS?

for example, the readily available Mac-firmware 5770 card: Drivers first shipped in MacOS 10.6 8. This means it can NOT boot the 10.6.3 DVD, the last one available, and an older graphics card would be required to INSTALL 10.6 from DVD.

Once upgraded to 10.6.8, that card would RUN just fine.

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Answer 4

May 21, 2025 6:38 PM in response to andyedel

I have several Mac Pro 4,1 updated to Mac Pro 5,1 firmware. They can still boot the 10.6.3 DVD and install 10.6 Snow Leopard. Once installed they run just fine with 5,1 system firmware.

But I can only Install with a graphics card whose Drivers are supported under 10.6.3. I can only RUN 10.6.8 with that same card or a later graphics card whose drivers are included in 10.6.8.

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Answer 5

andyedel Author

Level 1

4 points

May 22, 2025 9:09 AM in response to andyedel

the current GPU shouldn't be a problem; it's the ATI Radeon HD 4870 that was included in the original build. my understanding is that the card requires a minimum of 10.5.6 and is good up to 10.13.6, so it should be fine with my current El Capitan installation as well as Lion. the only reason i previously took it out of service was the lack of support for Metal.

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Answer 6

May 22, 2025 9:51 AM in response to andyedel

crowd-sourced information suggests that radeon 4870 card may require MacOS 10.7 for Drivers, and agrees it is NOT metal-capable.

if it is working properly, you should have no firmware-related problems installing older MacOS.

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Answer 7

May 21, 2025 12:32 PM in response to andyedel

No.

It's been removed because it's not useful for anything.

Please explain why you think you need that might need that outdated useless junk.

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Answer 8

andyedel Author

Level 1

4 points

May 21, 2025 12:49 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

because i have an ailing 4,1. need to run an application supported only up through Lion and trying to restore the machine to its original configuration.

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