14 DAY TRIAL // Owners of an Intel-based Macintosh computer who’ve carried out an unsuccessful firmware update are being offered Firmware Restoration CD version 1.9, a package containing a restoration CD image that needs to be burned onto a disc, and used to restore the computer’s firmware.
Basically, users only need to employ the Firmware Restoration CD in rare scenarios of messed up firmware updates.
Unlike your typical software update for applications like Logic Pro (for example), a firmware update talks to the computer in a much more “intimate” manner, so to speak, so it’s crucial that the process runs smooth.
In case something goes wrong during the update process, such as a power outage, your computer may may exhibit strange behavior afterwards.
This is where the Firmware Restoration CD comes and saves the day, by restoring the firmware of your Intel-based Macintosh computer.
From the get go, Apple urges users to note that “Restoring your firmware will reset some of your computer's preferences to defaults.”
It then elaborates:
“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.”
Apple makes an important note saying that, although the restoration CD will work only with Intel-based Macs, those who need to get that disc burned ASAP can even use a PowerPC machine, as it does not affect the way data is written onto the optical media.
“This CD can be created on either a PowerPC or Intel-based Mac, but only works with Intel-based Macs.”
The Mac maker also reveals that a firmware restoration CD cannot be used to refresh an Intel-based Macintosh computer's firmware if a successful update has already been performed.” Simply put: you’ll know when you need it.
Since different computers use different versions of the Restoration CD, it is important that users download the correct CD image by referring to a number of technical notes posted on the Support section of Apple’s web site.
Links to those technotes can be found here.
In order to download and use the software, Mac owners will also have to agree to the Software License Agreement for Firmware Restoration CD 1.9.