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Technology Stocks : Apple Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Linda Kaplan who wrote (22543)	1/15/1999 3:24:00 PM
From: Jeff Hayden	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 213173

Linda, >>>But who here at my house could code the RAM? Could I do that?....<<< Assuming Apple writes a patch to the startup code (which is in flash RAM) you would be able to update the firmware in your new Mac at home. Check out the Apple Tech Info Library at: til.info.apple.com Part of which says: TITLE About iMac Firmware Update Article ID:58179 Created:12/15/98 Modified:12/22/98 TOPIC This article contains the Read Me for the iMac Firmware Update, as well as other relevant information. This software was released by Apple on 18 December, 1998 and is available for downloading from the Apple Software Update web site at apple.com. DISCUSSION What is iMac Firmware Update? iMac Firmware Update is based on customer feedback, and increases the reliability of iMac booting. It is being provided to every iMac customer as preventive maintenance. The iMac Firmware update upgrades the Open Firmware boot ROM code using a simple application downloadable from Apple's web site. Who needs the iMac Firmware Update? Every iMac customer should install this update. This update will only install on iMac computers. What are the requirements for installing iMac Firmware Update? This update can be installed on any iMac worldwide. Currently, the instructions for installing are available only in U.S. English but localized installers will be available soon for other languages, including International English, Spanish, German, French, Swedish, Italian, Japanese. Steps were taken to make this update as simple as possible so that most iMac customers worldwide could download and install this version. What specifically does iMac Firmware address? The update provides three enhancements: 1. Enhanced file system support The new firmware supports all of the extent and extent overflow fields of the HFS/HFS+ file structure. Without this, it was possible for the Mac OS ROM file to stored in the extent and extent overflow fields of the HFS/HFS+ file structure which would prevent the iMac from starting up. In cases where this occurs, all of the data on the hard disk is still preserved, but the iMac won't be able start up from the hard disk until the iMac Firmware updater is run. This issue is extremely rare, but certainly important to address. 2. Dual-image boot ROM The iMac Firmware update installs a second boot ROM image within the flashable ROM. Should there ever be a future firmware update, the second image serves as a backup should the firmware update fail. Although a firmware update failure is highly unlikely, providing the second image would allow the iMac to start up. 3. Hardware protection After installing the iMac Firmware Update, Rev/A iMac computers will be hardware protected against unintentional firmware updates. Like iMac Rev/B units, the NMI Programmer button or Interrupt button will need to be depressed (using a paperclip) prior to starting up iMac to enable the firmware to be updated. This prevents a firmware update from occurring unintentionally. How do I obtain the iMac Firmware Update? Apple is providing iMac Firmware Update at no charge through the Internet. It can be downloaded from the Apple Software Update web site at apple.com. Will Apple be delivering iMac Firmware Update on CD-ROM? No. Customers should obtain the update through Apple's Software Updates web site. How large is the downloadable iMac Firmware Update file? The update is provided in compressed format and incorporates a self-check mechanism to verify that the file has been downloaded completely and without error. The compressed downloadable file is about 1 MB in size. How to Install the Firmware Update ---etc.--- In other words, if an update is written by Apple for the iMac or future Macs - you will be able to download it from the web and install it yourself at your home or office. Jeff