iMac Mid 2010 Firmware Update And Ram Problem

[jasongoldworthy]

hi guys


I have been given a brand new iMac mid 2010 21'5 inch model it had 4 GB ram installed default of 2x2GB sticks,

I have tried to put in 4x4GB sticks to bring it up to 16GB but for some reason its constantly rebooting with the ram in
but if I run it wit just 1 stick of 4GB it don't reboot or anything,

ive tested all the ram sticks and they are all working perfectly

now one more issue I've replaced the spinning hard drive with an SSD now its there I can install the original OS which was 10.6 with no problems
but when I try to install high Sierra which is the latest it supports I just get setup started it does it thing then goes to reboot and flashes the ? on the screen after it reboots the first time.

can I ask if this is a firmware problem ?

as I have tried to manually update the firmware but it says it can't ???


thanks for any help.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

hi guys


I have been given a brand new iMac mid 2010 21'5 inch model it had 4 GB ram installed default of 2x2GB sticks,

I have tried to put in 4x4GB sticks to bring it up to 16GB but for some reason its constantly rebooting with the ram in
but if I run it wit just 1 stick of 4GB it don't reboot or anything,

ive tested all the ram sticks and they are all working perfectly

How did you test the RAM sticks? The problem you are describing may mean that the modules are mismatched (having slightly different specs); one or a pair are defective; one or a pair have the wrong specs for your iMac; or one of the slots is defective.

As a general rule, when upgrading RAM, it's best to always buy matching sets, not simply add more. This ensures compatibility amongst the modules since it's plausible that modules even with matching specs may not play well together if from different manufacturers, or even the same manufacturer but made in a different batch run.

now one more issue I've replaced the spinning hard drive with an SSD now its there I can install the original OS which was 10.6 with no problems
but when I try to install high Sierra which is the latest it supports I just get setup started it does it thing then goes to reboot and flashes the ? on the screen after it reboots the first time.

can I ask if this is a firmware problem ?

as I have tried to manually update the firmware but it says it can't ???

I'm not sure why you are having the Sierra issue on an SSD. I've added an SSD myself on 2 different 2010 iMacs and both were upgraded all the way to Mavericks (edit: I meant High Sierra... doh!) over time with no issues. What is the brand/model SSD you are using?

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi lifeisabeach

ive tested all the sticks in my 2011 iMac 27" and can confirm they all work fine in there they are Samsung branded stick running at ddr3 1333mhz

as for the problem with the SSD it seems as if its a firmware issue that prevents APFS volumes from booting,

as during install its converting the SSD to APFS,

the firmware is version 99.00

so I dunno if that's the problem why as I've read it should be on version IM112.0057.03B (2015-002) I can download this version from apple but it won't install.

I have tried to get it to do an update from the High Sierra Package that also contains the firmware but it says it can't be run on its own

maybe im missing something ?

but if I stick the old spinning drive back in it will install no problem,

the SSD is a Sandisk X600

again that drive is fine in my 2011 iMac

thanks

 

[chscag]

High Sierra runs fine with HFS+ as there is no reason to convert the format on that SSD to APFS. Installing Mojave will convert automatically but your iMac can not run Mojave. Also, you probably do not need a firmware update if the firmware you downloaded from Apple refuses to install.

It sounds like that Sandisk SSD may not be compatible.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Since you know the modules are good (the complete specs of the supported type is 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SO-DIMMs, so double check to be sure), then most likely you are looking at a bad slot. This happened to my neighbor recently... he discovered this the hard way when he decided to upgrade his RAM and it kept crashing. He had 4 all-new modules from OWC specific to his model and it worked fine with any 2 of the new modules in the slots that the originals were in, but not with all four. Unfortunately he was long out of warranty by then.

As for the SSD, I'm baffled. I quite honestly would return it and order something known to work with Macs. I used OWC's Aura line of SSDs in the 2 iMacs I upgraded and never had a problem with them, including using APFS.
OWC SSD Upgrade Kits For 21.5-Inch iMac 2010

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi guys thanks to both for the reply

its baffled me as to why the APFS dont push the firmware update as the current version isn't installed according to the firmware list that's available online.


anyway ill try a Samsung SSD and see how that goes,

maybe its just bad luck on the SSD


as for the ram I think you may be right as it could be a bad ram slot but as I said this iMac was never taken out of the box as it was factory sealed (given to me by another family member who purchased them)


so could a bad memory slot be the case from a new machine ??

 

[chscag]

so could a bad memory slot be the case from a new machine ??

Very unlikely but not impossible. You stated that the machine was new. How long was the machine sitting in its original box and where was it stored at?

Apple stopped selling that model iMac in May 2011. Of course stock could have been left over at stores where it could have been sold later. However, even using a later date it would still mean that machine was stored for around 8 years or more. That can't possibly be good for any electronic device.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

hi chscag thanks for the reply again.

it was stored in my grandmothers loft.

in its original box sealed.

and yeah I can see its been stored for about 8 years never opened apparently they was purchased for a project that never took off she has another 2 that I can have when she clears the loft out fully.

ive tried just 2 sticks of 4GB ram and they are working no problem in the Mac.

I put the spinning hard drive back in and installed high Sierra and its quite nippy for its age despite the hard drive being a mechanical disk.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

I personally wouldn't consider this iMac to be "new". Unused until now, certainly, but "new" is not what it is, not after sitting in a box for 9 years in an environment subject to who knows what in terms of handling and environmental control in the loft. I don't want to discourage you from experimenting with it or using it... I was using my own 2010 iMac up until a few months ago when I bought a 2019 model. With RAM and SSD upgrades, that thing was still performing like a champ. I would write off the ability to use 4 memory modules and stick with a single pair. From there, it's just trying a different SSD but you'll get it there.

 

[jasongoldworthy]

I personally wouldn't consider this iMac to be "new". Unused until now, certainly, but "new" is not what it is, not after sitting in a box for 9 years in an environment subject to who knows what in terms of handling and environmental control in the loft. I don't want to discourage you from experimenting with it or using it... I was using my own 2010 iMac up until a few months ago when I bought a 2019 model. With RAM and SSD upgrades, that thing was still performing like a champ. I would write off the ability to use 4 memory modules and stick with a single pair. From there, it's just trying a different SSD but you'll get it there.

Hi thanks for the reply again you are right in that sense,


And I can confirm it must have been a bad stick of ram as I put in 2x 2GB sticks in the other two slots tried running tech tool pro on a ram test and it worked no problem no rebooting no nothing.


So it was a bad ram stick as for the firmware issue that’s now resolved also I installed OS X 10.9.5 and bam the firmware updated no problem




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