System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks?
 

I have a dual boot system with an internal SSD on which OSX Sierra is located and another internal SSD with Mavericks.

I would like to upgrade Sierra to High Sierra now. The upgrade, however, requires a firmware update of my Mac Pro 5.1 (it´s a flashed 4,1 from 2009). Can someone tell me here in the forum, whether the Mac can still start after the firmware update from Mavericks? I still need Mavericks to launch Pro Tools 10 HD.

Thanks in advance for every tip.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

The firmware update won't interfere with being able to dual-boot. Let me understand: your machine currently is flashed to act as a 5.1 right? You do know that going to High Sierra will also change the formatting on any internal ssd's to APFS.


Until a couple of weeks ago I ran a dual-boot on the same ssd: one partition for Mavericks and one for High Sierra. Before I went to HS that partition was Sierra. When I went to HS I installed it onto the Sierra partition and that was the only partition that changed to APFS formatting. The other partition stayed the old Mac format. So your Mavericks ssd shouldn't be affected. If you're really worried about things pull the Mavericks ssd before going to HS on the Sierra drive.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

I'm not so shure about that. I recently found a hacked HS installer and patch online, that I used on my mac pro 3.1, and that HS drive is still Mac OS Extended (...) format. I installed on top of Sierra, so it's no wonder. Works just fine.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

Last month We ran the Apple store combo from Sierra to HS and the Trashcan internal SSD now say APFS so are you sure that version you installed did the whole job?

I also updated a older 2015 MBP last night from Sierra to HS and same with that SSD Drive which was MacOS Extended Journaled and now APFS.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

I'm quite shure. About this mac:
Skjermbilde 2019-12-07 kl. 21.11.28.png

Disk Utilities:
Skjermbilde 2019-12-07 kl. 21.11.28.png


Like I said, I installed HS on top of Sierra. There was no formatting of drive. Wouldn't there be a re-format to change file systems? And the installer would have to shuffle all your data first and format and copy back? I don't know.
All I know is I have High Sierra running wonderfully on my ancient 3,1. Not "flashed". And no APFS.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

That is what we did aswell. Ran HS over Sierra and the internal drive is now a APFS format on both my older MBP and one of our trashcans we did a few weeks ago. When checking about this mac it says 10.13.6 and SSD drive is now AFPS and not Mac OS Journaled. No reformatting of any drives. Just ran the installer and then it was done. I know as I did this for once and not any of our interns or one of my brothers who are super techs ;)

Maybe it is because it says SATA on your drive as our 3 trashcans has much faster internal drive bridge but I dont know about that stuff. Just that that HS Trashcan says the same as our two other trashcans with Mojave on them.

Think I read somewhere you needed a newer Mac and SSD drives for the APFS to work.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

That might very well be the case. Anyway, it's working fine. I have the "Systemdisk" as a partition on a OWC extreme G6 SSD on PCIe card. Appx 500mb/s read/write speed. 24gb RAM, although 800mHz, and the old lady is still kicking. :D

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

Getting the thread back to the original query, I'm sorry, I don't know anything about flashing mac pros. (Where is Darryl when you need him? ;) ) My guess would be, yes. If it's flashed and "pretends" to be a 5,1, a 5,1 wouldn't have any trouble running Mavericks, so it would not be a problem.


I never "flashed" my MP. I got it beyond ElCap, by using hacked installers I found on the web. I'll provide links to anyone interested.

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

Don’t fix something that ain’t broken ;) I have an old G4 867 in the closet that is used for an old Digidesign Mix+ system with 3 of the 888 and afew bits and bobs and that girl just works everytime we start her up! No issues with OS updates or out of date plugins, everything just starts and works hehe

Never discard something that does the job. Cheiron Studios with Denniz Pop and Max Martin made most of the radio pop hits on this exact machine during the 90’s and those records sold ”pretty well” :D So she will still do the job should we ever start it up again :-)

Re: System Upgrade to High Sierra - firmware update backwards compatible to Mavericks
 

There is a command line you can enter in Terminal that bypasses changing the file system to APFS when installing High Sierra. It’s possible the installer you used perhaps had a patch created so that this was part of the install process.

Also, a SATA connection doesn’t mean it’s an HDD. SSDs still connect via SATA. So that is not the reason it’s wasn’t upgrade to APFS.


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