"Firmware" is stands for fundamental instructions your iMac follows to boot up and run. If you are having hardware problem, you may require updating your firmware.

• Firmware—is bridge between software and hardware--is the program data recorded on solid-state memory chips called ROM. Unlike the RAM chips of standard computer memory, ROM does not need power to store data, and is thus used to hold the fundamental instructions computer requirements to boot up and run.

• All PC motherboards have a ROM chip called the Basic Input-Output System (BIOS). At power-on, the BIOS initialize and organize all hardware disk drives, display adapters, etc. before starting the computer's OS. Because the BIOS handle the startup of the hardware in your computer. Old firmware is not capable to initialize a system with newer components.

• The improvement of a new type of ROM called flash memory, which can be written and rewritten a lot of times over, made buying a new motherboard not necessary. With flash BIOS, a user can just download and install firmware upgrades to enhance hardware compatibility.


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