Is the Firmware on a PowerMac the same as what's reported as Boot ROM in system profiler?

[tahoedrew]

The PowerMac G4 dual 500 (Gigabit Ethernet), I got off Craigslist over the weekend is running 3.3.4 (the current seems to be 4.2.8) and is not functioning properly under 10.4.11. The fans run at high speed the entire time and I can't connect to my router via ethernet. 4.2.8 claims to fix issues related to gigabit ethernet connections, which is what leads me to believe it will also fix the fan issue.

My problem is that firmware 4.2.8 needs OS 9.1 or higher to run and I don't have OS9 installed as I don't ever plan to need or use it and I don't have an install CD to even put it on a spare drive and attach it temporarily.

Anyone know of any other way to update my firmware?

I'm going to have to dig through old hard drives to see if I can luck out and find a random OS9 install on a pulled HD and hope the mechanism isn't dead.

Any other bright ideas?

~A

[Black Landlord]

You wouldn't happen to have MAC address filtering enabled, would you?

[tahoedrew]

[quote Black Landlord]You wouldn't happen to have MAC address filtering enabled, would you?
No, but wouldn't that only affect wireless connections? It's hard-wired to the router via ethernet.

~A

[MacMagus]

> Anyone know of any other way to update my firmware?

BORROW an OS 9.1 installer disc?

[Black Landlord]

Nope. Got some bruises on my forehead to prove it.
But if you're sure it's not enabled, ne'er mind.

[Black Landlord]

http://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=PbR&q=OS+9+install+torrent&btnG=Search

[GGD]

[quote Black Landlord]Nope. Got some bruises on my forehead to prove it.
But if you're sure it's not enabled, ne'er mind.
Of all the WIFI routers that I've ever bought, there was only one that I found that filtered the Ethernet ports, and that was a Belkin, and I think that model also redirected some http traffic to promote some of their parental control software.

I immediately returned that router, mainly because it's 4-Port switch does not really operate correctly as a switch if packets are being filtered by MAC address.