Mac OS X: Start up From Mac OS 9 to Install Firmware Updates

You cannot install firmware updates when the computer is started up from Mac OS X 10.0 to 10.1. Start up from Mac OS 9 to update firmware.
You cannot install Open Firmware updates when the computer is started up from Mac OS X versions 10.0 to 10.1. Start up from Mac OS 9 to update firmware.

Note: Mac OS 9 is included with Mac OS X and should be installed on your computer's hard disk to perform this procedure.

You can follow these steps to start up the computer from Mac OS 9, and then go back to Mac OS X:
Published Date: Feb 17, 2012