Freeze at startup after System and Firmware update - Help!

Question

I took the automated system upgrade last Sunday including updates on a bunch of Apple applications, OS X 10.4.6 (it was included if I recall correctly) and a SMC Firmware update. After downloading all files and installing them my iMac restarted. After that the SMC Firmware upgrade started and I followed the instructions ending in another restart.
This is where my problems began. At this startup I got through the grey screen with the Apple logo and got so far as to the blue screen with the Mac symbol saying something like "starting up". The progress bar started moving and froze after reaching about a fifth of its final length.
As this was a firmware update I didn't want to interrupt anything so I left it for the night (no progress in the morning) and for the next day. Still no progress when I came home from work so I shut it down (pulled the power cord).
Efter this I've tried to fall back using the Firmware Restoration CD available at Apple's support page, but this doesn't work. My iMac refuses to start the installation of the old Firmware even though I follow the fallback instructions. (After starting the computer and keeping the power on button pressed I wait for the front light below the screen to first flash rapidly for a while and then do a SOS (three short, three long and three short blinks). The SOS however, never happens, instead the computer proceeds directly to the grey startup screen before it freezes when it reaches the blue screen.
I have no clue to what to do. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
Staffan
iMac 20" (Intel)   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

Answer 1

minxlj,
It is not my intention to be rude, however, it is my intention to be direct. Do you have a G5 or do you have an Intel Core Duo, or perhaps even both? Because right now your signature says you have a G5, which has PPC chips in it made by IBM, not Core Duo chips made by Intel.
The reason I ask is because, just as in another Discussion here in the Intel forum, you are responding to information that appears to not apply to the computer you say you have and you are giving information that, if you have a G5, does not apply to the computers of the folks here in the Intel forum.
Could you please clear that up by correcting your signature so everyone here knows you are comparing oranges with oranges and not mangos with oranges?
Staffan,
As far as the SMC Firmware update and the Firmware Restoration CD, the two items are not related. The Firmware Restoration CD is only for the Firmware Update that came out in mid-April. It is intended for someone whose computer messed up in the application of the Firmware Update and is intended to bring their computer back to its Firmware state prior to the botched Firmware Update. It will not assist you if you had problems applying the SMC Firmware Update from early May.
If I am understanding your description of your Mac's problem it sounds if if you have successfully installed the SMC firmware update, but now have a possible 3rd party satrtupitem that is not allowing your Mac's OS X to fully boot. You can check to see if both the Firmware Update and SMC Firmware Update have been successfully installed by booting your Mac into safe Mode by pressing the "Shift" key during startup. This boot will take longer than normal because it is verifying and repairing your directory. After the desktop appears, go to Apps/Utilities/System Profiler. In the Contents section, highlight Hardware and Hardware Overview should show; Boot ROM Version: IM41.0055.B03 for the Firmware update and SMC Version: 1.1f5 for the SMC Firmware Update.