Mac Pro 2008 won't boot from install disc - black screen

Hello,
I recently purchased a new hard drive to replace the original that came with my Mac Pro 2008.  I was able to format the new drive using Disk Utility. I am now at the point where I need to install OS X onto the new drive, but the computer refuses to boot from the disc. The disc is recognized by the computer (I can access the disc and am able to use the BootCamp applications, etc.) but I just get a black screen when trying to boot directly from the disc. The computer boots fine otherwise.
I have tried the following:
I have tried using both the gray install disc that came with the computer and the Snow Leopard Install DVD disc.
I have tried booting using the "C" key and the "option" key but still receive a black screen following the chime (I've held these down for several minutes).
I have tried restarting from either install disc using the Bootcamp Assistant.
I have tried running the installation software to get it to restart from the disc.
I have tried a combination of the drives, i.e. trying to boot from the discs with just the new drive installed, just the original drive installed, and with both in bay1 and 2.
Everything results in the computer starting up, hearing the chime, and then nothing..just black screen. I have the original drive partitioned with BootCamp with OSX Snow Leopard and Windows 7 installed (I don't know that that matters).
I am at a loss as to what to try next. It doesn't seem like the superdrive because it is recognizing the disc, it just won't boot from it.
Any help is appreciated, thank you.

Clone should be a must  and easy to do and learn (learn by doing! 2)
6800 would 'qualify' as 5x70 series flashed etc and same rule: 10.6.5
In the past there was 10.4.6, 10.5.6, but not 10.6.6 - even though strong need for such a DVD.
10.6.8 DVD would  be excellent
Lion or ML - buy, download, make an installer flash card would be what I would do at this point.
Then keep both - dual boot as you learn and test and see what ML does and waht you had that required Rosetta to support PowerPC. See www.roaringapps.com about that.
With Carbon Coyp Cloner - was share, now commercial, great utility been around since 10.2.2 at least - this time 2003. 10 yrs.
You can clone the system folders, you can even selectively choose. You can skip copy of most of your home account and do that separately to another drive if  you want.
Clone Windows with Paragon or WinClone and use Windows 7 or 8 DVD to do a system repair (automatic) or to edit the BCD file. It can and should - and all you do is boot Windows 7 DVD w/ only the one drive present and go at it. Piece of cake. But yes, Windows gets fussy if you change or remove or move. BCD to the rescue. A proper program for cloning like Paragon's "Clone OS" meant for going from disk drives to SSDs, knows that and how to do it.
Back to how to clone etc:
Clone
Disk utility has RESTORE which will also clone your system but not the Lion Recovery partition. Oddly  Apple did not 'endorse' making bootable clone of the system which works too but most choose Carbon Copy Cloner - it works more consistently; it allows for smart update of the backup volume. Both can backup to a sparse disk image if desired.
Using Cloning as a Backup Strategy
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner 
http://www.bombich.com/software/updates/ccc-3.5.html
OS X Lion Install to Different Drive
How to create an OS X Lion installation disc MacFixIt
Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard
http://www.apple.com/support/lion/installrecovery/
Create an OS X Lion Install disc
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20080989-263/how-to-create-an-os-x-lion-ins tallation-disc
How to clone your system:
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone-backup.html
http://macperformanceguide.com/Mac-HowToClone.html
http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/7032/carbon-copy-cloner
http://www.macperformanceguide.com/blog/2012/20120711_2-MacPro-internal-clone-ba ckup.html
The DVD is dependent on your hardware. And your hardware changed. The drivers for the 5780 and 6xxx are bundled in the OS and lacking. Minimum build thing.
Put the new drive anywhere you want. Does not matter. Can move it later. Can be drive bay 0-3 or a Firewire external or under the DVD drive.
When you clone pull the old drive and boot from the newly cloned.
After that keep a backup clone around all the time. Takes less than 10 minutes to do a smart update to copy just the changes to keep it current. So you have working copy of the system. I keep Clone "A" that I keep "as was" the system as of last month or whatever (like 10.7.4 before upgrade to 7.5).
Comes easier after doing it once and have all your ducks in a row.

Similar Messages

  • G5 won't boot from Install Disc or Hard Drive

    After 2.5 years of perfect service my G5 2.0 suddenly won't boot from the HD or Install Disc that came with it. My G5 only shows the grey screen with the apple logo, the spinning gears and the circle with the line through it.
    I haven't added any hardware since day one. I've done pram,nvram and smu resets. I've selected a start up disk by holding the option key, removed and re-seated the ram one by one.
    The Apple Hardware test CD shows everything passing. I ran Disc Utility from Target Mode from my MacBook Pro and it showed the G5 hard drive is in working order.
    I think I have a hardware issue.
    Is it worth it to get this model repaired if its something major?

    I was having a similar problem, except I only saw the grey apple logo, no spinning. Finally got it figured out, ended up being one of my processors (dual 1.8) was bad, took the bad one out and it works fine now. Now Im working on getting processor replaced.

  • Macbook won't boot from install discs

    I've got a Macbook C2D 2ghz superdrive from early 2007. It came with OS 10.4.8 discs (grey). Recently, the hard drive died (click, click, click). So I had to replace it with another HD, a Hitachi 160gb. I installed the hard drive, inserted the install disc 1, and powered up the system. Holding down the option key I get the grey screen and nothing happens for a long time, then the drive kicks out the install disc.
    Being a PC guy primarily, I pulled out a copy of Windows XP and was able to quickly boot off that disc, partition the hard drive (>32gb fat32) and install Windows XP. So I know the hard drive works and I know the superdrive works. Process of elimination causes me to suspect the MacBook install discs (which aren't scratched or damaged).
    So why can't I get the macbook to boot off the 10.4.8 install discs that came with it? Why won't the original install discs allow me to boot off of them? Is there a simple little trick that I am missing?
    Remember, I had a dead hard drive so I have no backup hard drive with OS X on it. This is not a hard drive swap or a hard drive upgrade, just a pure replacement of a dead drive. I do have several external drives available to me, but none have OS X installed on them.
    As for background, I am primarily a WinTel guy. I've been building computers from scratch for the last 20+ years. I also worked as a PC Tech back in the day so I've probably assembled or repaired in excess of a 1000 computers, so I'm very hardware knowledgable. However, I have a PC brain, not a MAC brain. Maybe it is just my PC logic that erroneously assumes that these install discs are bootable in the Mac world. Hopefully that isn't the case.

    I figured it out, crappy discs or crappy hardware is the problem. On a hunch, I tried to see if I could clone the Apple install dvd's on one of my PC's. Since I didn't know the format of the install discs, I was unsure that would work. I cloned the install discs using Nero Burning Rom and then tried booting off the cheap Ritek dvdr's.
    Guess what? The cheap Riteks work with the Apple superdrive, but Apple's own pressed cd's will not! Either Apple has crappy install media (unlikely given my PC read them fine), or the Superdrive is garbage quality hardware. I'm forgiving for hardware failures, heck I seem to eat hard drives because of my audio editing. However, I've rarely ever used the rom drive on this laptop since I do all my work with external hard drives.
    I guess I wouldn't be so mad if it weren't for the Apple smugness in their superiority. It's a nice, small, lightweight laptop that got me through my last year of college (older student) with an absolutely horrid keyboard. I just expected more from the hardware given the 40% premium I paid over a comparable WinTel laptop.

  • IMac won't boot from install disc

    My iMac has been running a little slow the past two days and so I ran Disk Utility. DU reported that I had the incorrect number of thread records and an invalid volume count. It instructed me to repair the disk by booting from the install disc. The problem is that when I try to boot from the install disc (after I choose the disc from the options), I just get a gray screen with the apple logo on it. Nothing else happens, no disc activity, nothing.
    Anyone have any ideas as to how to get my iMac to boot from the disc and, ultimately, to get Repair Disc running from DU?
    Thanks,
    Rich

    It should only take a minute or so at most to boot from the DVD.
    If your sure you have the correct Install Disk for that iMac, I'd start over. Then if it still doesn't work then perhaps a trip to your Local Apple Service Provider with the Disk or Disk and iMac is in order.
    http://www.apple.com/buy/locator/service/
    Alternately using the correct Disk as per the following article, see if you can run the Apple Hardware Test? > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509

  • Mac Pro 2008 won't boot past spinning wheel

    I have a Mac Pro from late 2008 which turns on, makes the startup sound, and remains on the spinning wheel for about 30 seconds before the wheel freezes. I have Windows 8 installed on another internal drive and I can't boot past their version of the spinning wheel, either. I've tried booting off of the install disc (Snow Leopard, which is what the machine is running) and off of a USB stick with a Snow Leopard .dmg on it, neither of which have worked.
    I've done all the steps to fix a drive error, so I don't think it's that. I've read that it could be a graphics card error; has anyone else experienced trouble with theirs? Mine was a GeForce 7300, if I remember correctly. Thanks in advance.

    It certainly sounds like a graphics card problem.
    User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards

  • Won't Boot From Install Disc

    Hi, I'm having some major issues trying to install OS X, and was hoping someone might have advice for me. I'm trying to format my hard drive on my MacBook Pro and install a clean copy of OS X Snow Leopard.
    However, whenever I try to boot from the install disc, it freezes on the Apple logo. I still can boot from my current hard drive fine, though.
    I checked Disk Utility, and I was able to verify and repair my permissions. However, when I tried to verify my disk, it said there were errors and that I needed to repair the disk (however, the repair disk function was greyed out).
    I tried booting into single-user, or shell mode, and running fsck -fy, but it didn't fix the issue. I also tried using Disk Warrior to verify and fix the permissions (but Disk Warrior won't let me rebuild the disc), but this didn't fix it, either.
    I also reseted the PRAM, but that didn't help either.
    I'm running out of options, but thought someone in this forum might have another suggestion or idea I could try. Thanks again!
    Message was edited by: Wayne Ma

    In fact, I have but I first saw yours.
    This seems to be a relatively frequent problem.
    I've even checked that Firmware Password Protection thing.
    Apple procedure is puzzling to say the least. They say
    it could prevent boot from DVD and advise to install
    the app from the App DVD (the # 2 DVD delivered with the
    MBP to correct this and deactivate FPP if it was activated in the first place.
    I checked : no Firmware Password Protection in the DVD.
    Usually, Apple never behave like Micro$oft, God forbid…
    Message was edited by: Hellstan

  • Won't start past apple logo, won't boot from install disc

    mbp penryn 2.4 core 2 duo won't boot past apple logo. Running mtn lion 10.8... inserted Snow Leopard install disc, held down C key, only get a grey screen.Recently installed new HD, (seagate 750 Hybrid), upped ram from 2x2 to 2x4. All has been running very smoothly (and much cooler) for the past 3 weeks. Then this, prompted apparently by the mac going to sleep w/o being plugged in. Ran battery down, I suppose? Happens frequently.
    Any suggestions?

    ds,
    "You might have ruined the RAM by handling it and touching the contacts.
    Once you put new good RAM into the machine, reset SMC and PRAM then boot it up."
    On the odd chance that I did ruin my ram I replaced w/ 4gb brand new ram, reset SMC and PRAM, then attempted to boot. Still a grey screen. Also re-attempted to put mbp into target mode, but no luck there either, nor with ejecting the Snow Leopard install disc via option/trackpad method, both on startup and while running, and no luck there either. I have a second Penryn mbp that I could salvage for a spare part if I knew what the problem might be. So far I get the idea from your responses that my machine SHOULD be rebooting, but for some reason isn't.
    If this helps:
    I hear, consistently on attempting startup, fans powering up, then two short whirrs as if a drive head is moving,  then when the fans quiet down after 30-45 seconds, another short but different whirr, then only quiet fans and a grey screen.
    Thanks in advance for any reply.

  • PowerBook G4 won't boot from install disc, kernel error

    Hello all,
    I have a PowerBook G4 that I am trying to wipe/restore before I try to sell it. Here are the basic specs:
    1.67 GHz PowerPC
    512 MB DDR2 SDRAM
    OS X v10.4.11
    I have the original Mac OS X install discs, v10.4.4--AND I have a set of install discs from a different computer, Mac OS X v10.4.10.
    I can press the power button and boot normally without any problem. If I put in disc 1 of the install disc set and hold down the C key when powering up, I get a kernal panic message. If I eject the disc and try rebooting, it boots normally again. I've tried booting from disc 1 of both sets of install discs (v10.4.4 and v10.4.10) and get the same kernal panic message when I hold down the C key.
    Other than the battery not holding a charge very well, the computer works fine (that is, the CD drive is in good working condition). Does anyone have any ideas as to why I can't boot from the install disc?
    Thank you in advance for any help!

    Hello,
    First of all, are these restore disk you have specifically for your model of PowerBook? This are not any other Mac other than a PowerBook?
    If they are for your PowerBook G4, then try first putting the disk in the drive and holding down the option key.
    This will bring up a menu. This menu will show you the hard drive and CD drive. You should see an icon with a CD with 'Mac OS X Install' Select it. See if that boot from the disk.
    If that fails then try resetting the PMU. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1431
    Which I believe should be taking the battery and power off the machine and holding down the power button for five seconds. Placing the battery back in and power adapter, then rebooting.
    Best of luck

  • My macbook won't boot from install disc.

    I'm actually trying to help my brother's fiance with her Macbook. She is a teacher and received a computer through school channels but of course the district IT personnel set a root password. With the password on the computer it's pretty much useless for the majority of operations.
    I actually have experience with resetting the password using the install disc boot method but that is not working. When trying to boot directly from the disc the computer boots normally, ignoring the boot from disc command. Trying to use the startup disc utility in system preferences prompts me for a password yet again, so no luck there.
    I tried to boot using option and it asks for a password.
    I tried booting in single user mode and trying any of the various commands that people have suggested in other discussions, however the single user command was ignored as well and the system booted normally.
    Someone suggested trying to boot her macbook using my macbook pro as a startup disc linked via firewire, unfortunately I am in Tucson and she is in LA.
    I'm assuming some custom handicap has been placed on the computer but is there anyway to bypass it? Any help would be much appreciated.

    I'm not entirely sure that the disc we have was the disc that the OS was installed with, but I can assure you that the disc we tried was the disc that came in the box with the computer when she received it. Most likely it is the correct disc.
    I asked my brother to try and boot off his Macbook Pro disc just as an experiment, he hasn't gotten back to me about it yet though.

  • Won't boot from install discs after deleting some system files

    I've been looking through the forum and haven't found an answer to my problem - maybe someone can help me out.
    I have an aluminum Powerbook G4, 1.67, 1.5 RAM, 10.4.11. I was experiencing the problem with FCE capturing video for about 5 minutes and then freezing, and I read some threads here about how this can be fixed by returning to Quicktime 7.2 and installing it with Pacifist. I did this, but first tried to delete my previous Quicktime version files, and obviously I deleted some system files in the process. That's how my new problem started.
    Programs now that do not open - Preview, iTunes, iMovie, FCE, Yahoo, Mail, and Microsoft Messenger. I no longer have my date/time/battery level/airport/bluetooth indicators in my toolbar. The Spotlight icon flashes, but will not open. Also, when opening the System Preferences pane, it opens just for a second or two and then crashes and closes. Safari, airport, and Word all work, though, and I still can access internet.
    I tried to re-install OS 10.4 from my black install disc. The computer reads the disc, but after I click the installer icon and then "restart," the computer fails to completely reboot. The disc spins in the drive, I get the Apple, the indicator, and then the screen goes to blue and the disc soon stops spinning. Nothing happens after that. I've tried rebooting by holding down the C key but the same happens. When I hold down the option key, I get to the point where I can choose to boot from the install disc, and then the same thing happens - the blue screen and nothing more. Booting with the shift key held down doesn't work either.
    I did just have a repair by Apple - my adaptor plug sparked when inserting it into the outlet, and I had to have the logic board replaced. But the computer seemed to be working fine when I got it back, except for the FCE issue first mentioned. Looks like my good intentions have done me in.
    The install disc is about three years old, and is in good condition. It's been in the garage, so could heat or cold affect the readability of the disc?
    Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can boot from my install disc and get a fresh install of my OS?

    Hi bboross,
    Tough without a Tiger Disk, but try fsck...
    To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
    1. Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line. Hold CMD+s keys down at bootup.
Note: If necessary, perform a forced restart as described in the Emergency Troubleshooting Handbook that came with your computer. On desktop computers, you can do this by pressing the reset/interrupt button (if there is one) or holding down the power button for several seconds. On portable computers, simultaneously press the Command-Control-power keys. If your portable computer doesn't restart with this method, you may need to reset the Power Manager.
    2. At the command-line prompt, type /sbin/fsck -fy
    (space between fsck and -fy important)
    3. Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use and fragmentation. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
** The volume (nameofvolume) appears to be OK 
If fsck found issues and has altered, repaired, or fixed anything, it will display this message:
*** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *** 

Important: If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
    4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
    Then Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.

  • Mac Mini constantly freezes, Wont boot from install disc.

    About 6 months ago my mac mini started freezing (getting that grey screen prompting you to hold the power button until it turns off) it did this every few hours or so. Eventually i got tired of this and have tried multiple times to wipe the HDD and reinstall snow leopard. I try and boot via the install disc but it just spins at the apple logo. I also tried reinstalling windows 7 on the bootcamp partition but again it gives me any error. I fear the hardrive might be totally busted. Any help?

    About 6 months ago my mac mini started freezing (getting that grey screen prompting you to hold the power button until it turns off) it did this every few hours or so. Eventually i got tired of this and have tried multiple times to wipe the HDD and reinstall snow leopard. I try and boot via the install disc but it just spins at the apple logo. I also tried reinstalling windows 7 on the bootcamp partition but again it gives me any error. I fear the hardrive might be totally busted. Any help?

  • MacBook Won't Boot From Install Disc

    I was getting the "No Airport Card INstalled" error notice, so I replaced the airport card.  Very easy operation really.  With a new card in, I still get the same error notice.  Mind you the Bluetooth works, and it's on the same card.
    If I unplug the battery, and reconnect it, the airport will usually then come up, but disappear as soon as the machine wakes from sleep.
    I was thinking software corruption, but now I find that I cannot boot from the Apple install disc.  Using the "C" key or the "Option" key.
    I have also now found that I can't reset the PRAM using the Option-Command-P-R key combionation either.
    It's NOT the keyboard, as it works in every other way.
    So still thinking software corruption somewhere, but unable to boot from the install disc to do a wipe and reload of the OS.
    Need ideas before I bite the bullet and take to the shop.

    Try smc reset.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

  • IBook on 10.4 won't boot from Install Disk

    Hi - Somewhere along the line I lost DiskUtility from my iBook running 10.4.11. I thought I could run it from the Install Disc but I find the iBook won't boot from the Disc and DU won't run from the Disc (when I do manage to track it down there).
    I have install discs from a G4 Powerbook and a MacBookPro Unibody but I'm concerned about repairing permissions from the wrong version of DU (even if I could get the iBook to boot from those discs). Is a newer disc OK? I want to run or install DiskUtility. What are my options??
    How can I get the iBook to boot from its install disc?
    TIA your expertise...
    j2

    The installers are machine-series specific. And the Intel disc won't work
    in the PPC Mac, additionally. If you have the correct disc for that iBook,
    then you can boot the computer with the disc inside the optical drive
    and hold the C key down, until Installer appears on the screen; a second
    screen after the initial language screen has a full menu bar and Installer
    in the header; options appear in the drop-down menu lists, Disk Utility is
    among utility and other features listed in there.
    If you do not have an iBook G4 disc or an OS X disc retail version capable
    of doing the job, you really should get the correct disc. In a few instances,
    another path may work, but is not recommended. And you could lose the
    content of the hard drive in the computer you are hoping to save.
    However, you may be able to use Pacifist to get Disk Utility from the PB G4
    installer disc to be made available on the desktop of the iBook, and use
    Pacifist to install that extracted package item from the other PPC install disc.
    This does not use the installers on the disc media, so Pacifist is used to do
    the process. The iBook ideally needs a replacement disc set, and that may
    be available from Apple online store's sales support (see online phone#)
    and the product would be matched by serial number. A fee is involved.
    The original software disc set would have the correct Apple Hardware Test
    and the software kit as included when the computer was new.
    If Tiger did not ship with the computer in question, then a full retail disc 10.4
    installer could probably be used; since it would be newer than, say 10.3.9.
    In natural progression, the newer disc of correct kind & type supported by
    the computer is a possible path; however a Leopard disc won't help fix Tiger.
    You could also use Disk Utility in one PPC Mac, via FireWire Target Disk
    mode, to repair the drive of the iBook. It would only appear as a hard drive.
    So, repairing disk permissions would not be possible, on a non-boot volume.
    This, only within limits; differences in build versions of OS and custom installs
    done to a computer configuration may make doing so very limited. I would
    not expect an Intel-Mac's version of the same OS to help a PPC in any way.
    Good luck & happy computing!
    { edited 2x }

  • Ibook g4 won't boot from install disks

    Got an ibook g4 1.33 ghz combo drive from original owner w/install disks. I want to reinstall original system but it won't boot from install disk 1. Tried starting holding down c but ignores disk. Holding down option just gives me the HD. Install disk shows up on desktop and opens. Tried disk utility from install disk but it doesn't allow me to erase the hd. Is there anything else I can do? Thanks.

    OK, so let us suppose that you have the correct disk, the possibilities are:
    • the optical drive is not functioning properly. However, since the disk shows up on the desktop the drive is apparently reading it.
    • the disk itself is the issue. It could the wrong disk, but let us assume it is not. It could be damaged so that it is no longer bootable, or it could dirty. I would begin by giving the disk a good buffing and see if that will encourage it to boot the computer.
    Good luck.
    cornelius

  • Will Not Boot from Install Disc  & 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D - Thermal Sensor?

    *Will Not Boot from Install Disc*
    I used the "option key" approach with the gray start up disk. At first it ejected the start up disk. Then I nudged the disk back in the machine and it showed on the screen as an option. I clicked on the start up disk image and it finally loaded.
    But, it won't accept the start up disk when holding down the "C" key at restart.
    *4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D*
    I did an Apple Hardware Test and received the following diagnostic:
    Version: 3A121
    Test Suite: Extended Test
    Loop Count: 2
    Result: Failed
    Failure code: 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D
    *Thermal Sensor*
    A search for the failure code 4SNS/1/40000000: TG0D brought up an Apple Discussion topic entry stating: That error code indicates a problem with a thermal sensor. It could be not working or possibly not connected. You will need to take it to Apple for repair.
    Would a thermal sensor have anything to do with it not starting up when holding down the "C" key at restart? What are thermal sensor problem symptoms?
    *User File Folder Opened Up*
    The machine also starts up with my user file folder opened up rather than with a blank screen as it normally should
    I completed a DiskWarrior rebuild on the disk and verify disk shows it is fine.
    Any suggestions on what to do next with these issues?

    The answer was in your post: "You will need to take it to Apple for repair."

Maybe you are looking for