Mac Pro Dual Quad Core won't boot OS/X, but plays fine with Linux/Windows

I've got a Mac Pro Dual Quad Core won't boot OS/X, but plays fine with Linux/Windows. I've tried all of the following initial tests as suggested on forums:
-Ram swaps
-Alternating video card in PCIe slots
-Trying alternate video card
-resetting pram and smc
-Multiple tests with memtest86+ over 26hrs and no failed ram
-Multiple tests (8-12 cycles) with apple HW diagnostics and no problems
-Firmware is approved firmware for early 2008 model...no new updates.
Gentoo livecd works fine and I even installed to hard drive and it boots fine with it. In addition to above tests I also ran a linux stress test putting all 8 cores at a load of 22 for 2.5hrs with no problems.
Memtest86+ for 24hrs+ yields no problems.
Where problems occur:
Booting off hard drive, DVD or firewire yields an immediate curtain of death and booting off a new snow leopard DVD dies about 25% into the install.
Looking at error log and a quick dmesg shows "Package 0 didn't get an HPET" and complains about AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext. Google turns up illegal uses of this, so doesn't apply to my use case.
I'm a bit stumped since all was working well until one day it was non-stop curtains of death and can't get them to go away.
A logic board replacement at $1100 is not a feasible option for something that works on linux and windows, but not OS/X, is a bit disappointing and somewhat surprising.
Thanks for your help and advice.
Regards,
Marcos

Someone here once thought they knew EFI and Open Firmware a little, and used some commands from OF library that an Intel EFI Apple system didn't like. New logicboard.
Of course to run or boot OS X and see video you need EFI based card. The presence of some PC cards can block OS X from booting.
The fact you get part way through SL DVD, pull all the drives, put in a new drive and format it from SL DVD.
Most of the things you tried are what are more common with PC hardware. Including where people have tried and failed to install OS X on unsupported hardware.
I suppose it is possible something tried and failed to modify the Mac's firmware.
If you have Windows running, and you have WD drives, WD just posted new Lifeguard utility which is what I use to do a good job of stripping a drive down and recertify it for reuse, works wonders. Maybe same for other makes with vendor utility.

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Required hard (destructive) reboot, until I figured out workaround
described below. Apple really needs to fix this as a high priority.
Symptom: Desktop freezes and the system becomes unusable.
Usually occurs when booting the system, but can happen
at other times spontaneously.
When it occurs during boot (after desktop first appears, usually
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applications are effectively 'suspended' mid-launch.
Icons and menu and mouse buttons and keyboard completely unresponsive.
Usually just a spinning beach ball that tracks with the mouse is present.
Attempts to resolve (both failed):
1. Did a fresh install of Mac OS X (with data transfer) and upgraded,
which brought system to 10.5.5. (Problem appeared immediately
on fresh installed system).
2. Totally re-indexed Spotlight and de-selected option to not index
PDF documents.
Workaround:
1. Enable 'ssh' logins and root user.
2. Login via 'ssh' from remote system, while Mac Pro desktop frozen.
3. Become super user in 'ssh' session.
4. Find ATSServer with 'ps -ef' or 'top' command.
5. Terminate ATSServer with 'kill -9'
6. Desktop on Mac Pro immediately unwedges and applications
that hung during start-up finish launching.
/var/log/system.log (many messages like this):
System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framework /Support/ATSServer[241]: FOExceptionMainHandler caught a fatal exception at 0x96028036
Safari[151]: GCGetStrikeMetrics failed: error 5.
Plea from customer:
Apple: PLEASE post an update to fix this very soon.
If anyone has clear instructions on what I can do to fix properly until
Apple comes up with a real fix, for example, caches to clear,
how to identify a faulty file, or quarantine a faulty faunt,
or any other diagnostics, please feel free to reply.
My machine was already in the shop for five weeks recently for repair,
and I can't afford down time, because I'm mid-project right now,
and it will be a HUGE setback to have to bring my machine into the
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10/18/08 12:44:03 PM com.apple.ATSServer[2554] Notice * set a breakpoint in mallocerrorbreak to debug
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My Mac Pro tower quad core crashed and is showing a NO sign (the circle with a slash through it). How do I safely get it to come back up ? Model A1186

My Mac Pro tower quad core crashed and is showing a NO sign (the circle with a slash through it). How do I safely get it to come back up ? Model A1186

General purpose Mac troubleshooting guide:
Isolating issues in Mac OS X
Creating a temporary user to isolate user-specific problems:
Isolating an issue by using another user account
Identifying resource hogs and other tips:
Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used
Starting the computer in "safe mode":
Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?
To identify potential hardware problems:
Apple Hardware Test
General Mac maintenance:
Tips to keep your Mac in top form
Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on
https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367
Where are your bootable backups and clones stored?
What do you have to boot from to restore or attempt to recovery files that are not backed up?
It won't be a PowerMac. People tend to think they look alike? or mean the same thing.
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_pro/specs/mac-pro-quad-2.66-specs.html
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I am new here and wanting to use Audition again after being away for years, so I apologize if this is a dumb question. In previewing a training video about Audition CC it highlighted that Audition CC is now 64 bit. Before I download CC I want to be sure that the 64 bit part does not present a problem for me on my system. I do not know if my hardware is 32 or 64 bit. My question is - Will I have any compatibility issues with my hardware: Mac Pro 2012 Quad-Core & RME UFX interface and the Audition CC software? Thanks for any light you can shed on this for me.

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The hit one of the volume up/down keys on keyboad. If you here the usual sound, it booted.
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8800GT is black with 2 silver arrow shapes.
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Mid- 2010 Mac Pro desktop (dual hexcore) running Mountain Lion OS X version 10.7.5 will often refuse to awaken properly after being left alone for a few hours.
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In About this Mac it also says:
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my emac got stuck after using a audio-CD with a little scratch. After restart I introduced normal CD-R, but they just got ejected by themselves after a few strange noises and about 5 seconds. I put in the MAC OS X start-up DVD, and it worked perfectly.
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The silver 65lb tower is no longer for sale new or refurbished from Apple.
With the 2103 Mac Pro about to be released, you should not spend money on a Mac Pro older than a 2009 model. If you need to add RAM to these models, they do not require pairs. Do not buy modules (for these models) smaller than 8GB per module. [Two 4GB costs more.]
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Mac Pro Dual Quad Core won't boot OS/X, but plays fine with Linux/Windows

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