Mac Pro Start up Failures: Fix

My Mac Pro 1.1 under OSX 10.7.5 just suffered from multiple start-up failures.
It would load it's system...the "loading clock" spun a while and then go to black. I still had cursor control and CD tray function.
I ran the system install disk, started a hardware diagnostic...and it repeatedly froze.
I thought I was fried......but without doing a hardware diagnostic...the system install disk could report all my components and memory.
I zapped the PRAM and still no joy. I finally checked the PRAM Battery..the CR2032 which had never been changed in 7 years.
I found another one in an Apple Remote I never use...swapped it out..and everything worked fine.
I've read that in some machines, a bad PRAM battery will cause a black screen.
Guess that's what I had.
If you have any startup issues, system loads and screen goes black...trying swapping the PRAM Battery.
Sounds easy. Took me about 3 hours and repeat startup failures to figure it out.
Are there any apps that check the PRAM Batterty to know they are starting to go bad?

Quick update: Had several more "freezes/crashes" after changing PRam battery.
Tracked it down to the Display Screen Saver.
When it launched into screen saver, it would freeze after a very short time.
I disabled the screensaver and adjusted my energy savings setting to just a few minites so know when i time sout...it goes to black.
It comes on with a mouse click with no problem.
Hopes it lasts.
I ran diagnostics on the video card/memory and it passed with no problems.
Something has corrupted my system which had been stable for quite a while.

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Adobe bridge is slowing down my mac pro how do I fix?

Adobe bridge is slowing down my mac pro how do I fix

I have a new Mac pro
If you are still within your 15 day return period, nicely explain that you may return the computer without iDVD. That usually does the trick. (Ask to speak to a senior advisor.)
408-996-1010
If that doesn't work you can purchase iLife 11 (includes iDVD) on disk (don't get the download) for about $39.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC623Z-A-iLife-VERSION/dp/B003XKRZES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=U

Mac Pro Power Up failure - Mac Pro goes on and off

Since few months my Mac Pro first generation (2x 2.66 GHz Dual core 8 GB RAM with ATI Radeon XT1900X 512 Mb video card) frequently does not start up. When pushing the power button it starts up and in few seconds turns off again. I have reset the SMC, done a hardware test for RAM etc. The machine has had a dure test at a service provider but the problem was not found.
Few weeks ago the problem began again and sometimes the Mac Pro starts up normal and sometimes the problem occurs again. And sometimes the Mac Pro goes of spontaniously. Can this be the Video card causing this problem? The RAM seems to be OK, cause I replaced the 4x 2xGB DIMMS with the older 2x 512 MB DIMMS that came with the Mac Pro and the same problem occurs.
Has anyone has this problem and/or knows a solution?

I just starting having this problem today. I turned on my Mac Pro this morning and after a few seconds it shut down and then restarted. It kept doing that so I finally unplugged the computer. Prior to today the computer would sometimes shutdown or restart on it's own but I could usually get it boot back up and was able to use the computer. It's still unplugged and I'll leave it that way until I get home from work today. I did open up the case and blasted out as much of the dust that's built up with a can of compressed air. I've read about resetting the SMC but can I do that if the computer keeps restarting after a few seconds? I have AppleCare for the Mac Pro should I just set up an appointment and take it in? I worried that it may be an issue with the power supply. Any suggestions? I appreciate the assistance!!!
Thanks!!

My Mac Pro starts up when I turn on the power, BEFORE I switch it on with the button, why? Plus, my computer keeps freezing and blacking out.

My Mac Pro starts up when I turn on the power supply (when I plug it to the outlet), BEFORE I switch on the button on the computer, why is this happening? Plus, my computer keeps freezing and blacking out and I'm forced to restart it, that's when the compter starts on its own when I turn on the power.

Hello Engender,
I should have followed up with a progress report because I eventually eliminated all the problems I was having with my Mac Pro, now it's behaving like a new computer… beautifully. I did originally take Grant's advice above, changing the setting that I had in the System Preferences > Energy Saver but that only stopped from rebooting on its own when I shut down my Mac properly. Otherwise it continued to restart on its own after freezing or crushing when I switched on the power. I took my machine to the Apple Store and after many tests they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I was very depressed about the whole business.
It was after going onto many of the other Apple related websites that I discovered that it wasn't a faulty power switch or fan, as as I originally thought, but found out that my problem was related to the Graphic Card and possibly I did not have enough ram (I had the original amount of 2 GB). The original card that came with the computer: 512 MB ATI Radeon X1900 XT was over heating and forcing my machine to shut down, I think it was because I had upgraded to OSX Lion which on its own requires at least 2 GB of ram to operate well. I added 4 GB of Ram to the 2GB I had (4GB kit (2GBx2), Apple 240-pin FBDIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 upgrades for Apple Mac Pro (4-core) 1st Gen. - 2006-2007 Desktop/PC, CT579443 from Crucial.com about $160 for the set) and replaced the Graphic Card with ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB from Apple (around $260), (ATI Radeon HD 5770 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (Mid 2010) - Apple Store (U.S.)) This card works very well with my original Mac Pro 2008. I installed it about two weeks ago and no problem with it starting on its own, over heating or freezing. OSX Lion works well and I'm thinking of upgrading to Mountain Lion once I learn that my Mac Pro 1.1 will work with the new hardware I installed.
Your problem could just be the power cord but I agree with you that doesn't sound right, when I mentioned faulty switch I meant the part where the power cord meets the power button, the unit which houses the power distribution, I thought at first that it could be faulty but changed my mind because of the computer overheating.
I don't know if this is of any help to you but I hope your trouble will be solved with the new cord.

Mac Pro starts up and then shuts down, how do I fix this?

Recently when I start up my Mac Pro it start its process and then I see the Apple Logo and then the screen goes black and the monitor says I think something like no digital signal. I have to start up my Mac Pro a number of times before it finally stays open. Because I use to see a bright flash when the Mac Pro would start up or shut down, I thought that may be the problem had to do with my monitor but I'm not sure. I tried disk utilities and Tech Tools Pro 6 but nothing so far has helped the problem. I don't think its my harddrive since all test say its OK. Then I remembered some says something that computers have an internal battery and that they need to be replaced from time to time. I don't know if my Mac Pro has a battery but does anyone know if this would cause my problem?

There is a pram battery but I don't think that's the cause of your problem.
Have you blown all the accumulated dust out of your machine?
Try reseating the video card, maybe the ram too.
Run Apple Hardware Test (boot from your second installer DVD, push D down immediatly after the boot chime).

Mac Pro Display flicker & failure to boot

Hello people who are smarter than me.
I have a 2008 Mac Pro 3.2/ 8CX 8800GT with the original Geforce video card installed. When I turn the machine on I get a grey screen with a black bar at the top, with no evidence of an actual boot (such as a darker grey apple in the middle of the screen.
After a minute or so, the screen retains the form of the black and white horizontal bar at the top but adds a rapidly cycling/strobing organge red and yellow flicker reminiscent of the old Monty Python crazy title screens.... It looks like this if you blink fast enough... or take a still photo.
I live in Haiti, where a fair amount of dust is constantly invading my tower, so I've had dust related issues before with memory... THis time, I don't think it's that. I've cleaned out the tower with pressurized air, reseated the memory and reseated the video card as well, to no advantage. The problem first came when the computer was working fine and while my daughter was opening a page on Firefox the screen just started jittering with this little color show. At the time, though, you could still see the desktop behind all the flickering. Now the computer doesn't seem to even boot. If I have to fly to the states to fix this, I'd love to not have to haul the whole machine, so if we can get this down to a couple likely parts that I could travel with, test and replace, that would be great. This is a hardware issue, right? Would video card failure make sense of this AND the failure to boot? AND if I do replace it, is the ATI Radeon HD 5770 Graphics Upgrade Kit still the ticket? If you help me, you'll be helping a lot of Haitians too, as I use this computer for humanitarian work with the Apparent Project. Help me Obi Geeks, you're my only hope!

Okay, so after doing all of the above, the computer still takes between 40 seconds and 1 minute or so to boot up, and the VersionCue messages still appear. However I discovered that the "kdcmond cannot retrieve..." messages disappeared after I disabled my ethernet connections. So at least I know that that had nothing to do with the extended boot-up time.
I have heard that the more RAM you have, the longer it takes to boot due to the RAM count. Since I have 10 GB, maybe this is why?
I've included the most recent Console messages below:
22/4/08 9:56:16 AM com.apple.launchctl.System[2] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist
22/4/08 9:56:16 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.adobe.versioncueCS3) Unknown key: ServiceDescription
22/4/08 9:56:16 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cups-lpd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
22/4/08 9:56:16 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
22/4/08 9:56:16 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (org.ntp.ntpd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
22/4/08 9:56:39 AM com.apple.SystemStarter[28] Starting Aladdin USB daemon
22/4/08 9:56:39 AM org.ntp.ntpd[25] Error : nodename nor servname provided, or not known
22/4/08 9:56:39 AM com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow[74]) Exited: Terminated
22/4/08 9:56:39 AM com.apple.launchctl.Aqua[90] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/machinit_peruser.d/com.adobe.versioncueCS3.monitor.plist
22/4/08 9:56:42 AM com.apple.launchd[82] (0x1011e0.VersionCueCS3monitor) Failed to check-in!

Mac Pro starting on its own.

I have run across a bug I think. After shutting down a Mac Pro the machine has turned itself on during the night. In Preferences -> Energy Saver -> Startup after power failure has been unchecked. There are no applications that have a 'run during the night' theme so I am at a loss as to why the machine starts itself up. Anybody have any clues?

I think you're confusing sleep and shut down. If a machine is asleep (which is what it does if you just shut the lid on a laptop) and you plug in or unplug a USB device, the computer will wake up. Of course, if you're unplugging a USB flash drive in this way, you could damage it.
OTOH, if the machine is shut down, it will not detect removal of a USB device, much less start back up.

Mac Pro starts up by itself at 5 p.m.

When I travel, I shut down my Mac Pro. When I get back, it's on. I discovered that it starts itself up at 5 p.m. I don't mean it wakes up from sleep. It starts up from a total shutdown.
This has happened ever since installing Leopard. I deleted the com.apple.AutoWake.plist file from the Library/Preferences/System Configuration folder. I reset the PRAM. It still starts up at 5 p.m.
I never set Energy Saver to automatically start up at a specific time, so it's unlikely to be an old setting that's being remembered. I have not scheduled an app to do some task at 5 p.m. daily.
What else should I look for?

I'm really tired of all the small problems I've been having since upgrading to Leopard. Why do they release something that has so many kinks to fix? Here is the current problem:
My computer starts by itself. No, I don't have it set up to do so. No, I don't have EyeTV. I know it's a software problem related to one of the latest updates. It never happened before, and I didn't change anything other than get the updates.
I will change the iTunes setting to see if that resolves the problem.
Thanks.

My mac pro start up slowly

my mac book pro is almost one year old and version 10.7.4, after i updated this version my mac book start up way slower than before

Hi, and a Warm Welcome to the Power Mac G5 Forum!
Well - not personally familiar with the Mac Pro... but, starting with the "Late 2005" dual-core G5s, the Startup bong was routed through the puny internal speaker, even if external speakers were connected, and no matter what sound preferences were selected.
Think the change was made after one or two heart failures when people forgot to turn the volume down after a heavy session the night before...
With speakers connected to the optical digital audio-out port, the Startup sound goes to the puny internal speaker also - even on this pre-dual-core G5.
Presume the Mac Pro is the same - but you could check by searching, or posting a question in the Mac Pro forum
http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=1124
Good Luck.

Why wont my Mac Pro Start?!?

Hello All
My Mac Pro (Early 2008) has begun acting strange. It wont power on.
I have done some trouble shooting (Removed all attached Devices (USB, ESATA, NETWORK,) Basically the only thing plugged in the rear is USB for keyboard / mouse and 1 DVI Monitor Hook up.
I replaced the power cable (Jug Cord), changed which wall socket the power plugs into.... but still it wont start.
A fix is to Pull Out the power cord from rear of MAC Pro, leave out for about 1 minute and then plug it back in. I hear it click and then it will start up once i press the power button. However once I Power back down, same problem.
Is this a faulty PSU? Or is there an internal Battery that could be causing problem?
I have tried removing the ram sticks also, same problem.
MAX OSX 10.6.8
2x4GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
10GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM

Interesting, so putting a ATI 5770 means i cant boot from DVD? How come?! What if i need to re install OS from DVD?
Secondly, i was reading apple website http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3891
Mac Pro: Using ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with Mac Pro released before 2010
Symptoms
You may notice display anomalies or issues playing back video or other HDCP-encoded content when you use an ATI Radeon HD 5770 video card in Mac Pro computers released before the Mac Pro (Mid 2010).
Resolution
The ATI Radeon HD 5770 video cards are supported only on Mac Pro (Mid 2010) models. They are not supported in earlier versions of Mac Pro. Learn more about graphics card compatibility for Mac Pro.
Then It says:
Graphics cards for Mac Pro (Early 2008)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (part number 630-9191 or 630-9897)
NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600
ATI Radeon HD 4870, offered as an upgrade kit
Note: The Radeon HD 4870 card requires Mac OS X v10.5.7 or later for use with the Mac Pro (Early 2008).
Can someone tell me, whats the difference between all the 4870 Cards?
This one is $130
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-EAH4870DK-HTDI-512MD5-Radeon/dp/B001KZOJCE
This one (refurbished yes) Is less than $50: Will this one work in my Mac Pro??!?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150594
I dont really have $200+ for a 5770 Card now.

Mac pro start up trouble , 5 important questions!!

I went on a 2 week holiday where my mac pro dual core was unplugged. When I got back and started the system it would go to the desktop screen but would then either freeze or I would get red lines across the display. I would have to manually shut it down and restart till it worked normally.
So far I have reset the SMC, the PRAM/Nvram, I have replaced the computer battery, run Norton Anitvirus, run a apple Hardware test (it came back fine) I have run Disk Warrior and Tech Tools Pro 5 and I have done an OS X archive and install and nothing has changed.
Although today the first 2 times I turned it on there was no start up chime/black screen and it took 5 manual restarts to work!
Question 1: Should I do a fresh install?
Question 2: Trouble with the first question is that my Super Duper copy was made after the problem started - won't the problem just be transferred?
Question 3: Does migration assistant transfer my copy to my hard drive if I do a fresh install?
Question 4: What should I do? - Should I pay for it to be fixed?
Any help is appreciated!!

Thank you for the reply.
Can I ask a few questions as I'm slightly new to computers. I didn't quite get the freshly formatted new drive stuff.
In my mac pro I have the mac hd with an additional hd and I have one external drive which is my backup (I need to get another one).
Q1. Unfortunately my backup was made after way the trouble started so a fresh install and migrate won't help will it?
Q2. Because of this I was thinking of doing a fresh install then just transferring over the music and photos and downloading the software again - would this help?
Q3. Because of this, I own final cut studio 2 which was then stolen from me, can I just transfer this from my backup (if so how?)
Q4. How come you recommend uninstalling Norton Anti Virus?
Q5. If I do a fresh install should I remove my second hd until its done?
I tried the overnight trick with no luck.
Thanking you in advance

Strange screen issue on Mac Pro start up

Hi,
Lets say every 1 in 20 times I start up my 2010 Mac Pro I get a stange tartan effect on the screen which flickers. Sometimes it has even had a screen with
static like a television. The only way to fix this is to unplug the DVI connector on the back of the computer and reconnnect - after doing this the issue is
resolved until the next time it happens.
Furthermore I don't believe it is a software problem as I have had this issue from day one of owning the computer. I stupidly assumed that a software fix would
be released and didn't persue Apple for a repair/replacement.
The problem persisted into OS 10.6 and 10.7 and 10.8.
Graphics card replacement? Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks

Yes it is the card that came with the computer. I'm using the 30" Cinema Display (2560 x 1600) though DVI.
Spoke to Apple Care and they haven't got any records of similar issues.

Mac Pro cold boot failure rate at 50%

I have a Mac Pro dual 2.8 ghz quad core, circa 2008. Recently, I have been required to depress the power button to end a failed cold boot, then press again to boot, usually with success.
I do hear a chime, but in the failed situation, it never progresses to the login screen.
I've reset the pram a few times, this doesn't seem to fix anything, as the system always boots if you try enough times (knock on wood).
I've verified the s.m.a.r.t. status and the disk, it all reports back as fine.
I am writing this post from a "safe boot" hope to see if that works on the next cold boot.
Other posts on this forum suggest it may be a weak pram battery so I will try that, the computer is getting on in years. However a similar post on this forum was marked as answered because the problem reported stated it did not chime from the external speakers. I don't care about that! So here's a new thread about documenting and hopefully solving the actual problem.

I have a Mac Pro dual 2.8 ghz quad core, circa 2008. Recently, I have been required to depress the power button to end a failed cold boot, then press again to boot, usually with success.
Every hard restart freeze, and can guarantee you end up with
corrupt caches, corrupt file system, corrupt directory.
Safe Boot is not effective in such cases, fsck from single user mode has a better chance.
Booting from another hard drive, install your bought copy of Alsoft Disk Warrior to rebuild the directory (it has deep scavenge files also).
The longer you continue to do just Safe Boot and continue using it, the more trouble and less likelihood of being able to repair the drive.
SMART is not smart enough, it tells you about the past, not what could likely happen, or if you have had bad sectors and I/O errors.
Have bootable backup clones and a drive that is a clean Apple OS and drivers that isn't used except for repairs and maintenance. Don't rely on just Apple Disk Repair.

Mac pro Jumping Bluetooth mouse fix

Hi found these links & thought I'd share after having to do the below external antenna mod myself to fix my poor Bluetooth signal strength between my 2010 mac pro my magic mouse.
It worked a treat!!! Thank you Nobblynoel!
How to test your Bluetooth:
http://nobblynoel.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/how-to-check-your-bluetooth-connectio n/
How to fix mac pro Bluetooth:
http://nobblynoel.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/mac-pro-2009-bluetooth-fix/
Please post if you found this useful & thank Nobblynoel.

We already have a 22 page discussion on this topic where the various methods are discussed and if memory serves, those, and other, links are mentioned.
See: Poor Bluetooth reception and jerky mouse
Update: see around page 14 of that discussion.

Mac Pro freezes up; temporarily fixed by reboot

I have a Mac Pro 2x3 GHz Quad core with 8 GB RAM. I'm experiencing bizarre freeze ups and other malfunctions that are temporarily fixed by rebooting.
The computer is used for live broadcasting twice a week. Between broadcasting events it sits mostly idle handling email and running a network camera via Evocam. After I finish a broadcast on Wednesday I copy some audio and video files from the broadcast onto a portable drive. I leave the computer on. The computer seems to be operating properly when I finish and leave. Then when I return on Sunday to set up for a new broadcast most often (but not always) I find that the computer begins to act very erratically. For example, opening a folder on the desktop takes 10 to 20 seconds before it appears on the desktop. Some files that should be in the folder don't show up. Then the desktop freezes altogether for up to 1 minute. The mouse moves across the screen but clicks are ineffectual. I am forced to shutdown and restart. The computer comes back up functioning perfectly fine. The cycle then repeats when I return on Wednesday.
I've run TechTool Pro and no problems are found. The main hard drive checks out fine. I've noticed a large number of strange (at least to me) messages in console. One of the recurring ones is:
User Event Agent:***mach_port_mod_refs returned error 15
I also get a lot of console entries beginning with "racoon:IKE packet" or "racoon: IPSec"
Also entries such as "kernel: /!\ WARNING: 284 recoverable class Fbd error(s)"
I have no idea where to proceed with troubleshooting. Is this likely a hard drive problem, a computer hardware problem or something else? All help will be greatly appreciated.
John

I have a Mac Pro 2x3 GHz Quad core with 8 GB RAM. I'm experiencing bizarre freeze ups and other malfunctions that are temporarily fixed by rebooting.
The computer is used for live broadcasting twice a week. Between broadcasting events it sits mostly idle handling email and running a network camera via Evocam. After I finish a broadcast on Wednesday I copy some audio and video files from the broadcast onto a portable drive. I leave the computer on. The computer seems to be operating properly when I finish and leave. Then when I return on Sunday to set up for a new broadcast most often (but not always) I find that the computer begins to act very erratically. For example, opening a folder on the desktop takes 10 to 20 seconds before it appears on the desktop. Some files that should be in the folder don't show up. Then the desktop freezes altogether for up to 1 minute. The mouse moves across the screen but clicks are ineffectual. I am forced to shutdown and restart. The computer comes back up functioning perfectly fine. The cycle then repeats when I return on Wednesday.
I've run TechTool Pro and no problems are found. The main hard drive checks out fine. I've noticed a large number of strange (at least to me) messages in console. One of the recurring ones is:
User Event Agent:***mach_port_mod_refs returned error 15
I also get a lot of console entries beginning with "racoon:IKE packet" or "racoon: IPSec"
Also entries such as "kernel: /!\ WARNING: 284 recoverable class Fbd error(s)"
I have no idea where to proceed with troubleshooting. Is this likely a hard drive problem, a computer hardware problem or something else? All help will be greatly appreciated.
John

Mac Pro Start up Failures: Fix

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