MacPro Start Up - won't turn on

681 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by eMacMan, 15 d ago

macmac

Discussion Starter · 1 mo ago

Hi Folks,

I have a 2009 Mac Pro (my main machine for years)

Last week on start up it kept chiming....I shut it down, turned it on and it went away I didn't give it much thought.

Today my screen filled up with little square pixels all over. Out of nowhere, not sure what happened.

I had to force quit to shut it down. Upon re-starting it keeps playing the internal chime, and won't go further than that.

Is the machine toast or can I salvage it somehow?

It is an '09 Mac Pro, running El Capitan, plenty of storage on it and Ram too. I'm just at a loss as to how to get it started.

help?

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Macfury

· #2 · 1 mo ago

Sounds like a possible kernel panic or RAM failure.

Start by removing half the RAM and restart. If you get a restart, then there's a bad RAM module in the batch you removed. If you don't get a restart, swap out the RAM you just removed. Narrow down until you find the culprit.

Sometimes kernel panics are caused by a bad graphics card. Do you have one you can swap out?

Also try to boot in SAFE mode and tell us what happens.

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macmac

Discussion Starter · #3 · 30 d ago

Macfury said:
Sounds like a possible kernel panic or RAM failure.

Start by removing half the RAM and restart. If you get a restart, then there's a bad RAM module in the batch you removed. If you don't get a restart, swap out the RAM you just removed. Narrow down until you find the culprit.

Sometimes kernel panics are caused by a bad graphics card. Do you have one you can swap out?

Also try to boot in SAFE mode and tell us what happens.

Thanks for the tips. It won't re-start in safe mode...I even called apple tech support and we tried various key combinations...holding down power button etc...nothing worked. I'll look into the RAM options later on today

I don't have another graphics card

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pm-r

· #4 · 30 d ago

macmac said:
Thanks for the tips. It won't re-start in safe mode...I even called apple tech support and we tried various key combinations...holding down power button etc...nothing worked.

I would keep trying to Reboot several times, as the timing as to when the buttons are pushed can be critical for working or not.

Try pressing and holding the shift key down, only just when you hear the boot chime, and keep holding it down. A safe boot can take much longer than a normal boot.

Also, even the timing of pressing down and holding down the option key on a restart can be critical, so try several times and maybe also just as you hear the reboot chime.

But Apple tech probably mentioned to do the same thing, but it shouldn't break anything to keep trying several times.

- Patrick
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eMacMan

· #5 · 23 d ago

Replace the clock (PRAM) battery. May not be the cause but it certainly could be, and if nothing else it is cheap. Should be able to find directions online as to how to find it and how to swap it out.

Note that a bad HD can also cause boot issues, even if there is a good OS on another drive. If you have a second drive with a known good system, pull the main drive and hold down the option key after you hear the chime. Then select the secondary drive. If that works you know the main HD is the issue.

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macmac

Discussion Starter · #6 · 20 d ago

Macfury said:
Sounds like a possible kernel panic or RAM failure.

Start by removing half the RAM and restart. If you get a restart, then there's a bad RAM module in the batch you removed. If you don't get a restart, swap out the RAM you just removed. Narrow down until you find the culprit.

Sometimes kernel panics are caused by a bad graphics card. Do you have one you can swap out?

Also try to boot in SAFE mode and tell us what happens.

I removed the three sets of ram one by one and re-started each time, but no go. It just kept doing the chime

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macmac

Discussion Starter · #7 · 20 d ago

eMacMan said:
Replace the clock (PRAM) battery. May not be the cause but it certainly could be, and if nothing else it is cheap. Should be able to find directions online as to how to find it and how to swap it out.

Note that a bad HD can also cause boot issues, even if there is a good OS on another drive. If you have a second drive with a known good system, pull the main drive and hold down the option key after you hear the chime. Then select the secondary drive. If that works you know the main HD is the issue.

I was thinking it might be the hard drive too. I have several drives in this one. I'm not sure how to 'unplug it', but I'll look online.

I've never heard of the PRAM clock before

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pm-r

· #8 · 19 d ago

macmac said:
I've never heard of the PRAM clock before

The PRAM battery is well overdue for replacement if it has never been replaced previously, and a dead PRAM battery can definitely prevent a Mac from booting properly.

I believe that Mac Pro model uses a 1/2 AA cylindrical battery that most computer stores carry, but replacement can sometimes be a bit of a bear.
A new battery shouldn't cost much more than about $10 Canadian.

- Patrick
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eMacMan

· #9 · 16 d ago (Edited)

pm-r said:
The PRAM battery is well overdue for replacement if it has never been replaced previously, and a dead PRAM battery can definitely prevent a Mac from booting properly.

I believe that Mac Pro model uses a 1/2 AA cylindrical battery that most computer stores carry, but replacement can sometimes be a bit of a bear.
A new battery shouldn't cost much more than about $10 Canadian.

- Patrick
=======

Edited to show correct battery type.
No this uses a 2032 flat battery. Google for location and how to remove & replace. To remove a HD simply pull out the sled. Any bad HD can prevent booting but the most likely culprit will be the main boot drive which should be in Bay 1 (far left). Hopefully one of your other drives has a bootable OS on it. After all that's one of the major advantages of having multiple drives.

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pm-r

· #10 · 16 d ago

eMacMan said:
No this uses a 3025 flat battery.

Thanks, eMacMan for correcting the proper PRAM battery type that I erroneously posted above. I mistakenly was thinking those Mac Pros were still using the older style batteries, but not so as you pointed out:

NewerTech® : Batteries : 3V PRAM Battery for Mac®

NewerTech 3V PRAM Battery for Mac give you high-performance, quality, and longevity to your battery upgrade.

www.newertech.com

- Patrick
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eMacMan

· #11 · 15 d ago

Double checked it is a BR-2032. Need to remove the graphics card to access the battery. Be careful when removing the battery not to damage the holder.

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