HT203161: Isolating issues in Mac OS X

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Chris Renna

Q: My 2007 Mac Pro will not work.

Powers on, get chime, then gray screen with lines on it, then black and nothing else.  Any tips?  I have tried a number of remedies suggested online but nothing has worked yet.  Thanks

Macpro, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 25, 2015 8:29 AM

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Q: My 2007 Mac Pro will not work.

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  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Jan 25, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Chris Renna

    Pull the graphic card. Or tell us what it is.

     

    Do a safe boot.

     

    Things I would do to get it up and running better: XP941 PCIe boot drive (almost or probably the only one that can! just installed one), RAM: consider a new set of 4x2GB FBDIMMs from NEMIX (Amazon) for $45 the set. A new graphic card, probably the hardest choice.

     

    Got a good bootable backup clone? those are a must.

     

    Also, either 10.6.8 or preferably 10.7.5 - later versions are possible but not supported.

     

    Instead of "a number of remedies" give us a hint so we don't repeat and go through the same things, okay? Thanks.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jan 25, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 10 (188,739 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Chris Renna

    Can you boot from a DVD?

    Have you tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM?

    Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

    About NVRAM and PRAM

    What video card is installed? coulod be bad video card.

     

    For the future saying you tried things but not saying what you tried can waste both of our time

  • by Chris Renna,

    Chris Renna Chris Renna Jan 25, 2015 8:43 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 8:43 AM in response to lllaass

    Ok, I have reset the NVRAM and tried unplugging everything and then powering on.  I don't think I can get the disc drive to open so can't boot from a DVD.  I will check out your links now.  Thanks much, and sorry for giving so little info.

  • by Chris Renna,

    Chris Renna Chris Renna Jan 25, 2015 8:58 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 8:58 AM in response to lllaass

    Just took graphics card out (and broke plastic lever holding it in in the process).  Card is a NVIDIA P345.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 25, 2015 9:13 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 9 (60,904 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:13 AM in response to Chris Renna

    That looks up to an NVIDIA 7300GT, a certifiable antique.

     

    To open the DVD Reader, boot with the alt/Option key held down to invoke Startup Manager. This will draw a gray screen and then add an icon for each potentially-bootable Volume. When the clock cursor disappears, the Eject key on the keyboard becomes "live" and can be used to open the DVD tray. Insert your Installer/Utilities DVD, and wait for it to spin up, then be added to the icons on the screen. Select it and proceed.

     

    Answer only the "what language" question and wait a quarter minute for the MenuBar to be drawn. Choose Utilities from a Menu, choose Disk Utility, and (Repair Disk). If you proceed towards Install, the Utilities options go away, and you must start over.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jan 25, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 10 (188,739 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:16 AM in response to Chris Renna

    See:

    http://forum.hardmac.com/index.php?showtopic=6096

    > Problems with Capacitors on the GeForce 7300 GT found in the First Mac Pro
  • by Chris Renna,

    Chris Renna Chris Renna Jan 25, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    It is not giving me the menu bar once I select the language.  It only tells me "this software cannot be installed on this computer".  FYI the gray screen is covered with wavy purple and gray lines, not solid gray.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jan 25, 2015 9:36 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 10 (188,739 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:36 AM in response to Chris Renna

    What color is the DVD and what is written on it?

    Disks that came with a Mac will only work with the model they were shipped with.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 25, 2015 9:44 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 9 (60,904 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:44 AM in response to lllaass

    Electrolytic capacitors (the "little cans") contain a liquid electrolyte. They are manufactured with tops that are perfectly FLAT, and sometimes stamped with a pattern, such as an X.

     

    If they get too hot, the electrolyte expands, and pushes up the top. It can be subtle, but once you see it, you will always be able to detect it. If it is severe, it can even break the top or cause leakage onto the board.

     

    If you choose to replace them you may use higher heat ranges and slightly larger capacitance with impunity, but you MUST observe the polarity (+ and -) marked on the board and the capacitor. Larger physical size is not an issue, as long as you can fit it in and keep the leads as short as possible.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 25, 2015 9:40 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 9 (60,904 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:40 AM in response to Chris Renna

    the gray screen is covered with wavy purple and gray lines, not solid gray.

    The driver is not installed at this juncture. Those symptoms add evidence that the graphics card may be the source of your issues.

  • by Chris Renna,

    Chris Renna Chris Renna Jan 25, 2015 9:43 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 9:43 AM in response to lllaass

    Whoops, wrong disc.  But now when I insert the original gray "Mac OS x install disc 1 "it spits it back out.  Should I be using the Snow Leopard disc my current OS)?

  • by Chris Renna,

    Chris Renna Chris Renna Jan 25, 2015 9:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 9:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Ok, I am taking this to Apple Store tomorrow and assume I will be buying a new computer.  thanks

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jan 25, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 9 (60,904 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 25, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Chris Renna

    All indications are that your computer is basically working, but the graphics card has problems. The graphics card is a replaceable component in that model.

     

    If you choose to replace the entire computer, you should advertise the condition of the old one as "Working, possible bad graphics card".

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Jan 25, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Chris Renna
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 9:50 AM in response to Chris Renna

    Overdue for some upgrades, the 7300GT could be replaced easily enough with an ATI 5770 $249, and 1/10th the cost of Mac Pro 2013 (sold on Apple under Refurbished Specials) or you could look for a 2009 which are excellent buys for under $1,000.

     

    You can also find the 8800GT is an excellent replacement. I paid $279 for mine from Apple, then the 5770 for another $249, or about one new card every 2-3 years. This guy has good support and card that works in your system.

    http://www.macvidcards.com

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