Multi777x
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Q: HELP. My mac pro has had a kernel attack on startup

My early 2008 Mac pro for the past two days will boot 40% through on the loading bar screen then (what I assume is a kernel attack) I hear a click and it shuts down. Ive tried SMC, PRAM,, etc with non works. I try PRAM reset and it just shuts down immediately. I try holding down D and it rather completely ignores the input or presents me with a flashing folder with a question mark on it. If it makes a difference I did install 16GB of RAM a few months before but one of the sticks of RAM sometimes doesn't register leaving me with 14gb of RAM. I just kept it in there. This has also happened a month ago but it only lasted for a day. I appreciate and feedback thank you in advancedt

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:38 AM

by Grant Bennet-Alder,Solvedanswer
Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder
Level 9 (60,936 points)
Desktops
A:

There are a lot of caveats. Get a start with this user tip:

 

User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards


.

Posted on Aug 5, 2015 6:15 PM

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Multi777x

Q: HELP. My mac pro has had a kernel attack on startup

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  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Jul 28, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Multi777x
    Level 10 (188,843 points)
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    Jul 28, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Multi777x

    Sounds like a RAM problem.

    Take out the one bad one and its pair and see if the problem stops.

    You need the original install DVDs to rune Apple hardware test on older Macs

    Using Apple Hardware Test

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 9:53 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 9:53 AM in response to lllaass

    Ok thanks for the quick reply. The problem is I don't know which stick of RAM is the bad one

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jul 28, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Multi777x
    Level 10 (188,843 points)
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    Jul 28, 2015 10:08 AM in response to Multi777x

    This tells you what slots are paired. The 2008 is near the bottom

    Mac Pro (Mid 2012 and earlier): How to remove or install memory - Apple Support

    If you can boot the Mac then go to Apple icon in upper right right and click on About this Mac. Then system report or profile depending upon OSX version. Then click on memory in left part and it will show installed memory and OK if it passed test..

     

    Also if you open side cover during boot up are any diagnostic LEDs lit?

    http://mediawiki.middlebury.edu/wiki/LIS/Apple_Diagnostic_Lights

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 10:20 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 10:20 AM in response to lllaass

    I can not boot up the Mac and wouldn't opening up a mac pro while it's running damage it's internal components?

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jul 28, 2015 10:22 AM in response to Multi777x
    Level 10 (188,843 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 28, 2015 10:22 AM in response to Multi777x

    The Macs runs fine with the side cover removed. It may get a littler warmer with uses since airflow is different

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 10:44 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 10:44 AM in response to lllaass

    They all flashed like for a very brief moment when I first pressed the power button. But according to the website I need to have the Mac to boot completely which my mac at the moment can not do

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Jul 28, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Multi777x
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Multi777x

    This;

     

    one of the sticks of RAM sometimes doesn't register leaving me with 14gb of RAM. I just kept it in there.

     

    Is bad. Can result in the old "GIGO" - garbage. Better to not run with the pair. And best to test with just new set, even one pair at a time.

     

    FBDIMMs that don't work some of the time, do not work at all.

     

    Try sliding out all the drives. When resetting SMC, with everything unplugged and disconnected (and remove 3rd party PCIe) hit power button also while unplugged.

     

    Try different non-Apple kb and mouse too.

     

    Get in the habit of always have a clean reliable system clone on hand for maintenance of any type, and an older working clone - in fact make a new clone before ever installing or applying any type of updates or changes.

     

    Tried SAFE BOOT? Did you save and make a flash type installer for Yosemite or older? Always save those .ESD installer packages.

    AHT does not find issues with GPUs or most RAM issues, the RAM issues it finds will show as errors, parity errors, in system profile already.

     

    If it is not on 1500VA 900W UPS, that should be on your list of things to do and help protect it. And a smaller UPS maybe for routers and modems and disk drives or other external peripherals.

     

    A set of FBDIMMs - 667's run cooler and cost much less - are $23 2x2GB on Amazon.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 28, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Multi777x
    Level 9 (60,936 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 28, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Multi777x

    Your problem does not sound like a kernel panic or a memory problem to me.

     

    If you get the gray Apple, then a progress Bar, that indicates your Boot Drive could not be mounted and it is being looked at with Disk Utility (Repair Disk [directory]). It never gets more than about a third of the way across, then the repair is complete.

     

    a) If the disk was repaired enough to Mount, Startup will proceed.

     

    b) If the disk still will not mount, your Mac is shut down under program control, since you can't do anything and its just going to get hot.

     

    You need to Repair that drive, or substitute a different drive.

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 1:43 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 1:43 PM in response to The hatter

    I have reset the SMC again with no effect. Safe boot just gets stuck  at 1/3 in the progress bar. I'm going to attempt to locate the defective ram and take it out

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 1:45 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 1:45 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Ok so my Mac Pro gets stuck at 1/3 the way on the progress bar and it indeed does get hot after a while (over at least 30 attempts today). So what do I need to do to fix it?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 28, 2015 1:47 PM in response to Multi777x
    Level 9 (60,936 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 28, 2015 1:47 PM in response to Multi777x

    You need a running version of Mac OS X or Installer/Utilities on Recovery_HD or an the 10.6 DVD, or on a different drive.

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 28, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2015 3:51 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I cant. When I press command R it loads 1/5 the way and stops

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Jul 28, 2015 8:07 PM in response to Multi777x
    Level 9 (60,936 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 28, 2015 8:07 PM in response to Multi777x

    Are you using a keyboard plugged directly into a USB on the chassis, not on a Display or other Hub?

     

    Those others come up too late for the "snag keys" to work.

  • by Multi777x ,

    Multi777x Multi777x Jul 29, 2015 8:11 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2015 8:11 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Im using the wired Apple keyboard and it's directly plugged into the chassis

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