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Level 1

35 points

Error message on my Mac Pro Quad Core Dual

Hello..I'm hoping someone out there can help or advise me.
I turned on my mac this morning to find it's normal loading screen of grey with the darker grey logo in centre..all normal at this stage. This was followed by a wipe from top to bottom making the background grey a little darker and in the centre the apple logo was replaced by what appeared to be a semi transparent power button symbol with the words. "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button for several seconds or press the restart button"
I have tried this several times to no avail I have also zapped the P RAM again nothing. Can anyone out there help. I have a Mac Pro Quad Core Dual which is only a few months old and is up to date with its system software.

I could be so grateful of any assistance.
Warm regards
Sophia

Mac Pro Quad Core Dual, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 2GB RAM

Posted on Aug 26, 2008 1:56 AM

Best reply

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Posted on Aug 26, 2008 2:23 AM

kernel panic

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304511
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106805
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106228

http://www.macmaps.com/kernelpanic.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html

The cause is usually hardware, can be something as inocuous as a faulty USB device or cable. Until you resolve it I would boot from another hard drive and try various troubleshooting steps, boot in Safe Mode, repair your drive if you do get booted.

If you installed or added any hardware that would be the first place to look. It is as much art as science looking for that needle in the haystack. Those FAQs can help walk through things to try.

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37 replies

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 30, 2008 8:48 AM in response to Sophia

Disk Warrior doesn't boot 2008 models of any kind. But then, most people use it from a 2nd hard drive which is also preferable. Where did you buy 4.0? not Alsoft directly? Can you do the upgrade to DW 4.1 on your laptop? then put the new copy on USB/FW drive, or even flash memory card. Just looked at 4.0, and yes, it is a pale blue, robin's egg almost pastel.

If you have a FireWire drive you can dedicate as alternate OS X for emergenies, set that up.

If you don't yet have SuperDuper $29, add that.

And for $79, add'l internal drive(s).
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Western%20Digital/WD6400AAKS/
A backup and 2nd internal drive are always useful.

"wiped down" sounds like the gray screen of a kernel panic, which 90% of the time hardware from RAM or something.

When erasing hard drive, erase the drive first, not the partition, just to be safe. And if a fresh install doesn't work, its DOA.

Before you add or install software, which adds an unknown, make a backup to another drive for emergency. Disk Utility Restore and/or SuperDuper. I assume all the software is Leopard compatible.

If you don't have faulty RAM, or disk drive, and can rule those out, but I thihk it is time to 'bite the bullet' and schedule a "doctor's appointment" for the ailing Mac Pro.

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 9:02 AM in response to The hatter

Hi there,
I used the Apple CD I got with the mac and did a reinstall but erased all the existing data. So am hoping it's all fresh now. Since doing all this the mac is back up and running fingers crossed. No error messages at all. I've spent forever today reinstalling all my software but once I have to it how I want I will create a disk image of everything to same my time. I'm not sure if it's hardware but then again I don't know. I did all the things you suggested yesterday and was happy at booting up until I booted it up today that's when I thought to erase and start again.
I bought the Disk Warrior software from Amazon yesterday. There was nothing in the packaging that made me think it was a 'dodgy copy' apart from the the face the recorded side of the CD was blue which made me think that was a bit odd. My laptop is running Tiger 10.4.11 and it's also intel based. It wouldn't accept the disk on that kit either. It just keeps saying to put the original in. Do you think it might be a copy ?
Kind regards
Sophia

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 30, 2008 9:12 AM in response to Sophia

It sounds like a good retail copy of Disk Warrior, not some marketplace reseller. I hope it isn't your SuperDrive.

4.0 has 10.4? while 4.1 is still only 10.4.9. but it should still mount etc.

I would have pointed to TechTool Deluxe, part of AppleCare, or Pro version 4.6.2+ which will boot, and 5.0 version coming out soon (free upgrade). It definitely has more tests, scans for bad blocks, and I like to be able to repair multiple drives at once.

As long as it works, good as any time to backup. Because you had trouble with login, could be something in your home folder account. Be careful with importing.

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 9:19 AM in response to The hatter

I bought the Disk Warrior to sort the problem with my Mac Pro but when I couldn't get it to work I tried it on the laptop and still couldn't get it to work. I think hat I might is send back the software to Amazon and get the one you suggested.
I'm going to go into Disk first Aid and just check the drive and make sure the new installation is happy then do anther hardware test. Will let you know how I get on. I hope it's not my Superdrive too. .I did check the hardware several times though and it didn't pick anything.

Kind regards
Sophia

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 30, 2008 10:25 AM in response to Sophia

I would of course contact Alsoft and let them know of your experience, and that Amazon is not carrying 4.1. Amazon shows "J&R" and not even Amazon Prime.... I've always just bought direct from Alsoft.

http://www.alsoft.com/Buy/index.html
Has CD and download 4.1.

Amazon doesn't have the latest TechTool Pro either, head over to
http://www.micromat.com

If you are using Apple OEM hard drive, I'd definitely look at the $79 unit I mentioned, just clone your system over and get much better performance. And keep the original as backup drive. Vista index gives it 5.9 out of 6.0.

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 10:37 AM in response to The hatter

Yes I will..I'll drop them an email tomorrow so they can pick on Monday. I think in the meantime I will get it sent back to Amazon as well. Well I've done a restore repair permissions and it did find a few errors and has repaired them. So far mac is still working..touch wood !!! I'm hoping this was just a weird one off and not hardware...checking hardware again now...
Kind regards
Sophia

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 10:39 AM in response to The hatter

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 30, 2008 11:12 AM in response to Sophia

Most important right now is to use Disk Utility Restore or SuperDuper (free for full disk copy).

Disk Utility should be run after any OS update, patch or installing software or drivers, but it doesn't actually 'restore' anything as update, and even after a clone of the system drive, it is also essential to run, and normal for it to make changes.

Then boot off the clone backup drive, insure it works, and be able to run Disk Utility to repair the main drive, and how you would run Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro, and not from a CD/DVD, which is only for emergency. Not intended or needed to be bootable unless lacking a bootable 2nd drive.

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 11:25 AM in response to The hatter

Yes I will do that thanks...I've done the hardware test and all has come back as normal. I will do as you suggested. I'm hoping this was all a one off gliche. Fingers crossed !!!

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 30, 2008 12:00 PM in response to The hatter

I've think I didn't install the Disk Warrior properly....managed to get it up and running..checking it now...so far everything done since the Leopard reinstall things are running smoothly !! : )

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 31, 2008 4:57 AM in response to Sophia

Hello again..
Everytime I check the drive either from the install disk or Disk Warrior and go to Repair Disk Permissions I keep getting this
Group differs on "private/etc/cups",should be 0, group is 26

It does repair it then when I recheck it it finds it again and repairs it.
What does that mean ?
Kind regards
Sophia

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 31, 2008 5:26 AM in response to Sophia

'Good morning' I was going to post a "no news is good news" to keep the thread in view...

Do you use CUPS? CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX-based operating systems. It is developed and maintained by Easy Software Products to promote a standard printing solution and is the standard printing system in MacOS X and most Linux distributions.
latest version -
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/32100

Also, this just showed update:

Applejack - a handy and favorite tool to keep boot drive working and has been long missed with Leopard is finally out (freeware) that most find and turn to, even before running Disk Utility or Disk Warrior.

Product Description: AppleJack is a tool to make it easy to troubleshoot your Mac when no other startup disk is available to you. The script gives you an interactive menu-driven environment for basic disk check/repair, permissions repair, .plist validation, cache cleanup, and swap file removal. You can do basic system maintenance even if your GUI won't start up at all, simply by booting into single user mode, and typing 'applejack'.
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596

I wouldn't be concerned about the error, you may not need it for printing, or install the above. Not sure why, sorry, and don't recall seeing this.

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 31, 2008 9:25 AM in response to The hatter

Good morning back although it's almost early evening over here : )
I have never heard of CUPS to be honest.
Any ideas how I can get my iDVD, iMovie and iPhoto back. I lost the applications when I had to reinstall.
No problems with the mac so far..so good !!

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 31, 2008 10:07 AM in response to Sophia

iLife Suite would either come on their own CD, or on the original install DVD. Did you order it with iLife or were those just pre-installed demo?

http://www.apple.com/ilife/

Reinstall after archive and install
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1042

Sophia Author

Level 1

35 points

Aug 31, 2008 10:26 AM in response to The hatter

It was already installed when I ordered the mac from the Apple Store. I just assumed it would all be included with the installation CD that it came with it... : (

Error message on my Mac Pro Quad Core Dual