Mac Pro flashing power light (unresponsive)

Question

Level 1

9 points

Mac Pro flashing power light (unresponsive)

Hello,

Twice this week a Mac Pro Quad 2.66 has become unresponsive after being left unattended. I have revived the computer by resetting the System Management Controller ( http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1806).

It's obvious this is not normal. Should I bring the computer in for repair? Is there something else I should be doing?

Connected to the computer are:
- Two Lacie Electron 19 Blue III monitors
- Lacie usb drive
- Lacie firewire 400 drive
- JVC DV-HRS2 Mini DV deck (firewire)
- both ethernet ports are being used

Thanks,

Mac Pro Quad 2.66 (MacPro1,1), Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 26, 2008 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Aug 26, 2008 12:49 PM in response to SVB@CIT

A device that doesn't support sleep and loses communication. And LaCie. USB devices and cables. Any USB hub.

Could be as simple as a USB cable; Firewire cable... does the Electron have USB and/or FW ports also?

LaCie recommends unplugging everything, shutting down, no power cord even and let sit a couple minutes.

Try without your peripherals and then try one at a time.

The big problem is if you are doing a hard restart w/o repairing your drives, whether you safely eject your drives first.

LaCie cables and power adapters can be a problem as I said, but any hub, mouse, keyboard can cause a problem but most often the mouse moves but you can't do anything and system is unresponsive.

No you don't need to take it in. I doubt Apple Hardware Test would find anything either.

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Answer 2

SVB@CIT Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 26, 2008 1:10 PM in response to The hatter

Hello,

No USB hubs or USB/FW on the monitors. The lacie drives are older models and don't have the On/Off/Auto switch.

I think this happens when the computer and drive go to sleep. I will try to change the cables and plug the drives in one at a time.

Thanks Hatter.

The hatter wrote:
A device that doesn't support sleep and loses communication. And LaCie. USB devices and cables. Any USB hub.

Could be as simple as a USB cable; Firewire cable... does the Electron have USB and/or FW ports also?

LaCie recommends unplugging everything, shutting down, no power cord even and let sit a couple minutes.

Try without your peripherals and then try one at a time.

The big problem is if you are doing a hard restart w/o repairing your drives, whether you safely eject your drives first.

LaCie cables and power adapters can be a problem as I said, but any hub, mouse, keyboard can cause a problem but most often the mouse moves but you can't do anything and system is unresponsive.

No you don't need to take it in. I doubt Apple Hardware Test would find anything either.

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Answer 3

Aug 27, 2008 12:54 AM in response to SVB@CIT

Hello,
I'm new to this forum and I'm new to Mac but I had a similar problem and perhaps it is related.
My computer (Mac Pro) would become unresponsive on start ups (sometimes) . The power light would flash non stop. I searched the net for a fix and found a posting which said to "re-seat the RAM" ...so I did and that was a few weeks ago and I haven't had that problem return since.
Hope this helps.

Xavior

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Answer 4

SVB@CIT Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2008 8:10 AM in response to musician808

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

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Answer 5

SVB@CIT Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 8, 2008 11:42 AM in response to musician808

musician808 wrote:
Hello,
I'm new to this forum and I'm new to Mac but I had a similar problem and perhaps it is related.
My computer (Mac Pro) would become unresponsive on start ups (sometimes) . The power light would flash non stop. I searched the net for a fix and found a posting which said to "re-seat the RAM" ...so I did and that was a few weeks ago and I haven't had that problem return since.
Hope this helps.

Xavior

Re-seating the RAM solved the problem. I was also getting different readings on the amount of internal RAM. 8GB, 6GB, 4GB.

Thanks,

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