After 10.6.4 Update Black Screen

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After 10.6.4 Update Black Screen

Hello,

I have run into something that is driving me crazy. I have a Mac Pro Early 2008 and decided to do the 10.6.4 update. Update goes through, after chime and Apple Logo, it goes black and video becomes unresponsive, not output from video card. However you can hear everything booting up in the background (Skype, Volume Up and Down Sound from keyboard, etc). I have used Time Machine to Restore and now I am back on 10.6 and its okay. I have a ATI Radeon HD 4870 as a video card, so I don't know if its a video driver issue, but I can't figure it out. I have tried resetting PRAM, doing simple troubleshooting steps. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have not tried it with another monitor for I don't have one to test, my current monitor is a 30" Samsung SyncMaster 305t plus hooked up via DVI. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you

Mac Pro Early 2008, Mac OS X (10.6), ATI Radeon HD 4870 Video Card

Posted on Jul 2, 2010 7:34 PM

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Answer 1

krutoyshawn Author

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Jul 3, 2010 7:37 AM in response to krutoyshawn

So I can update up to 10.6.2, anything past that will cause the black screens as described. I am now on 10.6.2 and all is well. So I don't get it, I am thinking of trying another video card to see if the output becomes responsive again after updating. Like I stated I can hear everything going on in the background and know the computer is up and running, just no video output. I can boot to my Bootcamp partition and get video output just fine, but not in OS X. Very bizarre.

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Answer 2

krutoyshawn Author

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Jul 7, 2010 10:56 AM in response to krutoyshawn

Does anyone have a clue on this? Hopefully someone has at least a suggestion from what I have already tried. Seems like this is not a common problem.

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Answer 3

Jul 8, 2010 3:05 PM in response to krutoyshawn

I probably can't really help, but I can tell you I've got an early 2009 Mac Pro (8-core) with the Radeon HD 4870, and the 10.6.4 update went fine. The fact that the Time Machine restore solved it definitely confirms it's software - maybe you could read through the 10.6.4 release notes to see if it has any clues. Have you been able to reproduce the problem since the Time Machine restore? Also, you mentioned being back to 10.6 - did you update from original 10.6 directly to 10.6.4? (That shouldn't cause a problem, but at least going through each sequential update would help you pinpoint the source of a problem.)

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Answer 4

Gary P

Level 4

1,418 points

Jul 8, 2010 11:08 PM in response to krutoyshawn

I can't solve your problem, but I can say I have the same machine (Mac Pro early 2008, Radeon 4870) working fine under 10.6.4. with an Apple Cinema Display.

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Answer 5

JZilla

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Jul 24, 2010 10:14 AM in response to krutoyshawn

I'm having exactly the same problem, and I did the 10.6.4 update a couple of days ago. How did you get Time Machine to restore to 10.6 without being able to see anything on screen? Or, what's the best way to restore to 10.6 if there's no video signal and I didn't have the OS backed up in Time Machine?

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Answer 6

Jul 25, 2010 8:45 PM in response to JZilla

My guess would be you'll have to boot from your Snow Leopard DVD - it'll be a version prior to 10.6.4. From there you'll be able to do a clean install and then a restore from Time Machine.

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Answer 7

Jul 25, 2010 8:47 PM in response to strickerj

Oh sorry, I misread your post; I thought you had a Time Machine backup.

If you've got another Mac desktop, try putting your Mac Pro's hard disk in it so you can at least retrieve your critical data. If not, you might consider taking it to an Apple store or independent service store to have them do it.

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Answer 8

Jul 28, 2010 5:16 PM in response to krutoyshawn

I just bought this Graphics Card update for my Mac Pro 08 and i am having exactly the same problem. Were you able to solve it?

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Answer 9

Predlex

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Aug 14, 2010 12:22 PM in response to krutoyshawn

I have the exact problem. I use a original Apple 4870 and today I made a fresh Mac OSX SL installation. Then I installed 10.6.4 and after a few boots, the screen went black after the apple logo.

Argh

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Answer 10

DPArt

Level 3

604 points

Aug 14, 2010 1:42 PM in response to krutoyshawn

If any of you have a flashed 4870, then that is your problem.

Many of the flashed cards don't play well with OS X past 10.6.2.

Specifically, the XFX 4870 1 Gig with model ZWFL or ZWFC are total junk in any version of OSX other than 10.6, 10.6.1, or 10.6.2.

There are various fixes on MacRumours.

If your flashed card is an Asus model, placing a DVI to VGA adapter on 2nd DVI port may solve issue. Or, there is a "Dual DVI" fix listed at MR which does similar thing.

If these issues are with the ORIGINAL Apple OEM 4870 with one DVI port and one MDP, you need to contact Apple. No reason for those to have this issue.

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Answer 11

Predlex

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Aug 14, 2010 1:59 PM in response to DPArt

Like I said, I use a original Apple version. I reinstalled SL and updated to 10.6.2 (with combo) and the 4870 seems to work. Maybe they will fix this with 10.6.5?!

If this will happen again, I will contact Apple to get a new 4870.

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Answer 12

Predlex

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Aug 18, 2010 12:12 AM in response to Predlex

Anything new on this? Anyone tried to install the new SL graphic update?

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Answer 13

mcha

Level 1

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Aug 18, 2010 12:12 PM in response to Predlex

anyone tried the new SL Graphics Driver update?

I'm having EXACTLY the same problem - my 4870 is apple stock not flashed.

10.6.2 - 2 screens work fine
10.6.3 - 1 screen blank, 1 fine
10.6.4 - 1 screen blank, 1 fine

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Answer 14

Predlex

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Aug 19, 2010 4:14 AM in response to mcha

Which connection uses the screen which is working, DVI or MDP?

My screen is plugged directly to DVI, maybe I should try with an adapter on MDP port?

Message was edited by: Predlex

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Answer 15

mcha

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Aug 27, 2010 8:28 AM in response to Predlex

it's the MDP that fails :/

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