2010 MAC PRO Graphics Card re install black screen on Startup need password to start..

Question

Level 1

4 points

2010 MAC PRO Graphics Card re install black screen on Startup need password to start..

I tried to install a new 'metal safe' new graphics card to be able to update my mid 2010 5.1 12 core Mac Pro to Mojave but the card was faulty. So I returned it and put my Radion HD 5770 original card back in but ever since it only ever boots up to a black screen. If i type in password and return it will start up eventually but for some reason the password page is always hidden/doesn't appear on monitor. I have reset PRRam and SMC but nothing seems to sort it. The apple logo into password page just doesn't happen anymore. Does anyone have any ideas? I can get it working so could use Terminal to reset Graphics Card (if that's even possible?) as I'm wondering whether it's confused which card is actually inside. It is saying in system profile that its my ATI 5770 but I'm not much of a technical guy so would really appreciate some help.

I could carry on like this if need be but I have another startup disk which i use to run some older programs and if i try to start up from there the entering password and hitting return doesn't start it up so at the moment I can't access that hard drive at all.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Posted on Apr 18, 2019 8:02 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 18, 2019 10:24 AM in response to tankbullock

Be sure you have installed the card correctly, and while the AC cord is disconnected, press the power button for a few seconds to get a strong SMC reset when you re-apply the power

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 18, 2019 8:05 AM in response to tankbullock

Is you startup disk encrypted?

That is not allowed in Mojave for Mac Pro silver towers models, for exactly the reason you have discovered experimentally.

Reply

Answer 3

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 18, 2019 8:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for taking the time to help.

I never actually got chance to do the Mojave upgrade so I’m still on high Sierra at the moment. Also 99.9% certain it’s not encrypted but will check later just to be certain.

Reply

Answer 4

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 19, 2019 3:12 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I've reinstalled the card again and reset SMC as you suggested but no Joy I'm afraid. I can't seem to track down anyone else with quite the same issue following graphics card install. The black screen seems to start for most people after a software upgrade.

Reply

Answer 5

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2019 1:18 PM in response to tankbullock

I’ve tried but can’t boot in safe mode. And although I can connect screen sharing it doesn’t kick in until my computer has got past the password screen and opens the desktop. So sadly I’m no better off with screen sharing as the bit I need to see is before all of that. I basically turn it on, it bongs but never opens up on the enter password screen. It just stays black on the screens. I tap the password in on the keyboard and press enter even though I can’t see the screen in any way yet, then 30 seconds or so later it starts to boot up as normal with the little black bar running across the white boot up screen like it always used to after the password screen used to come up.

Its really weird, it’s literally only the opening password screen that doesn’t trigger to the screens. I’m Baffled?

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 19, 2019 8:23 AM in response to tankbullock

Does Safe Mode work for you?

Reply

Answer 7

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2019 9:00 AM in response to tankbullock

Ps. The screen sharing idea is genius, Can’t believe I hadn’t thought of that!

Reply

Answer 8

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2019 8:03 AM in response to tankbullock

Is anyone else able to help? I can't seem to find an answer to this problem anywhere.

Many thanks.

Reply

Answer 9

Apr 19, 2019 9:37 AM in response to tankbullock

If you can occasionally get into this Mac, consider using:

System Preferences > Sharing > Screen Sharing ...

... and allow in Screen Sharing by Admin users.

then when the screen does NOT come up properly, you can "screen share" in from another Mac and you may be able to see what would be on the screen if it were working properly, even if the card is not producing a proper picture. I am not absolutely certain, but I believe this would also work if NO display card is installed (it would create a screen buffer in memory, that could be shared).

Reply

Answer 10

tankbullock Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 21, 2019 8:57 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks once again for taking the time to help me with this. I will try these things out when I get back from work and let you know how I get on.

Reply

2010 MAC PRO Graphics Card re install black screen on Startup need password to start..

Similar questions