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I can's start up in diagnostics mode

Hi,


My Mac Pro (early 2009) hangs a lot and I try to start it up in diagnostics mode (pressing D after powering the Mac) bit it does not access and my two monitors stay black. I don't even get to see the Apple logo and progress bar.

Is there another way to diagnose problems in software/hardware?

Posted on May 14, 2019 2:34 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 15, 2019 10:46 AM

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.


Isolating an issue by using another user account 


Safe Mode - About


If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply        Pastebin


Etrecheck – System Information



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 15, 2019 10:46 AM in response to carlosnino

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Please post back on whether or not this worked. Also try the Safe Mode. Please post back on whether or not this worked.


Isolating an issue by using another user account 


Safe Mode - About


If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply        Pastebin


Etrecheck – System Information



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May 14, 2019 9:43 AM in response to carlosnino

The Apple Hardware test should be on the disks that came with your computer. Try launching it from there.


Apple Hardware Test doesn't catch everything, so even if it doesn't find a problem, you could have one.


Apple Hardware Test – Invoke and Interpret


Apple Hardware test – How to run and interpret (2)


Apple Hardware Test - Using

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May 16, 2019 9:13 AM in response to carlosnino

Do a backup, preferable 2 separate ones on 2 drives. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility and select First Aid. Then re-install the OS.




Reinstall from macOS Recovery




OS X Recovery

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May 16, 2019 9:33 AM in response to carlosnino

Do you have access to another keyboard you can try?


See if you can restart the computer holding down the command - option/alt - P - R keys before the gray screen appears. Continue to hold until you hear the startup chime for the second time. You may need to do this 2-3 times.


 Reset NVRAM/PRAM


Try a SMC reset. The article covers when this is required, but doing this will not affect anything. 


Reset SMC

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May 16, 2019 12:49 AM in response to Eric Root

I simply do not see the Apple logo at startup and the system does not respond to any of the startup options and jumps directly to a normal startup. No safe mode, diagnosis, Verbose, Manager...


Setting up a new Admin account does not work because of the above.


I simply do not have control of the startup routine.

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May 16, 2019 9:27 AM in response to Eric Root

I expressed myself incorrectly in my last post, I wrote startup when I meant boot. The system does not react to any key during boot and loads the OS. I can't access any Recovery, safe mode, diagnosis, Verbose or Manager modes at all. It's like if the computer jumped over that point and went straight to load the OS.

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I can's start up in diagnostics mode

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