Power Mac ONLY boots in safe mode

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Level 1

8 points

Power Mac ONLY boots in safe mode

1,1 Power mac. running os 10.6.8. i use it for my pro tools system. Ran fine for years. Then one day screen flickered, computer froze, and I've yet to be able to restart it EXCEPT in safe mode. Did all the basics, including target disc mode where i ran diagnostics and it tells me the drives are fine. Brought it to a tech who said they too could only get it to boot in safe mode using their startup disc. So at this point we are assuming something in the processor is shot. Any thoughts? If this is true I'll just buy a later version of a power mac and swap in the drives and cards. I don't think this should pose any issue up to mid 2010 computers, but any insight appreciated.

Or can I send this out to get it upgraded?

Posted on Jan 3, 2020 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

239,339 points

Jan 3, 2020 6:46 PM in response to sleshnyc

Pre-Installed MacOS:X 10.4.7 (8K1079) Maximum MacOS:X 10.7.5

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion

https://www.ebay.com/p/21018149040?iid=293010308207&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=293010308207&targetid=809743894305&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1027744&poi=&campaignid=6470497915&mkgroupid=80514769434&rlsatarget=pla-809743894305&abcId=1141156&merchantid=138365193

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Answer 2

Jan 3, 2020 12:15 PM in response to sleshnyc

sleshnyc wrote:

...

So at this point we are assuming something in the processor is shot.

...

That Mac runs an extensive Power-On Self Test, and it passes diagnostics. "Processor is shot" is complete nonesense. Your processor is fine, your memory is working (but check for all present that you know is actually installed.)

Won't start/run in regular Mode, runs fine in Safe Mode means, "It's something YOU added."

You can either start from a "clean Install" (install onto a blank drive and put back ONLY MacOS, NO add-ons) or disable stuff and see if you can figure out what is causing the problem.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,339 points

Jan 3, 2020 1:41 PM in response to sleshnyc

Grant has a good reply, but actually other than something you added it can be a borked driver, Safe Mode loads safe drivers for most things, especially the GPU/Video Card, though usually it is something you added, or some3rd party thing that broke because of update or upgrade.

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Answer 4

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2020 3:06 PM in response to BDAqua

Thank you for your responses. the thing is i haven't added anything. I haven't touched the computer in years. it worked fine until the screen flickered, froze, then wouldn't restart. BUT, why won't it start from any other boot up drive? They tried with their drive and it still wouldn't boot. How do i disable stuff and then boot up?

I have no idea where to get an install disc for os 10.6. or 10.7. Believe me, I've tried.

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Answer 5

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2020 3:31 PM in response to BDAqua

it's a dual core 2.66. I believe it's the original, also called 1,1. The other drive is the same os. I don't know what os they tried to boot with but I would hope they were smart enough to use one that is compatible with this computer. then again...

If I knew how to turn things off and try booting I'd gladly do that. I'm not afraid to dig in, believe me.

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Answer 6

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2020 4:07 PM in response to BDAqua

When i try to boot normally, i get the chime, I get the apple logo, I can hear the drive spinning....and spinning....and spinning

and the color wheel just spins too. And that's as far as it gets. The drive just keeps working but nothing happens.

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Answer 7

Jan 3, 2020 5:54 PM in response to sleshnyc

If it's not "something you added, the other thing that could take out your Mac's ability to show a good display is a display card that works in the "simple mode" (without the accelerated display drivers) used in Safe Mode, but does not work in regular Mode.

In that case, the thing to be doing is one of:

• Trust that your Mac is working, other than accelerated display. All indications are that it working, just won't display properly.

upgrade in Safe mode if you want to upgrade.

• start searching for a new display card.

drivers for the very well behaved Apple-firmware 5770 are in 10.6.5 or later. The GT120 is also a simple and reliable card, but not very strong if you need video editing.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

239,339 points

Jan 4, 2020 11:00 AM in response to sleshnyc

On reflection maybe not, but it could be bad sectors where drivers are stored.

Apple's Disk First aid only checks if the Directory is correct, not the files per se.

See what Drive DX says about it...

https://binaryfruit.com/drivedx

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

239,339 points

Jan 3, 2020 3:12 PM in response to sleshnyc

Well what OSX version is on those other drives that don't boot?

Do you know which exact Power Mac this is?

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Answer 10

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2020 3:52 PM in response to BDAqua

if it was something i added, why wouldn't it boot from a different drive running only the os with no additional applications?

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Answer 11

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2020 4:10 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I have time machine. is there a way to go back and try a time machine prior to the date everything went south? I don't see how to use time machine in safe mode.

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Answer 12

BDAqua

Level 10

239,339 points

Jan 3, 2020 5:43 PM in response to sleshnyc

How to restore your Mac from a Time Machine backup in Recovery Mode...

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/29/how-to-restore-mac-time-machine-recovery-mode/

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Answer 13

sleshnyc Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2020 6:11 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

this is interesting because the first and only sign of trouble was when the display started acting funny and video froze. I don't need video editing. this is strictly a pro tools computer. thank you.

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