Dek14
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Q: I press the power button on my Mac Pro - it takes 3 to 4 min before startup chime comes on - does anyone know cause or solution please?

I press the power button on my Mac Pro - it takes 3 to 4 min before the startup chime comes on. Once chime comes on the computer starts up and everything seems normal.

It never used to take this long - does anyone know cause or solution please?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 9, 2012 3:04 AM

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Q: I press the power button on my Mac Pro - it takes 3 to 4 min before startup chime comes on - does anyone know cause or solution pl ... more

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  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Aug 20, 2012 10:19 AM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Aug 20, 2012 10:19 AM in response to Dek14

    i answered that once already at the top.

     

    Best? CCC

     

    And setup another drive for TM

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Aug 25, 2012 3:43 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2012 3:43 AM in response to The hatter

    Hi

     

    My new Hard Drive came - it was the wrong one. I am waiting for a replacement - when this comes I will do the Back Up using CCC and then try removing the hard drives etc and see what results I get.

     

    Thanks for your help - be in touch soon

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Aug 30, 2012 11:45 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 11:45 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Hi Grant,

     

    I have had my Mac on constantly using Sleep Mode - to avoid Start up each morning.

     

    I have put in a new hard drive to use as a back up for my main hard drive. I took them both out as you & Hatter suggested and switched on - I waited 5 mins or more - still no chime or start up. Are you saying probably nothing wrong with hard disc?

     

    I took out RAM and tried all variations - switching over one at a time - still would not boot. After putting all 3 DIMMs back in again it took ages and maybe 10 times on and off before finally booting up - I thought it wasn't going to boot !!!

     

    CAN ALL 3 OF MY RAM DIMMs HAVE GONE FAULTY - is this possible?

     

    Do I have to buy new memmory just to test if existing memmory is faulty?

     

    Any help or advice is very welcome

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Aug 30, 2012 11:46 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 11:46 AM in response to The hatter

    Hi Hatter

     

    I have had my Mac on constantly using Sleep Mode - to avoid Start up each morning.

     

    I have put in a new hard drive to use as a back up for my main hard drive. I took them both out as you & Grant suggested and switched on - I waited 5 mins or more - still no chime or start up. Are you saying probably nothing wrong with hard disc?

     

    I took out RAM and tried all variations - switching over one at a time - still would not boot. After putting all 3 DIMMs back in again it took ages and maybe 10 times on and off before finally booting up - I thought it wasn't going to boot !!!

     

    CAN ALL 3 OF MY RAM DIMMs HAVE GONE FAULTY - is this possible?

     

    Do I have to buy new memmory just to test if existing memmory is faulty?

     

    Any help or advice is very welcome

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Aug 30, 2012 11:52 AM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Aug 30, 2012 11:52 AM in response to Dek14

    If you ran AHT and it passed, and you ran Rember (easy GUI for Memtest) sometimes it is worth it to buy a set or pair of DIMMs (depends on your Mac model what is minimum configuration and which slot it would go).

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4433

     

    No need to reply with same post to both. What does help is the old AD forum where it has model mac etc under every post! So if you have one processor and 2009 or later using DDR3, can't hurt to buy a 4GB DIMM for testing.

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Aug 31, 2012 3:52 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2012 3:52 PM in response to The hatter

    I have bought a 2GB DIMM - if I take my existing 3 DIMMS out (2GB each one) and just put in the new DIMM will this be ok for testing?

     

    CAN I START MY MAC PRO WITH NOTHING CONNECTED EXCEPT THE POWER CORD? NOT EVEN THE DISPLAY - SAVES ME PUTING EVERYTHING IN & OUT WHEN TRYING TO DO TESTS ON MEMORY DIMMs

     

    I ran Rember today and it said all was ok with my RAM - can it be wrong?

     

    Are we running out of things to try - I just can't understand why nothing is correcting the problem

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 31, 2012 4:26 PM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (61,033 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 31, 2012 4:26 PM in response to Dek14

    Yes, you can run a Mac Pro (2009 and later) with only one DIMM. Earlier models need at least one pair.

     

    Yes, you can start your Mac with nothing connected and no display card. It should chime and start up as normal (but you won't be able to see it without the display card).

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Sep 2, 2012 6:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2012 6:56 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I took out all 3 of my DIMMs and put in a new 2GB DIMM. After 4 or 5 min stll no chime or start up. I put all 3 of my DIMMs back in + left the new DIMM in - giving me 8GB of memory.

     

    I eventually got my Mac started and when I checked the memory it wasn't ECC so I took it back out.

     

    DOES THIS MAKE MY ABOVE TEST INVALID?  IS IT WORTH BUYING A NEW DIMM (ECC) AND TRYING IT?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Sep 2, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (61,033 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2012 9:23 AM in response to Dek14

    Your Mac Pro was designed to support Error-Correcting Code (ECC) Memory. It is possible that installing standard memory causes it to test that memory for three or four minutes before chiming. I do not know. It is a remarkably BAD Idea to run it that way.

     

    Running non-ECC memory in a machine that supports it is a false economy. ALWAYS use ECC memory if your Mac supports it.

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Sep 2, 2012 9:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2012 9:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I bought it believing it was correct type/spec etc - As soon as I knew it was non ECC by looking in System Profiler I obviously took it straight back out - so it was only in for a few minutes  - just a case of being sold the wrong DIMM.

     

    The 6GB I have in is what came with my Mac - I'm trying to determin if there is a broblem with this RAM

     

    Do you think it is worth while buying a new (correct) DIMM and trying again?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Sep 2, 2012 9:49 AM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (61,033 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 2, 2012 9:49 AM in response to Dek14

    I did not means to imply that Running non-ECC memory will cause any Hardware damage to your Mac.

     

    Undetected RAM problems have the potential to corrupt large amounts of user data. Errors and Bad files creep into the Disk Drive and can be propagated far and wide. The Directory can become corrupted and you can lose everything. Backup data may end up being Bad as well. It can be a really serious, but subtle problem.

     

    Your Mac has the ability to keep your data from becoming corrupted as a side effect of Bad RAM. It is important to take advantage of that available protection. Think of using ECC memory as "Safe Computing". The alternative only kills a few, but you do not want to be one of those few.

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Sep 5, 2012 3:35 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 5, 2012 3:35 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I'm waiting for new ECC DIMM to arrive - when it does I will try again - and see if I get start up chime in normal time.

     

    I am leaving my Mac on all the time (Sleep mode) so I don't have to boot each morning.

     

    Do you know of anyone else in the past who had this problem and found the solution?

     

    IF ANYONE CAN HELP - IT IS APPRECIATED VERY MUCH

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Sep 10, 2012 3:20 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2012 3:20 AM in response to The hatter

    HAVE YOU GIVEN UP ON ME?

     

    I received my new Memory - took out existing 3 DIMMs - put in new 2GB Dimm - pressed power button - waited 5 Mins - no chime or start up. Switched off - tried again - no chime or start up - repeated again - nothing.

     

    Does this mean the problem is NOT my memmory/DIMMs etc ?

     

    I put my Memory back in - leaving the new DIMM in also - making a total of 8GB. Pressed power button - got chime and start up after 1.5 Mins

     

    ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO NEXT?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Sep 10, 2012 8:12 AM in response to Dek14
    Level 9 (61,033 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 10, 2012 8:12 AM in response to Dek14

    Use

     

    About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Diagnostics  AND

    About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Memory...

     

    ... to see what your is reported about the health of your Mac.

     

    Diagnostics should show a report of the last Power On Self Test and any Apple Hardware Test, if fairly recent

     

    Memory should show whether ECC is enabled (which it can only be with all DIMMs ECC) and the Size and Status of each DIMM.

     

    Screen shot 2012-09-10 at 11.10.29 AM.png

     

    Screen shot 2012-09-10 at 11.11.34 AM.png

  • by Dek14,

    Dek14 Dek14 Sep 10, 2012 8:25 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2012 8:25 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Grant - done that - just looks like yours - all ok

     

    I'm still keeping it in sleep mode - getting where I don't want to turn it off in case won't come back on.

     

    ANYONE OUT THERE WITH THE SOLUTION!!!

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