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Level 1

35 points

Best way to install an OS in this situation - and which OS anyhoo?

I have an early 2008 Mac Pro that's new to me, it doesn't have a Mac OS installed (the previous owner just had Windows installed - BOO!😝).

I've installed a new blank HD in this 2008 Mac Pro for a system drive, and it's jsut sitting there ready for a snazzy new OS. 😁

I have a Snow Leopard install disk that the previous owner supplied. When I load it into the optical drive bay and hold option at startup I get the disc selection display, I select the install DVD, things start spinning, but soon it hangs on a graphically corrupted looking Apple logo screen. I've left it overnight like that just in case, but of course it was still just sitting there like that.

Hey I don't even know if that's a good way to install the OS though. I do have a PPC G5 sitting here and am thinking I could install an OS from it to the newer machine via firewire?

Or in a real pinch I could put that blank new HD in my G5, install an OS on it, then put it back into the newer Mac Pro....?

Then there's the question of do I install this pesky Snow Leopard, then upgarde to Mountain Lion, or go straight to Mountan Lion or WHA?? 😕 This Mac will be used for audio production.

Thanks.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 8 core, 2.8 Ghz, 16 GB RAM

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 11:25 AM

19 replies

Bejeeber Author

Level 1

35 points

Jan 26, 2013 10:31 AM in response to Bejeeber

And about this consstent and suspiciously hardware like behavior I'm seeing when trying to install the OS (or even run Windows), where the graphics start off fine but degrade in a few minutes and everything comes to a screeching halt - suggestions on how to proceed from here?

Think I oughta try to find a qualified tech here in Nashville to hand this off to? Lordy this is starting to lok like it could really co$t.

.....I'm looking back through all the mucho appreciated and helpful replies here and remembering now about the booting from the laptop in target disk mode idea from gen_. I think I'll try that next.

Jan 26, 2013 11:00 AM in response to Bejeeber

To make additional progress in debugging, you need additional "known-good" graphics Hardware to substitute. Your buddies at the Genius Bar at selected Apple Stores may have cards you can try for this purpose. Not all stores sell or have spares for the Mac Pro.

The US$250 Apple-firmware 5770 works in all Mac Pro models. Drivers for accelerated operation first appear in 10.6.5 and later.

The "sticking point" is that Apple only recommends what they have exhaustively tested, and their policy is NOT to test in discontinued Macs. So they only recommend this card with the 2010 model (they don't appear to have tested it with the only-slightly-different 2012 model).

You may be able to buy one from a Vendor with a liberal return policy, try it out, and return it within the 14-day (or other) return window if it does not meet your needs.

You could also contact the vendor of your card for help -- especially as the card appears on the surface to be defective. He may be able to make a quick swap.

gen_

Level 2

368 points

Jan 29, 2013 2:28 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Have you had a look inside the case for dust. Sounds like it could simply be a mahoosive buildup of dust/heat or a failed fan, hardware doesn't usually fail over time then go back to normal or restart for any other reason.

Bejeeber Author

Level 1

35 points

Feb 1, 2013 6:27 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Well 2 vendors and 3 graphics cards later I now have one that works - it was the graphics card behind the issues indeed, even though all models I purchased were advertised to work with my model Mac.

The latest vendor who agreed to the swap (thanks for that swapping suggestion Grant, maybe that should've been a no-brainer for me, but I hadn't thought of it) said "3,1 Mac Pros sometimes have issues with specific GT120s".

Thanks to everyone for brainstorming on this thing and getting back in the MacSaddle. 😎

Best way to install an OS in this situation - and which OS anyhoo?