Why does my 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 crash on startup?

Question

Why does my 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 crash on startup?

Hi, folks--

My 2006 Mac Pro is regularly crashing on startup with a kernel panic. It will chime on startup and usually show me the Apple startup screen with the spinning wheel-- but after that, I get the multi-language "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button until it turns off, then press the Power button again" message. Sometimes it doesn't even get there-- the spinning wheel just freezes, and stays frozen. Every once in a while, the Mac will start up, but the mouse will be so unresponsive that it takes me several minutes to mouse over to Restart so I can try again. (I've checked the mouse on another computer and it works fine.)

Additional info:

• I have one SSD startup disk with Lion, and two HDD startup disks with Snow Leopard. Starting up with any of these three disks results in the problems described above. This suggests to me that it's a hardware problem, rather than a problem with a specific startup disk.

• I tried starting up from my Snow Leopard Install disk. It was able to start up successfully. All the data on my hard drives seemed to be intact, including Lion Install, so I tried re-installing Lion on my SSD. It showed the blue progress bar for a minute. Then it said it would restart my computer in 30 seconds-- at which point, I once again got the multi-language "You need to restart your computer. Hold down the Power button ETC" crash. If even the install disk is crashing, this again suggests a hardware problem.

• I set the Mac Pro to target mode, and used it as a startup disk for my wife's Macbook. It functioned just fine and there were no crashes. Again, confirmation that it is a hardware problem with my Mac Pro.

• I have zapped the PRAM. I have also run Disk Utility, repaired permissions, and verified the disk. This did not fix the issue. (Not surprising if it is a hardware problem.)

• HOWEVER: I put in the install disk that came with the computer originally and was able to complete the Hardware Test. I chose the most thorough option. It did not find any problems.

• This started happening three days ago. I'm not aware of any recent changes to the system that could have caused this. The most recent change I made was installing a Radeon HD 5770 graphics card and an SSD drive, more than a month ago. There was no sign of trouble after I installed either of them (except for some problems putting the Mac Pro to sleep, which is apparently a known issue with the Radeon 5770 in this model Mac Pro).

• Weirdly, after I fiddle with the Mac Pro for an hour or so (run diagnostics, reboot it repeatedly, etc) it seems to start working. If there is indeed a hardware problem, then perhaps something works better when it's warmed up.

Is there anything you'd suggest I try? Or am I stuck lugging it to the Genius Bar? I don't have a car, so this is a bit of a pain…

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 2006 1,1; 3GB RAM

Posted on Mar 6, 2013 4:23 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 6, 2013 6:40 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

throw out the 3GB FBDIMMs

How To Install and Remove Memory Mac Pro

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

2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $31

http://www.amazon.com/BUFFERED-PC2-5300-FB-DIMM-APPLE-Memory/dp/B002ORUUAC/

Hardware Monitor

http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html

UPS

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Compatible-1500VA-Tower/dp/B00429N 19W/

Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster 120-Volt

www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/

I assume this is one of Apple ATI 5770s. And that is the only graphic card. That also means you can't run anything less than 10.6.5

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Answer 2

Mar 6, 2013 7:02 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

A kernel panic is not ONE problem, it is any one of hundreds of problems. When it happens, Mac OS X writes a suicide note and stuffs it in a special area of battery-backed RAM. At Startup, that note is copied into a log and can be read out later.

Do not guess about what might be wrong. Go and get one or more of those panic logs and look at them. If they are baffling, cut and paste the text of one here on the forum and readers will help you figure out what happened.

Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 6, 2013 7:01 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

These use to be handy "FAQ" tips for troubleshooting:

Resolving Kernal Panics

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10344626-263.html

http://macs.about.com/od/usingyourmac/qt/Troubleshooting-Os-X-Kernel-Panics.htm

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

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Answer 4

Mar 6, 2013 1:42 PM in response to The hatter

Thanks, The Hatter. I'm working through all the links you've provided and see if I can narrow down the problem.

And, Grant, thanks as well-- I really appreciate the specific information. You've enabled me to track down the panic log -- but they are indeed baffling. I'm pasting one below, in case somebody wiser than I can interpret it for me.

Wed Mar 6 11:25:26 2013

panic(cpu 2 caller 0x2ceabf): Kernel trap at 0x00baf978, type 14=page fault, registers:

CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x8da19000, CR3: 0x00100000, CR4: 0x00000660

EAX: 0x7db19000, EBX: 0x07eb6004, ECX: 0x0ff00000, EDX: 0x0ff00000

CR2: 0x8da19000, EBP: 0x4469bc38, ESI: 0x0ff00000, EDI: 0x08feab04

EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x00baf978, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x00000010

Error code: 0x00000000

Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)

0x4469ba98 : 0x2203de (0x6b08cc 0x4469bab8 0x229fb0 0x0)

0x4469bac8 : 0x2ceabf (0x6bd9e0 0xbaf978 0xe 0x6bd989)

0x4469bb78 : 0x2e5564 (0x4469bba0 0x4469bb88 0x4469bb98 0x22cbbb)

0x4469bb98 : 0xbaf978 (0xe 0x44690048 0xff1b0010 0x10)

0x4469bc38 : 0x1547167 (0x8ad2c04 0x7eb6004 0xff00000 0x7eb6004)

0x4469bc58 : 0x153e35c (0x7eb6004 0x8feab04 0x0 0xff00000)

0x4469bc88 : 0xcb6c56 (0x7eb6004 0x9465004 0x4469bca0 0x0)

0x4469bd38 : 0xd27c8a (0x7eb6004 0x9465004 0x8971c14 0xff)

0x4469bdc8 : 0xd2933e (0x7eb6004 0x8a97c04 0x0 0x0)

0x4469be28 : 0xd2b46a (0x7eb6004 0x8a97c04 0x8 0x2)

0x4469be58 : 0x1562269 (0x7eb6004 0x8a97c04 0x0 0x0)

0x4469be88 : 0xd2b589 (0x7eb6004 0x8a97c04 0x0 0x0)

0x4469bed8 : 0xb9eb05 (0x7eb6004 0x0 0x0 0x0)

0x4469bf68 : 0xb5362c (0x7eb6004 0x1 0x7c637f0 0x7c63be8)

0x4469bf98 : 0x23e4ae (0x8af4400 0x7eb6004 0xfa6d03 0x7eb4028)

0x4469bfc8 : 0x2c7d0c (0x84ad60 0x0 0x10 0x92f8410)

Kernel Extensions in backtrace:

com.apple.NVDAResman.G7xxx(7.0.4)[6581C9F3-3221-4530-BEB4-627CB8D602AE]@0xb4c00 0->0xe41fff

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.7)[8087C029-833E-4B62-A8C3-2B074B4C55F7]@0xade000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.3.4)[393829BA-614C-4ED7-B4AD-CE577A41C683]@0xb3 b000

dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.3.4)[EE3F8FBE-3457-4F0E-A3A3-B9B1A44DCF6B]@0 xb07000

com.apple.nvidia.nv40hal.G7xxx(7.0.4)[C61073DF-524F-472B-A19F-3B80B884F6C5]@0x1 4b2000->0x15bdfff

dependency: com.apple.NVDAResman.G7xxx(7.0.4)[6581C9F3-3221-4530-BEB4-627CB8D602AE]@0xb4c00 0

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:

11G63

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 11.4.2: Thu Aug 23 16:26:45 PDT 2012; root:xnu-1699.32.7~1/RELEASE_I386

Kernel UUID: 859B45FB-14BB-35ED-B823-08393C63E13B

System model name: MacPro1,1 (Mac-F4208DC8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 37415286581

last loaded kext at 10244857365: com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0 (addr 0x3125000, size 28672)

loaded kexts:

com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouseUSB 8.2

com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftMouse 8.2

com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboardUSB 6.2.2

com.microsoft.driver.MicrosoftKeyboard 6.2.2

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.5d0

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 3.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver 2.2.5a5

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.59

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.2.5a5

com.apple.driver.AppleTyMCEDriver 1.0.2d2

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.9

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.33

com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer 7.3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOUserEthernet 1.0.0d1

com.apple.GeForce 7.3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 4.0.8f17

com.apple.GeForce7xxx 7.0.4

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.2.3

com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver 1.1.9

com.apple.ATIRadeonX3000 7.3.2

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 5.0.0d8

com.apple.driver.ApplePolicyControl 3.1.33

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.6.0

com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.8f17

com.apple.driver.CSRHIDTransitionDriver 4.0.8f17

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.2.1

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.BootCache 33

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.9.0

com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 501.36.15

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 5.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet 2.1.3b1

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.6.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 5.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 5.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.9

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 195.0.0

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 3.2.30

com.apple.security.quarantine 1.4

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 195.0.0

com.apple.kext.triggers 1.0

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.2.5a5

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.10d0

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 80.0.2

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.5

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.5

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.6fc18

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.3d10

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 5.0.0d8

com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 7.3.2

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.1.33

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.2.5a5

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.2.5a5

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.10d0

com.apple.nvidia.nvGK100hal 7.3.2

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.1.1d6

com.apple.kext.ATI5000Controller 7.3.2

com.apple.kext.ATISupport 7.3.2

com.apple.nvidia.nvGF100hal 7.3.2

com.apple.NVDAResman 7.3.2

com.apple.nvidia.nv40hal.G7xxx 7.0.4

com.apple.NVDAResman.G7xxx 7.0.4

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.3.4

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.3.4

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 4.0.8f17

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.0.8f17

com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 13

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 5.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 5.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 3.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.4.8

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 420.3

com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.8

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 5.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 5.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.6.1

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 177.8

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 331.7

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.7.2

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 28.18

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.5

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.7

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

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Answer 5

Mar 8, 2013 3:14 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

I spent yesterday morning swapping various combinations of FBDIMMS in and out, and I ended up with the same kernel panic no matter which ones I had in. So either they're all damaged, or the problem is elsewhere.

Then I ran the Hardware Test overnight on loop mode, in accordance with the suggestion in one of The Hatter's links. After 61 passes and nearly 13 hours, it didn't find any hardward problems...

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Answer 6

Mar 8, 2013 9:32 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

The Mac Pro has error-correcting memory and memory problems give you very distinctive signatures, which your panic log does NOT show.

What it does suggest is that you may have problems with your NVIDIA Graphics card.

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Answer 7

Mar 9, 2013 6:41 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

After working my way through various diagnostics, I reached the conclusion that your very kind online help had taken me as far as I could go without actually getting in-person help. So I bit the bullet and lugged my Mac Pro to the closest Apple store.

Their diagnosis agreed with Grant's: it was a graphics card issue. Fingers crossed they have now fixed the problem.

Thanks again for all the help-- I really appreciate your being so generous with your time and expertise.

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Answer 8

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Mar 9, 2013 6:58 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

You aso have mere 3GB which is starving anyway, and means you are using OEM FBDIMMs that are old, these type fail and older DIMMs run hotter.

The only way to test RAM sometimes is with a known good set, and your swapping around 2x512 and 2x1GB is not reassuring. ECC works, but not when memory is not functioning properly. Some errors are found, but even AHT and Memtest are not full-proof. I had some new OWC memory, started having parity errors, and within 2 days had enough errors - real files written to disk - that eventually I had to reinstall and restore - and buy some memory elsewhere thank you OWC.

$29 for 2x2GB seems like a no-brainer. Except I'd "splurge" and get 8GB quad symmetrical memory, which is ideal for this system.

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Answer 9

Mar 9, 2013 8:41 AM in response to Jacob Sager Weinstein

Rather than replace the old one with the same model, many older Mac Pro users have substituted the Apple-firmware 5770 card (about US$250). It works in all models of Mac Pro, and drivers first appear in 10.6.5 and later. It is a much better card than any of the "stock" options.

Apple only recommends the 5770 for the 2010 model, because it was issued AFTER the earlier models were discontinued. (I find it amusing Apple does not recommend the 5770 for the very similar 2012 model either, because they have not tested it there either.)

If the Apple Store has ordered you a different card, your order will be subject to their standard 14-day no questions asked return policy.

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