BobSacamano101

Q: Mac Pro won't come out of sleep mode, turn on properly

I've read over a few of the suggested responses for this problem, but mine seems to be somewhat different.  My Mac Pro won't come out of sleep mode.  When I click the mouse, I can hear the tower click as if it's going to wake up, but it never does.  I have to soft boot it every time.

 

Additionally -- and this is where my question seems to differ from those who are just having the above problem -- whenever I go to turn the machine on, I press the button once and it clicks, but nothing happens.  Only when I hold it down does it click again and I can hear the fan begin to whir and it lights up. 

 

Some helpful specs I'll give out (since I admittedly know very little about computers):

 

 

OSX Version 10.8.3

Processor 2 X 2.66 Ghz 6-Core Intel Xeon

Memory 16 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

 

If there's any other info that I can give you that might be helpful, please let me know.  Thanks for your help!

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 11:14 AM

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Q: Mac Pro won't come out of sleep mode, turn on properly

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  • Helpful answers

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Apr 12, 2013 11:18 AM in response to BobSacamano101
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 11:18 AM in response to BobSacamano101

    SMC Reset would be #1 and then keep everything unplugged and rule out 3rd party devices, hardware and cards. RAM is fine, usually but any upgrade or changes have to be ruled out in a one by one method usually.

     

     

    Mac OS X & Mountain Lion Community

    https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os

     

    Recovery Mode

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

     

    ExpressLane

    https://expresslane.apple.com/

     

    Startup Manager: How to select a startup volume

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT131

     

    *******  Troubleshooting: My computer won't turn on

    https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367


    Symptoms

    If your Macintosh computer won't turn on, here's how to troubleshoot it. Please keep in mind that although your computer may display similar symptoms that prevent it from showing video, this article discusses what to do if the computer won't turn on, meaning that when you press the power button:

    • You don't hear a startup chime.
    • You don't hear any fan or drive noise.
    • The power button or power indicator doesn't light up at all.

    If your computer doesn't display any video, it may display one or more of these similar symptoms when you press the power button:

    • You may hear a startup chime.
    • You may hear fan or drive noise.
    • You may see the power button or power indicator light up.

    If any of these conditions occurs, see Troubleshooting: My computer has no video instead.

    Resolution

    If your computer won't turn on, try each of these steps:

    1. Make sure that the power cord is plugged into a working wall outlet, and that it's properly connected to the power adapter. (To check if the wall socket is working, plug in a lamp or other electrical device.)
    2. Make sure that the power adapter is properly connected to the power port on the side or back of the computer.
    3. Disconnect all accessories that are plugged into the computer, such as a printer, hub, or other mobile device.
    4. Reset the computer's PMU, SMC, or PRAM. Refer to the instructions for your model:

    reset SMC For "Mac wont' turn on or boot" and related

    https://support.apple.com/kb/TS1367


     

    General purpose Mac troubleshooting guide: Isolating issues in Mac OS X

    Creating a temporary user to isolate user-specific problems: Isolating an issue by using another user account

    Identifying resource hogs and other tips: Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used

    Starting the computer in "safe mode": Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

    To identify potential hardware problems: Apple Hardware Test

    General Mac maintenance: Tips to keep your Mac in top form

  • by BobSacamano101,

    BobSacamano101 BobSacamano101 Apr 12, 2013 11:24 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 11:24 AM in response to The hatter

    Thanks for the response.

     

    I did an SMC reset (apparently that's just unplugging the power cord from the back and waiting for a minute and then replugging it?) and that didn't do it.  I've also unplugged all external drives.

     

    Last night I upgraded from (I believe) 10.6 to 10.8.3 hoping that would solve the problem.  I was long overdue for it anyway, but unfortunately it didn't do any good.

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Apr 12, 2013 11:52 AM in response to BobSacamano101
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 11:52 AM in response to BobSacamano101

    Two things.

     

    SMC RESET - the method I recommend you hit power button for 5-10 seconds while unplugged.

     

    Never upgrade in place over an old OS and esp not from 10.6.8 to anything above.

    Do a clean install to another drive and use Setup Assistant (after you update and know it works and have made a clone of your system too).

     

    Too many changes from SL to ML.

     

    I am more worried about USB and FW devices and their cables. As well as any PCIe add-ons.

  • by BobSacamano101,

    BobSacamano101 BobSacamano101 Apr 12, 2013 12:24 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 12:24 PM in response to The hatter

    I tried the SMC reset you suggested.  Still no luck there.  There are no drives plugged.  No firewire, no USB, nothing.  The only thing hooked up are the monitors, the keyboard and mouse (which are not USB -- not sure what they are, but the keyboard plugs in the back and the mouse is wireless or bluetooth). 

     

    Sorry, you're dealing with a complete novice here.  Any other suggestions? 

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter Apr 12, 2013 1:05 PM in response to BobSacamano101
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    Apr 12, 2013 1:05 PM in response to BobSacamano101

    keyboards and mice if they have a cable are USB devices and while even those can cause trouble, we do need something to use! outside of that, there are wireless Bluetooth devices, which often have trouble during early system loading.

     

    So then what type of graphic card and those are definitely common issues and need to be upgraded and replaced or repaired in some cases.

     

    Some graphic card fans burn out or die and stop working and the card gets fried.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 12, 2013 1:34 PM in response to BobSacamano101
    Level 10 (207,978 points)
    Applications
    Apr 12, 2013 1:34 PM in response to BobSacamano101

    Please read this whole message before doing anything.

    This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

    The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, or by a peripheral device.

     

    Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
    • Shut down your computer, wait 30 seconds, and then hold down the shift key while pressing the power button.
    • When you see the gray Apple logo, release the shift key.
    • If you are prompted to log in, type your password, and then hold down the shift key again as you click  Log in.
    *Note: If FileVault is enabled under OS X 10.7 or later, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t boot in safe mode.

     

    Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.

    The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

     

    Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

     

    After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.