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Too Much RAM causing shut down? (2008 Mac Pro)

I've got an older 2008, Mac Pro with an OWC SDD as my main drive running the latest version of Snow Leopard.

In the last several months I've been experiencing problems where the system will shut down (screen says it has gone to sleep and I cannot wake it) but the tiny white power light on the front of the computer stays "on".

The only way I have been able to get it to turn back on, is to power down holding the power button in, until the white light goes off. When i power back on, some times it will boot to the desktop, and other times, it will just get to the grey Apple logo and instantly go into sleep/ hibernation, etc (I'm not sure what it's doing).

Things I've tried to resolve the problem:

- Permissions repair (no problem) - using Drive Genius

- Disk repair (no problem) - using Drive Genius

- Uninstalled (or not installed) any of my typical post-reformat software

- Replaced RAM

- Replaced RAM riser

- Reset PRAM, (and other similarly suggested fixes)

- Disconnected everything except keyboard, mouse and monitor

At one point I went through all of my ram, tested it all and all passed using software similar to those recommended elsewhere in other Apple discussions

I once removed some ram from the bottom riser (hunting and pecking here) and this allowed me to boot. (I have had as much as 16GB of Apple approved ram across each riser, inserted into each dim slot as recommended by Apple.

Could this be a drive problem? I am using an OWC3gb SSD

Could it be a power supply problem?

The system is clean, and dust free. The system runs cool (within the recommened guidelines)

Is there something I might try that I haven't mentioned here?

Thank you so much.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 15, 2013 10:18 AM

42 replies

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Apr 16, 2013 2:43 PM in response to Joel DuBay

Can you use your OEM DVD and run Apple Hardware Test?

Don't suppose it is under Apple Care but even if not might really want them to examine and there are places that will do a bench test to determine while folks around here have replaced PSU on a whim.

http://www.DVWarehouse.com has parts.

PS: you say you have an OWC SSD. Even though OWC says "No need to worry about TRIM" there is ample evidence to use TRIM Enabler. To format and restore an SSD every 3-4 months even, or just boot from another drive (with TRIM Enabler installed) and do a Disk Repair in Disk Utility.

I would assume you tried wthout the SSD now though to rule that out. But they can be an issue. They can end up bricked if not taken care of. Background Garbage Collection is not efficient or enough. Lower free space makes it worse.

2008s often but not always do not run well on Lion or ML though 10.8.3 addressed most issues, many users on that particular 3,1 model do end up using 10.6.8 - and keep ML around only for chores that are not supported in 10.6.8 but not use ML for daily work.

Apr 16, 2013 3:29 PM in response to Joel DuBay

Sorry Joel - I came to the conversation late, skimmed what you had written, and my suggestion was lazy at best.

But, here it is directly from the "horse's mouth": the Intel-based Mac: Startup sequence & error codes, symbols

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2674

Most of it pasted below:

Startup Sequence stage	Event
Power On	Boot-ROM/RAM check is initialized
BootROM-POST	Black screen, power LED on - POST or BootROM failure Flashing power LED once per second - bad RAM, no RAM Three flashes, a pause, and three more flashes (occurs continuously) - marginal RAM
BootROM-EFI	Boot chime
Boot EFI	Metallic Apple - found boot.efi Circle with Slash - could not load boot.efi, or some other issue Flashing globe - looking for booter/kernel on netboot server Metallic Apple with spinning earth below - found booter/kernel on netboot server Broken Folder that blinks - no bootable device has been found
kernel	Grey screen with Metallic Apple and spinning gear
launchd	Blue screen
loginwindow	Login window appears
User Environment Setup	The text "Logging in..." appears in login window along with a progress bar. Upon successful login, the Desktop and Dock appear.

Based on your comments & your log, plus the info above, it sure looks like launchd is the culprit.

There's a link in the kb doc above for trouble shooting the startup process (don't know whether you've tried it, but, if so, I didn't see it listed as something tried so far).

Ah, shlitz: it's listed as archived and no longer updated by Apple (too many users probably got themselves into hot water trying all the Command-line stuff) However, in your particular predicament, you may have nothing to lose…

Based on the book, "Mac OS X Support Essentials," the startup steps are

1) Firmware - Startup chime, light gray background screen - Hardware initializes, abooter is located & launched

2) Booter - Dark gray Apple logo on the main display - booter loads system kernel & essential kernel extensions into memory allowing the kernel to take over the system

3) Kernel - indicated by dark gray spinning gear below the Aple logo (Main Display) provides system's foundation & loads addit'l drivers plus the core BSD UNIX system

>>>This seems to be where your Mac hits the wall<<<

4) User Environment - Login Screen or Finder Once the core operating system loads, it start the first process, launchd, which loads the User Environment

BTW, the 2 log entries prior to the last (6:32:36) kind of indicate probs with your Airport Card (?) Perhaps it would be useful to rule that out by removing the card if you know how to do that.

I wish I could be of more help, but we've really gotten to the edge of my Mac hardware knowledge, but at least the above will help you to spend less time on the stuff that isn't causing the problem.

Best of luck,

Ron

Joel DuBay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2013 4:23 PM in response to Ron Herrmann

Ron thank you.

I have just uninstalled both the AP and BT optons on the machine, and doing so did not help.

BUT, here is something - If I remove all drives - and just boot to the blinking Folder icon (I presume looking for an OS) the system stays ON and does not power down, etc unexpectedly.

So, what if anything can that tell us?

Joel DuBay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2013 4:25 PM in response to Joel DuBay

Yikes, I don't know what "launchd" is.

Apr 16, 2013 5:04 PM in response to Joel DuBay

Launchd is the daemon that starts with the start of Mac OS X. Launchd draws the login screen and launches everything else that happens in Mac OS X.

It appears AFTER the spninner has been spinning for the usual amount of time.

I disagree with Ron Hermann's analysis, as you do not appear to be getting the gray Apple, indicator of the arrival of BootP loaded off a drive.

Apr 16, 2013 5:07 PM in response to Joel DuBay

Do it again and this tiem hold down the Alt/Option key. You should get a chime, then a gray screen with an Icon for each bootable drive. When it has completed the scan for drives (several minutes) The eject key goes "live" and can open the DVD reader.

Then insert your DVD (however old) and boot to the DVD.

Joel DuBay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2013 5:35 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Ok, I did as instructed above - however there was no chime, but I could (and did) eject the DVD tray and inserted my SL DVD. I chose it in the next window, and the computer shut down.

I did not have my drives loaded in each bay (I still had them slid out)

I'll try it with the OS drive inserted, if that is what you instruct.

Joel DuBay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2013 5:41 PM in response to Joel DuBay

I tried the same thing with a an OS drive in the machine. Again, no chime and it shut down immediately after I selected the OSX DVD from the drives menu on the screen.

Also, it seems the longer I leave the computer shut down, the more likely it is that I can boot to the Desktop.

The machine is not overly warm by any stretch - CPU is 39, the Mobo is 63 (according to the free app I downloaded)

Or, is it?

My machine is clean, and free of dust, and all fans are spinning (however quietly).

Apr 16, 2013 5:40 PM in response to Joel DuBay

A Mac that cannot boot from an appropriate Installer DVD has a Hardware problem."

The Installer DVD is a know-good, incorruptible source of software (the DVD is read-only). If you can't boot from that, you can't boot. But you CAN read the name off the DVD.

Apr 16, 2013 5:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

S'funny: I could swear that I read this quote above…

BUT, as soon as I get to the Grey Apple logo, it shuts off - everything, except the power button light - the power button light stays ON.

I guess I misunderstood.

But, I didn't come to debate; just trying to help.

Joel DuBay Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2013 5:52 PM in response to Ron Herrmann

You did indeed read that above. I am sorry that I mentioned it once before. I was not trying to confuse anything.

I'll hate taking this piece of equipment to the landfill, and was really hoping I could save the old girl. I know a Logic board will be more than I can afford to "try" just to see if that is the problem.

Any other ideas?

I appreciate so much what you've all done to try to help me so far.

Apr 16, 2013 6:09 PM in response to Joel DuBay

I wouldn't hang crepe just yet. I, too, have an older Mac Pro 1,1, and the video card just went "South."

I suspected the video card, but didn't trust my own judgement, so I took it to the local Apple Store for a diagnosis.

They confirmed my suspicions, and presented me with a repair estimate of $482.

However, an employee had told me (by phone) that, often we can fix 'em ourselves for much less.

Here's the thing (or rather here ARE the THINGS) - Apple Stores have much better proprietary diagnostic tools unavailable to any of us (even the Apple Consultants - I know - I was one).

And, we aren't required to have the repair performed at the store.

AND, the Apple Stores only charge for repairs - not diagnoses.

I took my Mac Pro home, and $150 later, I installed one of the higher end options that was available for my Mac Pro when it was first on the market. (Didn't feel like trouble-shooting a card that wasn't recommended the first time around.) So I got an upgrade for less than I'd have paid for a replacement. I can replace the Video Card AGAIN, and I'm still ahead of the game.

So unless you're more than 100 miles from the nearest Apple Store…

:-)

Apr 16, 2013 6:18 PM in response to Ron Herrmann

That's an interesting suggestion, Ron Hermann.

Joel DuBay may want to try pulling the graphics card and Option-booting to see if the DVD drawer will open.

If that seems to work, try booting to ... what? The regular or clean-installed Hard drive?

Apr 17, 2013 6:55 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Perhaps if you had read it carefully enough to get the spelling of my name correct, you'd have gotten the point:

that this guy can get free diagnostics at an Apple Store, before he trashes what might be a salvagable Mac Pro.

He doesn't seem to be getting anywhere following any of the advice supplied thus far.

Want to stir the pot some more?

Apr 17, 2013 7:00 PM in response to Ron Herrmann

Sorry.

You have a difficult name, as do I.

I checked that the correct number of trailing n's were included, but made a mistake in the internal r's. No offense was intended.

Too Much RAM causing shut down? (2008 Mac Pro)