Can't Restart 2007 Mac Pro in Recovery Mode

Question

Can't Restart 2007 Mac Pro in Recovery Mode

I have a new iMac and am trying to prepare my late 2007 Mac pro for sale (If anyone is mad enough to buy such a slow machine by today's standards).

The original disc 10.4.10 will not spin up. Holding the 'C' keyafter the bong and until the Apple logo appears does nothing and after a folder symbol with a question mark in it appears the machine starts up normally. As the Mac is currently using my own it will not even restart in recovery mode (CMD R) during start-up. Whatever I try it just keeps opening as normal. Any ideas guys?

Mac OS X (10.7.5), 2 x 2.66

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 2:15 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 14, 2017 5:15 PM in response to Community User

So I got mine to re-start just fine. Then I used the handy cmd R to re-install the OS, but in order to use that I had to sign in to my cloud account.

After the re-install was complete, I shut down as directed without going into the introduction... but doesn't that mean my cloud account information is still there to be had by the next owner?

Devenphoto

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Answer 2

Sep 13, 2013 2:47 AM in response to Community User

Hi Colin ..

A question mark folder on boot means your Mac cannot locate a system folder to boot from.

Startup while holding down the Option key. That should prompt the Startup Manager window when you can select the startup disk then click Restart.

If the startup disk does not appear in the Startup Manager window, that can be an indication that the disk is failing or has failed.

A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac

A Mac running v10.4 cannot be reparied using OS X recovery (Command + R). Only Macs with either v10.7 Lion or v10.8 Mountain Lion.

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Answer 3

Sep 13, 2013 3:00 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks Carolyn

Trying start up with Option key (why do they confuse people by calling it 'option' when it has 'alt' printed on it - I've been Mac for 12 years and it still confuses me) and the startup disc in only results in the HD being the choice and i cannot hear the disc spin up so i guess it is actually the drive itself at fault.

As 'Lion' is currently installed surely Command + R should work but it doesn't. Frustrated of Torquay!

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Answer 4

Sep 13, 2013 3:08 AM in response to Community User

If you are using an Apple keyboard it's Option not Alt.

If the startup disk is not available, then the drive has failed.

OS X Recovery cannot repair a failed disk.

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Answer 5

Sep 13, 2013 3:07 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

I have four Apple Keyboards and they all say 'alt' not option! But they do have the symbol which looks like one half of a cooking pot cut vertically down the middle!

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Answer 6

Sep 13, 2013 3:09 AM in response to Community User

Do you not see Option just under alt on the key?

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Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 3:47 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Hi Carolyn: in USA a lot of Apple keyboards (on the machine or separate keyboards) have "Option", in the rest of the world (haha) there is almost always Alt on that key, even when you buy the USA layout.... Only VERY OLD machines here have "option" on it. 7 MB and MBP and iMAC, and 6 cord keyboards.

Lex

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Answer 8

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 3:54 AM in response to Community User

Colin: When you have the original 10.4.1 CD in the superdrive, then starting up while holding the Alt key the "boot menu" must show your Harddisk, the Recovery disk and the CD. When it does not show anything, your EFI has been damaged and/or your harddisk is dead.

Do the SMC reset (maybe 2 or three times) then do the PRAM reset. If it does not solve this.... trouble.

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Answer 9

Sep 13, 2013 3:56 AM in response to Lexiepex

Beg pardon ...

My keyboard is brand new and has the Option key.

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Answer 10

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 4:12 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Yes where did you buy it?

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Answer 11

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 4:20 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

If you look in the apple store US, at the keyboard page, you will see the option key on the leaykoard, when you look in an apple store europe, NL, BE,CH, DE UK etc, you will see Alt on the keyboard. As I said. Ten yeras ago her was option on the keyboard, but since a long time it is Alt. As I said.

That is why I call it Alt(option) key in this forum, ince I created confusion with Alt only.

Have a nice day 😍

EDIT: wow I typed too fast, corrections: keyboard years

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Answer 12

Sep 13, 2013 4:19 AM in response to Lexiepex

Hi Lex

It shows the Hard Drive, but not the DVD, or the Recovery Disc (is that the hidden embedded one?). The computer works fine in every other way but I think the CD drive is at fault so I guess I need to replace this before I can proceed?

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Answer 13

Sep 13, 2013 4:22 AM in response to Lexiepex

You would think a simple thing like this would be less complicated and confusing. I hate it on the training videos like Lynda.com where they are constantly saying "XYZ on Windows and ABC on the Mac keyboard" Talk about confusion....Why not a new universal symbol? A sorting hat from Harry Potter?

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Answer 14

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 4:24 AM in response to Community User

So the harddrive is available for boot, not the dvd: your dvd is either disc 2 or you have a problem with the drive (it is not hidden).

Do you have a external USB driec for the CD, I am not exactly sure whether the USB CD drive will boot but why not try it? Hold C key while starting up.

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Answer 15

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,108 points

Sep 13, 2013 4:26 AM in response to Lexiepex

EDIT: driec=drive

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