Frozen macpro (early 2008) won't save boot or anything

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Frozen macpro (early 2008) won't save boot or anything

My early 2008 model Mac Pro hast just frozen and I can't get it to reboot, even in safe mode.

I was watching a trailer on apple.com and the screen went crazy, split into blocks of colour, and then froze. I had to reboot by holding the power key.

When I tried to restart it would get frozen on the grey apple logo screen and I'd have to power down via the power button again.

I tried resetting pram - no difference.

I tried booting into safe mode and it won't let me.

I opened up the case and gave it a good clean and reset the smc via the small button inside. This time when I rebooted I got past the grey screen, saw my desktop for a brief moment, and then the screen split into colours and froze again. I tried rebooting again except the screen now showed black and white blocks. I've tried resetting the smc again but were back to the same frozen grey apple page.

Any suggestions?

Worst case scenario if I have to junk my macpro I could still take the 4 internal hard drives and hook them up to another mac to recover files right?

MacPro QuadCore 2.8Ghz, Macbook, iPhone 3G, Mac OS X (10.5.7), nVidea 8800, 4GB Ram, 23" Cinema Display, BlackMagic HD Xtreme,

Posted on Nov 14, 2013 12:02 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 14, 2013 12:45 PM in response to Murphy101

it would get frozen on the gray apple logo screen and ...

After the gray Apple with gear has been spinning for the usual amount of time, the Login screen or the desktop appears, co-incident with the switchover of graphics mode to "automatic" loaded Driver.

Trouble at that point correlates strongly with failed graphics card.

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If you decide to replace that card (now an antique) I suggest you skip all the repaired and refurbished old cards and use none older than the Apple-Firmware 5770, about US$250. It works in every model Mac Pro and Drivers are in 10.6.5 and later.

There are procedures available online that tell how to "bake" your 8800 to sometimes give it a second life. Your mileage may vary.

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Answer 2

Murphy101 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 14, 2013 12:51 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks grant - I'm essentially not getting passed the spinning gear. It almost always freezes just before it "should" disappear and continue booting. I can't get it to boot into safe mode either. And none of the major Central London apple stores will take Genius Bar appointments for desktops:-(

So faced with buying a new desktop or trying to replace the graphics card do you think it likely the graphics card is the way forward?

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Answer 3

Nov 14, 2013 1:03 PM in response to Murphy101

Yes. There have been a lot of reports of graphics card failure that give exactly these symptoms.

That is why I posted the recommended real fix -- don't fool around with rebuilt, go straight for the 5770 that many older Mac Pro owners are finding is a solid card with forward-looking capabilities.

Apple says it may have glitch if you play copy protected DVDs in a Mac Pro before 2010:

Mac Pro: Using ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with Mac Pro released before 2010

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Answer 4

Murphy101 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 14, 2013 1:05 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant - your help is very much appreciated.

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Answer 5

Nov 14, 2013 1:11 PM in response to Murphy101

You listed your Mac OS X as 10.5.7.

I wanted to add that upgrading to 10.6.8 is one of the least painful upgrades possible. About the only thing that drops away is support for AppleTalk Printers, and I seem to be about the only one still using those.

The DVD is for sale again at the Apple Online store (search for Snow Leopard), price reduced (at least in the US) to US$20.

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Answer 6

Murphy101 Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 14, 2013 1:11 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Actually I forgot to update my specs above - I'm running mavericks on my macpro - will that have any negative affect on running the 5770? Is it computable straight out of the box or do I need any extra cables?

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