I can't do (unless I'm really stupid) Apple Hardware Test on my box. I hold down D at boot, no go. I hold down Option-D at boot, no go. I do the same with the install disc in, no go ... Am I missing something? Does Tech Tool Deluxe do the same thing? Is it better, or not?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
This seems to have been going on for a long time.
I know you are having daily Kernel Panics trebbler.
I would back up & erase the HD. Then reinstall the OS & see if it is any different with only default software. It could leave the Mac in an unbootable state if it KP's during reinstall or the erase etc. If you are lucky Target disk mode may work, allowing you to restore the (almost) working OS if you have a second Mac & correct cables.
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support
You can try installing to an external disk if you really want. I would remove the internal HD if you are able to do that - just in case that is the reason for the KP's, if you have a USB/ Firewire caddy you can try booting from the internal HD when it is external.
I would also pull one RAM stick & retest out of desperation & then switch to the other one if it KP's - check how it needs to be arranged in the slots.
If it isn't any better it is time to bite the bullet & take it to an Apple store. They should try diagnostics - if they can't get the tools running something is just plain wrong with this Mac. They will charge for repairs which may be beyond the value of this Mac.
Sorry I have exhausted the steps I use to make AHT work.
Just for the sake of clarification:
I dnldd Pacifist. I assume I need to "Open Apple Install Discs".
I get a warning about older software on the disc (I run 10.6.8, the disc is for Tiger).
.."Applications and other files extracted from this package may not work properly with your version of Mac OS X. You may have better results opening an install disc for Mac OS X version 10.6.x."...
Will Pacifist make any changes, or just list the files on the Tiger install disc? Should I proceed?
..."I would"...
I have. KP's before and after reinstall.
..."Sorry"...
Don't be. You've been very helpful at getting this AHT to work, as have all the posters on this forum. That's why I'm here. I'm proceeding with the recommendations by WZZZ.
trebber wrote:
Just for the sake of clarification:
I dnldd Pacifist. I assume I need to "Open Apple Install Discs".
I get a warning about older software on the disc (I run 10.6.8, the disc is for Tiger).
.."Applications and other files extracted from this package may not work properly with your version of Mac OS X. You may have better results opening an install disc for Mac OS X version 10.6.x."...
Will Pacifist make any changes, or just list the files on the Tiger install disc? Should I proceed?
Just drag the mounted disk image into Open Apple Installers. (But might need to drag it into Open Package, not sure which). Should only list, doesn't make any changes. Make sure it's showing invisible files.
That said, if you can get it running, AHT is not the greatest diagnostic. Even if you get no errors, it might still be missing something, especially something very random, which is what you have.
..."Just drag the mounted disk image"...
I have the Tiger Install disc "mounted" on my desktop, is that the disk image you refer to?
I also have an AHT (018-2405-A.dmg) I dnldd off the net, supposed to be for my notebook (see previous posts by Drew ReeceJan 20, 2015 8:28 PM)
trebber wrote:
..."Just drag the mounted disk image"...
I have the Tiger Install disc "mounted" on my desktop, is that the disk image you refer to?
I also have an AHT (018-2405-A.dmg) I dnldd off the net, supposed to be for my notebook (see previous posts by Drew ReeceJan 20, 2015 8:28 PM)
Just drag that into Open Apple Installers. Didn't you say that the AHT you got from GitHub wasn't working? I already said that I couldn't get one of those working either; that was for a Mac Mini. They may be dicey. But how did you try to put it onto a flash drive?
That was for a Notebook? That wouldn't work for a MBP, which is what I thought we were trying to get the AHT for.
WZZZ wrote:
After making hidden files and folders visible from the directions I gave you, if it's the grey Tiger install disc (could be disc 2) that came with the computer, do you see .diagnostics in /System/Library/CoreServices?
If you find it, you might be able to use these directions to get it on a flash drive. They may need some modifications.
http://rivenbyfive.blogspot.com/2012/01/download-and-run-apple-hardware-test.htm l
Update:
Looking on the Tiger Install disc, I do find what you asked about in the referenced post, (.diagnostics in /System/Library/CoreServices)
I also found it on the downloaded file from the net.
..."But how did you try to put it onto a flash drive?"...
According to the instructions above by Drew Reese, with the additional step that I first set it up with 1 GUID partition.
..."Notebook? That wouldn't work for a MBP"...
I meant notebook computer, MacBook Pro, 2006, 1,1
You can try using those directions, but I think they will need some modifications. Right now, I am knee-deep in some other stuff that I have to attend to. Might be later tonight or tomorrow sometime.
What happens if you copy .diagnostics (from the Tiger install disc, not the one from GitHub) to the corresponding location on the MBP and try restarting from the D key? I'd give that a try first. But, important, you must change the permissions back to what they should be after copying using the finder. I gave full instructions for doing that a number of posts above. Make sure you have hidden files and folders showing when you do this.
This is the very first thing you should try.
Also, note, you will have to give your admin password and user before it will allow you to move it into /System/Library/CoreServices on the MBP. As far as I know, the MBP, even one that old, should have D key booting, provided that folder is present.
Do what you need to do. I'm in no hurry. I'll report back later this evening.
Definitely try the D key booting. But be sure you don't have a Firmware Password set. That would prevent D key booting.
In Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard® and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard®, firmware password protection is enabled using the Firmware Password Utility on the Mac OS X Install DVD. Enabling firmware password protection disables most of the keyboard shortcuts for starting up....
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/disablefirmwarepwp.html
You need to connect to AC Power when running the Apple Hardware Test on a Mac notebook.
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257
Sadly, copying .diagnostics from the install disc to my hard drive did not make my "D" key any more useful than it was before. I think I paid attention to all the details, changed permissions w/ BatChmod, power attached, etc. but, alas, no joy. I don't think I've got a Firmware Password set, cause I can boot to the Install discs holding option, safe boot, target mode, no prob. Next step, I guess, is to attempt a bootable flash drive, since it's less work than mobilizing my ext. FW HDD for battle.
I forgot about 'bless' see if alters your current situation…
http://www.techlabs.com.au/blog/2013/11/27/apple-hardware-test-how-to-download-a nd-run-from-a-usb-stick
Step 5 is where the blessing happens. It's unclear why the diags.efi is copied to the root of the stick so you will need to adjust the path.
1 more thing…
I'm am an idiot, I made this script in 2013 called 'AHT-my-disk.sh' & forgot about it (I was in your situation trebber).
See if it helps you make a USB copy, I just put it up on github with my other junk 🙂
https://gist.github.com/drewreece/2e5eed7dbfbd5dd7e929
I just did it for my Mac & the reboot went into AHT (it blesses the diags.efi on the disk).
USAGE:
AHT-my-disk.sh ~/Downloads/018-2769-A.dmg /Volumes/UntitledGood luck.
Hardware test...