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Level 1

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HELP. My mac pro has had a kernel attack on startup

My early 2008 Mac pro for the past two days will boot 40% through on the loading bar screen then (what I assume is a kernel attack) I hear a click and it shuts down. Ive tried SMC, PRAM,, etc with non works. I try PRAM reset and it just shuts down immediately. I try holding down D and it rather completely ignores the input or presents me with a flashing folder with a question mark on it. If it makes a difference I did install 16GB of RAM a few months before but one of the sticks of RAM sometimes doesn't register leaving me with 14gb of RAM. I just kept it in there. This has also happened a month ago but it only lasted for a day. I appreciate and feedback thank you in advancedt

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:38 AM

Best reply

lllaass

Level 10

210,417 points

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 9:48 AM

Sounds like a RAM problem.

Take out the one bad one and its pair and see if the problem stops.

You need the original install DVDs to rune Apple hardware test on older Macs

Using Apple Hardware Test

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39 replies

Multi777x Author

Level 1

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Aug 4, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Multi777x

There seems to be lots of messages about the cache. These are some of the messages from verbose mode

"Warning: couldn't block sleep during cache update"

"Warning: proceeding w/o Diskarb"

"Bootcachecontrol: unable to open /var/db/bootcache.playlist: 2 no such file or directory"

Bash: /etc/rc.server: no such file or directory

Bash: /etc/rc.installer_cleanup: no such file or directory

Aug 4, 2015 3:33 PM in response to Multi777x

The boot up sequence you posted looked very ordinary. I saw nothing alarming there.

Aug 4, 2015 3:37 PM in response to Multi777x

another normal system sound with the same function as the system beep.

then your system beep probably got set to that sound.

Normally, when you just bang away on the keyboard, nothing happens. If you want to find out for sure, run the experiment again, and this time just type S-for-Sleep, and see if it goes to sleep. THAT will not happen on a random screen or on a crashed-out Mac.

Multi777x Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 4, 2015 4:57 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

But doesn't control eject only show the sleep,restart,shut down when you are logged in? Also how will I know if it goes to sleep if there's no visual indicator

Aug 4, 2015 5:25 PM in response to Multi777x

S will put it to sleep (and the power light should blink slowly).

Drew Reece

Level 6

10,660 points

Aug 4, 2015 5:36 PM in response to Multi777x

The Mac goes quiet when asleep & the power LED should pulse. After it boots you can also tap the power button to sleep (assuming it hasn't hung totally).

The login window does stop that dialog appearing, so if auto login is disabled it won't work. You may be able to use the arrow keys & tap return to select your user account & then try to enter the password, but working blind is difficult. Escape should back you out of the password entry back you the list of users.

The last account should be a guest if you want to try that (again it needs to be enabled), tapping right blindly should get you to it. It should let you use the cmd+eject test after it logs in.

Multi777x Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 5, 2015 11:33 AM in response to Drew Reece

Ok so after 45 mins of desperate fiddling I think I did it. I managed to log into my account and used the control eject key to give me the options. Then I pressed return and IT SHUT DOWN!! VICTORY (or I hope). Just need your guys opinion but at this point I'm pretty sure it's a faulty graphics card. Now do you guys have opinions what replacement graphics card I should get (pefer not a 8800GT again lol). I'm willing 300$ for this new card. All suggestions welcome.

Aug 5, 2015 6:15 PM in response to Multi777x

There are a lot of caveats. Get a start with this user tip:

User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards

Multi777x Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 13, 2015 7:53 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hey guys. Just wanted to report back what happened. I ended up just getting a new 2015 rMBP. Thanks again for all your guys help!

HELP. My mac pro has had a kernel attack on startup