Mac Pro won't start - power button flashes every 5sec

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Mac Pro won't start - power button flashes every 5sec

I have received a Mac Pro early 2014 (trashcan model) which was dead on arrival. Due to a screwup in the company the unit was never returned and now is out of warranty (yeah, tough luck).

I plugged it in today and upon pressing the power button the rear panel lights up and the power button proceeds to flash up about once every 5 seconds. I also hear a faint clicking noise when the button lights up (sounds like a mechanical drive?!).

Any ideas what I could try to revive that machine?

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Early 2014 model

Posted on Aug 11, 2015 11:41 AM

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Answer 1

dschwen Author

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Aug 11, 2015 12:10 PM in response to dschwen

I've tried the following things:

* Take out all RAM modules (leave none in at all) -> same 5sec blinking pattern

* Insert a module that has been confirmed to work in a different Mac Pro -> same 5sec blinking pattern

* Insert the SSD from the dead Mac Pro into a working Mac Pro -> the working Mac Pro works perfectly with the SSD from the dead Mac Pro

This leads me to think something is busted very early in the start-up sequence.

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Answer 2

Aug 11, 2015 12:26 PM in response to dschwen

It may be two kinds of problems...

1)Software- The os also may not respond some times ,so it will be better if you reinstall the software of your computer,because the same kind of thing happend to me

2)Hardware-This may be a hardware problem,may be your hardisk corrupted or damaged, in case of damage you must replace your hardisk,the same thing happend to my friend🙂

It will be better if you take it to the apple service centre.

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Answer 3

dschwen Author

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Aug 11, 2015 12:37 PM in response to yeshwanth krishh

Yeah, I doubt it is the software (the behavior doesn't even change when the RAM is pulled entirely so I don't think the machine ever tries to load the OS), and it definitely is not the SSD disk (the same disk worked perfectly in a different Mac). Thanks for the ideas though.

Further observations:

* the fan is spinning (once the power button is pressed it spins the entire time until the power cord is pulled)

* the case open/close sensor is working (i.e. the unit only reacts to power button presses if the case is closed)

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Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

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Aug 11, 2015 12:41 PM in response to dschwen

You have a hardware problem.

Make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

I think the clicking noise is the power supply. That may be bat other users have reported a little "clicking" and a running trashcan

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Answer 5

Aug 11, 2015 3:25 PM in response to dschwen

power light blinking a pattern typically means, "Not enough working RAM to start up". The blinking is under software control.

A Mac Pro dark cylinder with some working RAM should be capable of drawing a gray screen, even with nothing on the SSD. That screen would probably have a blinking folder or a question mark, or alternate between the two.

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