thorthor7
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Mac pro xeon  A1186. How to open cd-rom drive to install operating system. I'm using a A1048 keyboard (that maybe isn't compatible?)

Hi, I have an older Mac Pro and I got it without any hard drives or a keyboard. I put a hard drive in it and bought a keyboard (A1048). I need to open the Cd-Rom drive so I can install the operating system software. When I press the 'open' key on the keyboard, the CD-rom drive doesn't open. I've tried F12, too. Just to check to see if the keyboard works, I connected to my mac pro retina laptop and the keyboard works fine. Is it possible that this keyboard is not compatible with my old Mac Pro? Are there any other tricks to get the cd-rom drive to open?

Thanks for your help.

Posted on Aug 12, 2015 12:21 PM

Close
thorthor7

Q: Mac pro xeon  A1186. How to open cd-rom drive to install operating system. I'm using a A1048 keyboard (that maybe isn't compa ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by thorthor7,

    thorthor7 thorthor7 Aug 12, 2015 12:26 PM in response to thorthor7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 12:26 PM in response to thorthor7

    also, the monitor says:

    An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

     

    (and, by the way, pressing ctrl+alt+del on the keyboard doesn't do anything).

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 12, 2015 12:29 PM in response to thorthor7
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2015 12:29 PM in response to thorthor7

    The keyboard is compatible.

    When are you pressing the eject (open key)?

    Does the boot boot to the question mark folder icon or prohibitory icon?

    is the KB connected directly to one of the USB ports on the Mac?

    Does the caps lock light on the KB

  • by thorthor7,

    thorthor7 thorthor7 Aug 12, 2015 12:54 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 12:54 PM in response to lllaass

    the keyboard is connected directly to the computer (I tried all 5 usb ports on the mac pro).

    I don't see any icons as the monitor stays on: An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

     

    The caps lock light does NOT stay on, on the keyboard. That's a good question. I noticed the green light on the caps lock key stays on when I connected the keyboard to my newer laptop. But on the old mac pro, when I connect the keyboard, I see a flash of the green light for 2 seconds but then it stays off.

    Thanks for your help.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 12, 2015 1:00 PM in response to thorthor7
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2015 1:00 PM in response to thorthor7

    I did not see your first followup

    "also, the monitor says:

    "An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

     

    (and, by the way, pressing ctrl+alt+del on the keyboard doesn't do anything)."

     

    before my previous reply.

    That message would indicate that you have a windows operating system on the drive.

    What happens when yo pull put the sled with that drive and try booting with no HDs connected and only Mouse, KB, monitor and power connected?

    Were you told the Mac was working fine before you received it?

  • by thorthor7,

    thorthor7 thorthor7 Aug 12, 2015 2:24 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 2:24 PM in response to lllaass

    Hi, when I remove the hard drive and restart, the screen is just blank white.

    So maybe the problem is this hard drive that purchased separately off ebay is formatted for PC and not Mac.

    The hard drive is

    Western Digital WD Caviar Black 1.0TB 3.5" SATA Hard Drive - WD1002FAEX

     

    One other thing: I figured out how to open the cd-rom drive. I turned off the computer, opened it up and pulled out the cd-rom drive (keeping it connected) and there is a button that opens it. I powered on the computer and I was able to open in and insert the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Install DVD. I restarted the computer with and without the hard drive in, but it still doesn't seem to do much.  Could that be because the hard drive needs be formatted for Mac? Any ideas on how I can do that? thanks a ton.

     

    Also, I'm looking at the monitor and it is now a white screen but with a blinking file folder with a question mark. (that's with the install dvd removed and the hard drive removed).

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 12, 2015 2:40 PM in response to thorthor7
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2015 2:40 PM in response to thorthor7

    This

    Also, I'm looking at the monitor and it is now a white screen but with a blinking file folder with a question mark. (that's with the install dvd removed and the hard drive removed).

    is a good sign. That means that startup media like a HD or optical drive with install DVD can't be found.

     

    when in that mode does the KB work, that is if you press the Cap Lock button does the Caps Lock light light and remain lit?

     

    What model Mac Pro is it?

    How to identify Mac Pro models - Apple Support

    Try serial number option.

    Is the SL install DVD white? What is written on the label?

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 12, 2015 8:34 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 9 (60,719 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2015 8:34 PM in response to lllaass

    A1186 seems to look up to a Mac Pro 2006, 2007 or 2008 model, according to everymac.com.

     

    All of those can be started with the official 10.6 snow leopard DVD, with a silkscreened picture of a snow leopard on it.

  • by thorthor7,

    thorthor7 thorthor7 Aug 12, 2015 8:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 8:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I have that DVD and I was able to install the software. So now my computer is running OS X 10.6 (snow leopard).

    I also have an iLife software DVD version 11, but when I tried to install it, it wouldn't work. It says I need to have OS X 10.6.3 or higher.

     

    My mac pro is

    Mac Pro Subfamily

    Model Number

    Model ID

    EMC Number

    Original (2006)

    A1186

    MacPro1,1

    2113

                       "Quad Core" 2.66 (Original) 2.66 GHz D. Core Xeon 5150 x2

     

    It doesn't have a wifi card which might allow me to download the update through wifi.

    I noticed I could buy the software upgrade on ebay on a usb drive, but it may not be legal.

    How would you recommend I install a later version?  Would you recommend I buy a wifi card off ebay, then download a later version of an operating system.

    Thanks very much.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 12, 2015 9:07 PM in response to thorthor7
    Level 9 (60,719 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2015 9:07 PM in response to thorthor7

    What will your Wi-Fi card connect TO?

     

    If you have a Router, connecting to it via Ethernet is many times faster than Wi-Fi.

     

    --------

     

    You need an Internet connection, and to run (free) Software Update to get to Mac OS X 10.6.8. That is the gateway to any downloadable updates you may want to pursue. You can run 10.7 Lion easily, and later versions if you want to bad enough.