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Q: I have an early 2008 macpro which is having a booting problem.

My early 2008 Macpro can not get past the initial startup. I have tried booting from the DVD and different HD's with OS 10.6 - 10.10 with the same results. I get the startup chime and the OS starts to load after a few seconds a message appears that my mac mas experienced a problem and will restart. This goes on and on no matter what I try! I reset the NVRAM and nothing has changed. What else should I try?

Posted on Aug 27, 2016 8:22 AM

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Q: I have an early 2008 macpro which is having a booting problem.

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  • by lllaass,Apple recommended

    lllaass lllaass Aug 27, 2016 8:43 AM in response to W3ATO
    Level 10 (187,595 points)
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    Aug 27, 2016 8:43 AM in response to W3ATO

    - Are you getting a kernel panic?

    OS X: About kernel panics - Apple Support

    If so can you take a photo of what appears on the screen?

    - After shutdown open side cover and look for diagnostic light on logic board and by memory modules.

    - Disconnect all peripherals and PCIe cards except graphics card, keyboard and monitor.

    - Can you boot to Recovery (10.7 and later).

    - If you still have the original graphics card that could be the problem

    - Try resetting the SMC

    Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295


    I suspect a hardware problem

  • by W3ATO,

    W3ATO W3ATO Aug 27, 2016 9:01 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 27, 2016 9:01 AM in response to lllaass

    Tried unplugging and restarting... I get the chime, the grey screen with the apple in the center and the spinning wheel. After about 35 seconds or so the wheel stops spinning and the computer restarts. I no longer get the You mac has experienced a problem screen before it reboots...

     

    There are no led's on inside the case...

     

    I tried to boot from the recovery partition with the same results...

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 27, 2016 9:03 AM in response to W3ATO
    Level 10 (187,595 points)
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    Aug 27, 2016 9:03 AM in response to W3ATO

    Did you do this?

    - Disconnect all peripherals and PCIe cards except graphics card, keyboard and monitor. This includes disconnecting optical drive and pulling out all HD sleds.

  • by W3ATO,

    W3ATO W3ATO Aug 27, 2016 9:49 AM in response to lllaass
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    Aug 27, 2016 9:49 AM in response to lllaass

    This was the message I was receiving...

     

    kernel_panic_symptoms_mtlion.png

    However, I am no longer receiving this message.

     

    There is one PCLe card still the the case, it is an esata card. I will remove it later today and see what happens. Otherwise everything has been disconnected from the computer except for the keyboard, speakers, monitor and the network cable...

  • by W3ATO,

    W3ATO W3ATO Aug 27, 2016 7:46 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 27, 2016 7:46 PM in response to lllaass

    All PCLe cards have been removed, optical drives removed. Nothing is attached except the network cable. The computer continues to restart, restart, restart...

     

    Hardware issue?

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 28, 2016 7:53 AM in response to W3ATO
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    Aug 28, 2016 7:53 AM in response to W3ATO

    yes, very very likely a hardware problem

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 28, 2016 12:08 PM in response to W3ATO
    Level 9 (60,617 points)
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    Aug 28, 2016 12:08 PM in response to W3ATO

    remove all the drives.

     

    Hold the Option key at startup and see if you get the chime and the blank screen that indicates the Startup Manager is looking for every possible drive. If yes, your Mac passed the power-on self test and is alive. Your boot drive may be a doorstop.

  • by W3ATO,

    W3ATO W3ATO Aug 30, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 30, 2016 3:16 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Just back from my local Apple store. They did some tests and all they could come up with is a hardware problem...

     

    From there I went to an authorized Apple re-seller which works on equipment. Cost so far a lot of fuel burnt traveling around and $91 fee to check out my system. Brighter minds than mine seem to think it is the graphics card. NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT can be had for around $130 and if that is all it takes I am a very happy apple again!

     

    I'll post back when I learn more...

  • by W3ATO,

    W3ATO W3ATO Aug 30, 2016 3:20 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (4 points)
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    Aug 30, 2016 3:20 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    I tried the option key and I can select from no less than 7 OS's located on 5 different drives. Tried them all. Tried the rescue partitions as well with all the same result. Apple staff did the same with the same result...

     

    Drives are good...

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 30, 2016 9:40 PM in response to W3ATO
    Level 9 (60,617 points)
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    Aug 30, 2016 9:40 PM in response to W3ATO

    If you can use the option key to invoke the Startup Manager, then the processor, ROM and some RAM are all working fine. If you can see each drive, you can at least know that they are there and read a bit of the initial software off them.

     

    So the idea that the graphics card is the cause of your grief is plausible.

     

    I would not replace that with another 8800 (they are not known for reliability), but that may be the lowest-cost option.

  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Aug 30, 2016 10:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 9 (60,617 points)
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    Aug 30, 2016 10:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

    Couldn't one of those service places loan you a graphics card to test out that theory?

  • by Michael Walker1,

    Michael Walker1 Michael Walker1 Sep 3, 2016 2:11 AM in response to W3ATO
    Level 1 (143 points)
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    Sep 3, 2016 2:11 AM in response to W3ATO

    I had exactly these symptoms when trying to use my old GeForce 8800GT after a newer ATI graphics card failed.

     

    I bought a reconditioned nVidia Quadra 4800 for £80 on eBay and now my MacPro is working again.