MP 1,1-5,1 2010 MP 5,1 - HELP. Random Onset Deep Freeze, Followed by Internal HDD Eject Error, Now Wont Get Past Initial Boot Sound

[Don_Con]

All,

I have a MacPro 5,1 that has been upgraded significantly since early January 2021, and it has been running flawlessly until today where I started experiencing 4-5min freeze of the entire system, with a subsequent **unfreeze** and "Disk Ejected improperly" error.

Background:

It is an all-in-one machine for me, and i use it as a Plex Server with an internal (software) raid, so it has 6 total Drives in it:

Boot Drive for Mojave - SSD2 (run off a PCI SSD)
User Director/Applications/Files - New Mac HDSSD - Run off a OWC SSD plugged into Bay 1
10TB - 10TB - 10TB - Raid 5 (Seagates plugged into Bays 2-4)

Starting Today, the freezing issue occured. I've done no major software installs/upgrades on the machine since JAN 2021, and when I boot the machine in works for about a 1-2min, then it freezes hard for 5-6mins, then unfreezes and says "SSD2 Was ejected improperly". And I cannot remount it. I moved the New Mac HDSSD into a different bay, and also plugged it into the SATA connection underneath the CD-ROM, and no change.

I pulled the drive out and mounted it to my laptop to do FirstAid, and my laptop's DiskUtil says the drive is fine. I then plugged the Mac HDSSD drive into an external USB and plugged it into my MacPro and the MP seem to run fine. On the last freeze, I had the system error output up and I captured this error right at the time of the freeze:

As I have been trying to trouble shoot this issue, I now find myself unable to even boot the computer to a login screen. I turn the power on, it gives me the normal apple audible sound, and then it just sits there.

I can't boot into Recovery mode (Command-R) either.

I feel deeply screwed, like this is a logic board issue. And I dont know where to even begin.

 

[tsialex]

Remove all disks, yes all disks, insert just a Mojave createinstallmedia USB installer and see if you can boot from it.

If you can, shutdown, then you'll install a fully erased/brand new SATA disk to SATA bay 1 and then try to install Mojave to it.

Don't use the disk that is disconnecting, use a different one that you are sure that works perfectly or a brand new SATA SSD.

 

[Don_Con]

Something on the MacPro must have been trying to read one of the external drives as a boot disk. I still have all my drives in as of now, but I am now logged into the computer with the suspect Mac HDSSD drive plugged in via an external OWC bay.

No freezing, no ejection issues. So I've gotten past the inability to boot problem, but now still have this issue with the mac pro ejecting this disk whenever it is put into an internal bay.

 

[tsialex]

Something on the MacPro must have been trying to read one of the external drives as a boot disk. I still have all my drives in as of now, but I am now logged into the computer with the suspect Mac HDSSD drive plugged in via an external OWC bay.

No freezing, no ejection issues. So I've gotten past the inability to boot problem, but now still have this issue with the mac pro ejecting this disk whenever it is put into an internal bay.

Seems to be a defective disk, check SMART with DriveDX, if your external bay reports SMART via USB.

 

[Don_Con]

Seems to be a defective disk, check SMART with DriveDX, if your external bay reports SMART via USB.

DriveDX data below. I tried running a "long self-test" but came back to the computer and it was frozen again. The results to the short self test below:

 

[tsialex]

DriveDX data below. I tried running a "long self-test" but came back to the computer and it was frozen again. The results to the short self test below:

View attachment 1839674


View attachment 1839603 View attachment 1839604

If you still have warranty, do a RMA. If not, it's paper weight now. Flash erase failures are the worst that can happen before the total failure of the NAND chips, the NAND cells are not capable of being erased anymore.

 

[Don_Con]

If you still have warranty, do a RMA. If not, it's paper weight now. Flash erase failures are the worst that can happen before the total failure of the NAND chips, the NAND cells are not capable of being erased anymore.

Thx man, appreciate your support. On with OWC now, and so far its allowing me to back up the drive to another HDD. Will report back.

 

[Don_Con]

Update: OWC has sent a RMA, and i was able to back up the failing drive completely before it totally ***** the bed. Hoping OWC just does a SWAP for a new one, provided them all the output and screen shots form DriveDx.

Never thought I'd have a SSD fail like this within first 12 months. I've had HDDs under brutal use for years that had no issues, but understand **** happens.

 

[Don_Con]

Update: OWC swapped out my drive for a new one, got it today and cloning as we speak.

 

[Don_Con]

Curious though, the new drive comes in @ 71.4% health rating based on DriveDX:

Health indicator #1 (raw read error rate) is @ 71%, and SATA CRC Error Count @ 71%.

Anything I should be concerend above