Can't install High Sierra (cMP 5,1)

[Objectivist-C]

Hi, when I try installing High Sierra from USB media to a blank drive, I get an error screen stating:

macOS could not be installed on your computer.
An error occurred while loading the installer resources.
Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again.

I've posted the console log here.

I've tried two different hard drives to rule out a failure. The machine's current configuration is:
1x 2.8Ghz Quad Xeon
3x 8GB DDR3 ECC PC10600 1333MHz SDRAM
ATI Radeon 5770 1GB
1TB WD Blue Scorpio HDD (or 160GB Maxtor)

I've already tried resetting the PRAM. Doing it during startup didn't seem to work, so I used nvram -c from terminal.

The seller mentioned that he had problems installing the latest version of macOS, which I took to mean Mojave not installing because of the video card. It was successfully booting 10.6 before I wiped the drive.

 

[chrfr]

Hi, when I try installing High Sierra from USB media to a blank drive, I get an error screen stating:

macOS could not be installed on your computer.
An error occurred while loading the installer resources.
Quit the installer to restart your computer and try again.

I've posted the console log here.

I've tried two different hard drives to rule out a failure. The machine's current configuration is:
1x 2.8Ghz Quad Xeon
3x 8GB DDR3 ECC PC10600 1333MHz SDRAM
ATI Radeon 5770 1GB
1TB WD Blue Scorpio HDD (or 160GB Maxtor)

I've already tried resetting the PRAM. Doing during startup didn't seem to work, so I used nvram -c from terminal.

The seller mentioned that he had problems installing the latest version of macOS, which I took to mean Mojave not installing because of the video card. It was successfully booting 10.6 before I wiped the drive.

You’ll need a firmware update to install High Sierra. Try starting with El Capitan.

 

[Objectivist-C]

Thanks. Is that still the case if it did a firmware update the first time I tried installing HS, though?

 

[chrfr]

Thanks. Is that still the case if it did a firmware update the first time I tried installing HS, though?

It may depend on the version of your installer. I don’t remember at this point which ones included firmware updates.

 

[Objectivist-C]

I just downloaded it from the App Store, it should be the latest available.

 

[chrfr]

I just downloaded it from the App Store, it should be the latest available.

I’d still try an older OS first. 10.13.6 is definitely a later firmware than earlier versions of High Sierra.

 

[Objectivist-C]

I'm downloading Sierra now (El Capitan won't for for whatever reason), but my existing installer is Mac OS X 10.13.6 (17G65) per the console log and already installed a FW update.

 

[crjackson2134]

It may depend on the version of your installer. I don’t remember at this point which ones included firmware updates.

All the recent firmware updates are listed in post #1 of this sticky if it helps.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-mojave-bootrom-upgrade-instructions.2142418/

- Mac Pro 5,1 recent firmware releases:

10.13 DP5 with MP51.0083.B00 with initial APFS support
10.13 DP6 with MP51.0084.B00 with APFS support
10.13.4 with MP51.085.B00 (Mojave DP1/DP2/PB1/DP3/PB2 too)
10.13.5 with MP51.087.B00 missing the Intel Xeon microcodes
10.13.6 with MP51.089.B00 updating to the Spectre mitigated microcodes on the April 2 Microcode Update Guidance.
10.14 DP7/PB6 with 138.0.0.0.0 with 5GT/s and new microcodes
10.14.1 DP1 with 139.0.0.0.0
10.14.1 DP3 with 140.0.0.0.0 with NVMe support
10.14.4 DP2 with 141.0.0.0.0 minor updates
10.14.4 DP4 with 142.0.0.0.0 W3xxx Xeon "bricker" & updated APFSJumpStart EFI module
10.14.4 final with 141.0.0.0.0 minor updates
10.14.5 DP1 with 142.0.0.0.0 again with W3xxx Xeon "bricker"
10.14.5 DP2 back to 141.0.0.0.0
10.14.5 DP4 with 144.0.0.0.0 lot's of corrections, booting improvements
10.14.5 final with 144.0.0.0.0 lot's of corrections, booting improvements
​

​

 

[Objectivist-C]

Sierra worked (and didn't need to install a FW update), but now I get the error "AMD-Action:downloadProduct:SP" when trying to update to High Sierra through the App Store. Googling doesn't turn up any applicable solutions (system time is correct, home folder is on primary volume).

 

[Objectivist-C]

OK, that problem was solved by logging in to my App Store account, HS is up and running now.

Q: should AHT work on this configuration? I’ve tried holding ‘d’ during boot with a wired Windows keyboard and a Bluetooth Apple keyboard and neither works.

 

[tsialex]

Q: should AHT work on this configuration? I’ve tried holding ‘d’ during boot with a wired Windows keyboard and a Bluetooth Apple keyboard and neither works.

Every Mac needs a specific version of AHT, so a clean instal don't have it.

You need to install the correct AHT version into your install or on a USB-key. Read this article on how to do it:

https://github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest

 

[chrfr]

OK, that problem was solved by logging in to my App Store account, HS is up and running now.

Q: should AHT work on this configuration? I’ve tried holding ‘d’ during boot with a wired Windows keyboard and a Bluetooth Apple keyboard and neither works.

Was it, in fact, the firmware that needed updating to install High Sierra?

 

[Objectivist-C]

No, it successfully updated the bootrom on the first installation attempt, but installing the actual OS from USB failed every time.

The only thing I can think of that’s odd about my setup is that I was only getting the ~20MB HS installer stub from the App Store and had to move files around with Terminal to create the boot drive.

AHT says everything is fine in the short test, haven’t taken the time to run the full test yet.

 

[SolarisX]

maybe a little late, but for everyone else who has the same problem.


For me the solution was:
- start the USB Installer
- disconnect from the Internet, Wifi and Lan!
- open terminal and change date for example "Date 111111112017" at the time as 10.13. has appeared
- Then start the installation