Dead Mac Pro

[radesousa]

Hi Folks:

I'm having a devil of a time resolving booting up issues with my Mac Pro tower.
I can't boot up my computer but every thing freezes up. Even booting up in Safe Mode is unsuccessful. All I get is a desktop which doesn't respond when I use my mouse to click on an icon and the directory of my hard drive is also frozen. Here what happens when I try to boot up. After pushing the button to start the process I hold down the shift key when I hear the chime and I release the shift key when the Apple logo appears. A bar shows up at the bottom of the screen but it disappears before it gets to the end and my log-in screen appears. I can enter my password and my desktop appears but all I see is a frozen directory of my hard drive and the icons. The mouse pointer shows up and I can move the pointer around but none of the icons or files in my directory respond. Grrrr! Help, please!


Rich

 

[Thomaspin]

I suggest you track down a copy of the factory 'Apple Technician Guide' for your model year. These include extremely detailed diagnostic routines which should help identify and resolve your problem and mostly need no special tools to run.

 

[FrankHahn]

It may be caused by the failing hard disk drive. I had the following experience:

When I updated my Mac mini with an SSD, I took out the original HDD and installed the SSD. I then attached the HDD to the board from an enclosure, booted from the HDD, and installed successfully the OSX onto the SSD.

Because I somehow messed up when I installed Windows 7 using the VMWare, I decided to reinstall the OSX. When I reconnected things up, I accidentally had the enclosure board with the HDD fall from the edge of the desk and the enclosure board bounced off the desk side. This accident resulted in a broken enclosure board.

When I turned on the Mac, the similar symptoms you described appeared.

My suggest: Try to boot from another disk that is known to be in a good working condition. It is probably time for you to get a new disk.

 

[i-rui]

could be the hdd, or could even be the video card (i've seen similar problems with a bad video card).

can you start up from an OS install dvd or usb stick?

if you can that would indicate theres a good chance it's a software or hdd problem.

 

[radesousa]

I suggest you track down a copy of the factory 'Apple Technician Guide' for your model year. These include extremely detailed diagnostic routines which should help identify and resolve your problem and mostly need no special tools to run.

Thanks, Thomaspin. I'll try to get a copy!

 

[koban4max]

a sign to buy nMP.

 

[radesousa]

It may be caused by the failing hard disk drive. I had the following experience:

When I updated my Mac mini with an SSD, I took out the original HDD and installed the SSD. I then attached the HDD to the board from an enclosure, booted from the HDD, and installed successfully the OSX onto the SSD.

Because I somehow messed up when I installed Windows 7 using the VMWare, I decided to reinstall the OSX. When I reconnected things up, I accidentally had the enclosure board with the HDD fall from the edge of the desk and the enclosure board bounced off the desk side. This accident resulted in a broken enclosure board.

When I turned on the Mac, the similar symptoms you described appeared.

My suggest: Try to boot from another disk that is known to be in a good working condition. It is probably time for you to get a new disk.

Thanks, FrankHahn. I suspected my hard disk has failed. Since I bought my Mac Pro used I'm assuming the 2TB drive is the original drive and it has probably given up the ghost and I need to buy a new one.

 

[radesousa]

could be the hdd, or could even be the video card (i've seen similar problems with a bad video card).

can you start up from an OS install dvd or usb stick?

if you can that would indicate theres a good chance it's a software or hdd problem.

I tried starting with the OS install disk and all I got was a screen with the install os icon but none of the options in the window were clickable.

 

[OS6-OSX]

You should have certain disks in your tool chest!
http://www.prosofteng.com/
http://www.micromat.com/

 

[i-rui]

I tried starting with the OS install disk and all I got was a screen with the install os icon but none of the options in the window were clickable.

That's really strange. I wonder if there's a problem with the USB. First I would try a different mouse, and then try switching USB ports. Try both the front and back on the Mac Pro.

 

[radesousa]

That's really strange. I wonder if there's a problem with the USB. First I would try a different mouse, and then try switching USB ports. Try both the front and back on the Mac Pro.

Thanks for your help i=rui:

I use a wireless mouse and that was the problem! I switched to a wired mouse and now my MacPro is back up!

 

[i-rui]

Thanks for your help i=rui:

I use a wireless mouse and that was the problem! I switched to a wired mouse and now my MacPro is back up!

glad to hear i could be of help and that it wasn't an expensive repair

 

[radesousa]

glad to hear i could be of help and that it wasn't an expensive repair

But I'm still puzzled why this event happened! I'm back to using my bluetooth mouse and it works as it always has! I guess it'll be a mystery to me!