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Help! Unable to reset NVRAM on macpro 2009

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krishnaM

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 26, 2014
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I was unable to choose the start up disk by pressing 'option' button at powering the 2009 macpro (osx Mavericks). Then I tried to reset the PRAM by pressing the command+option+P+R buttons after power but it just booted without resetting the PRAM. I tried after SMC reset but no success. I tried multiple times pressing the com+opt+P+R buttons (both before and after the startup chime, before the grey screen) but nothing changes. It is 6 yrs old. Could it be the PRAM battery? Of course no problem with time/date. I'll really appreciate if you can suggest any other ideas.

Krishna
 
No, very often it's the keyboard that you use.
Do you have a wired USB keyboard, and is it connected directly to a USB port on the back (and not through a USB hub, such as the USB port on an Apple USB keyboard.)
If you are using a wireless keyboard, maybe you have a wired keyboard, or you could borrow one, just to test - If you can't get your normal keyboard to function at boot, be sure to try a different keyboard.

The battery would not make any difference. The PRAM reset should function, even with no PRAM battery installed at all.
 
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You can do the following at the command line:
sudo nvram -c

If you have an apple full-size, wired, slim aluminum keyboard from around 2009-2010, you may need to update its firmware. There is a bug preventing it from working early enough in the bootup process.

If you have a wireless keyboard, try a wired USB keyboard. Sometimes the computer can boot faster than the wireless keyboard can negotiate a connection. And some aftermarket bluetooth dongles don't work during boot time at all.
 
Thanks for quick replies. It is the wired Apple key board, bought along with cMP in 2009. How to reset the keyboard firmware?
 
It was working last year when I purchased the new SSD for startup disk.
 
Try a different keyboard.
If you don't have another Apple keyboard, most non-Apple keyboards will support the keyboard boot commands, especially the PRAM reset. Windows keyboard alternative for PRAM reset will be Win+Alt+p+r - if that's your only choice.
 
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krishnaM said:
Thanks for quick replies. It is the wired Apple key board, bought along with cMP in 2009. How to reset the keyboard firmware?
Click to expand...

My apologies, there is no updated firmware, I got that confused with the wireless keyboard. I just did a Google search for the problem and there are a zillion complaints about it but Apple never did anything. You have to use a different keyboard. I had this problem with my 2010 wired aluminum keyboard too. It's disgraceful.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1416944?start=0&tstart=0
http://forum.maccast.com/index.php?...num-keyboard-will-not-recognize-boot-options/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/key-presses-at-startup-dont-work.411805/

But if you were able to select the boot drive at startup using the option key, then you don't have the problem. I was not able to use any startup key commands with the wired thin aluminum keyboard, but every other keyboard worked fine.
 
ActionableMango said:
You can do the following at the command line:
sudo nvram -c


I have never used command line before. I see this after opening the app in utilities:

Last login: Tue Nov 10 19:03:20 on console
krishnavadispro:~ krishna$

So what do I do after opening the command line?

I do not have any other key board at home. I'll get a new one tomorrow from Apple store if the command line app does help.
Click to expand...
 
Type the command from post #3.
Press enter. The sudo part of that command will ask for your admin password.
Enter it, then press enter again. You will NOT see any characters when you enter your password (it's a security feature), so just type it, then press enter.
You should get a command prompt back, and you are done with the terminal then.
 
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ActionableMango said:
My apologies, there is no updated firmware, I got that confused with the wireless keyboard. I just did a Google search for the problem and there are a zillion complaints about it but Apple never did anything. You have to use a different keyboard. I had this problem with my 2010 wired aluminum keyboard too. It's disgraceful.

But if you were able to select the boot drive at startup using the option key, then you don't have the problem. I was not able to use any startup key commands with the wired thin aluminum keyboard, but every other keyboard worked fine.
Click to expand...

I can't select boot drive either using option key. That was the reason I decided to do the PRAM reset. Did you end up getting new keyboard? Apple or non Apple keyboard? It is funny because no other issues with my Apple keyboard till now. It is just stained and dirty after 6 yrs of daily use.
 
DeltaMac said:
Type the command from post #3.
Press enter. The sudo part of that command will ask for your admin password.
Enter it, then press enter again. You will NOT see any characters when you enter your password (it's a security feature), so just type it, then press enter.
You should get a command prompt back, and you are done with the terminal then.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll give it a try and post you the result. How will I know that it did the reset?
 
krishnaM said:
I can't select boot drive either using option key. That was the reason I decided to do the PRAM reset. Did you end up getting new keyboard? Apple or non Apple keyboard? It is funny because no other issues with my Apple keyboard till now. It is just stained and dirty after 6 yrs of daily use.
Click to expand...

Any wired keyboard should work, just not the slim wired Apple aluminum keyboard from that era. Most wireless keyboards will work too.

Yes I got a different keyboard. This is what I use now:
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-solar-keyboard-k750-mac

It works fine for startup key commands. I wouldn't recommend it though, unless you are okay with solar and you have plenty of light where your computer is.
 
I used the command line and this is what I got in reply:

sudo: unable to stat /etc/sudoers: Permission denied
sudo: no valid sudoers sources found, quitting
krishnavadispro:~ krishna$

I logged on to my wife's account (with adm privileges) and repeated the procedure but same result.

Houston we have a problem here :(
 
Last edited:
Wait - what?
Is YOUR account an admin account. If it is a standard account, then you can't use sudo anyway.
That doesn't explain why your wife's admin account won't let the command run.
Maybe something here can help https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3680870

I'm pretty sure I would just grab the Mavericks installer, boot to that, and reinstall the system.
I suspect that will be your fix. An OS X reinstall does not cause you to lose anything that you have on the your hard drive now, just reinstalls the system in place. It will fix up odd file ownership/permissions issues (which I think may be your main issue.) You could try a normal permissions repair with Disk Utility, but I suspect that won't fix your issue.
 
DeltaMac said:
Wait - what?
Is YOUR account an admin account. If it is a standard account, then you can't use sudo anyway.
That doesn't explain why your wife's admin account won't let the command run.
Maybe something here can help https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3680870

I'm pretty sure I would just grab the Mavericks installer, boot to that, and reinstall the system.
I suspect that will be your fix. An OS X reinstall does not cause you to lose anything that you have on the your hard drive now, just reinstalls the system in place. It will fix up odd file ownership/permissions issues (which I think may be your main issue.) You could try a normal permissions repair with Disk Utility, but I suspect that won't fix your issue.
Click to expand...

My account is the 'admin account'. My wife has the admin privileges. I tried on her account as for what ever reason it is not recognizing me.
I have the Mavericks installer on a USB key as well as saved on one of the mac pro drive. Do I have to boot up from the USB key to reinstall Mavericks? That will be a problem as I cannot switch boot drive. It should work only if I can launch the program from a 'non start up drive'.
 
Can I fix the start up disk problem if I download the Mavericks installer on the same drive (i mean start up drive)?
 
Do what DeltaMac mentioned in one of his posts and get a different keyboard. Anything, even a Windows keyboard will work (the Win button is the equivalent of the Command key). You could also try connecting THIS keyboard to another computer and see if it works well.
 
garirry said:
Do what DeltaMac mentioned in one of his posts and get a different keyboard. Anything, even a Windows keyboard will work (the Win button is the equivalent of the Command key). You could also try connecting THIS keyboard to another computer and see if it works well.
Click to expand...
Can a new keyboard fix the problem when command line app couldn't?
 
You can choose your bootable USB OS X installer from your Startup Disk pref pane. Then, restarting SHOULD go by default to the OS X installer, assuming it is bootable.

As has been mentioned several times - at least part of this may be fixed with a good keyboard. I urge you to try a different keyboard. Doesn't need to be an Apple keyboard (usually), particularly when all you need is a keyboard long enough to test the Option-boot screen, but your best test will be with a wired USB keyboard.
 
garirry said:
Just do it, we'll see. Always better to try than asking "is it going to do anything".
Click to expand...
You are right. I am going to get another keyboard tomorrow. DeltaMac's suggestion was to fix the startup drive using Mavericks installer.
 
pastrychef said:
Very weird. There has been several reports of people experiencing PRAM issues recently. Fl0r!an also experienced something very similar. He documented the things he tried in THIS THREAD.
Click to expand...
That was an interesting thread. Do you think my problem is same/similar? How to check the battery is working properly? As I mentioned earlier, I have never used command line app before. Should I take it Apple store for Genius help?
 
I don't know of anyway to check the battery. The few times I suspected it needed replacing, I just went ahead and replaced it. If you are unable to resolve this issue, you should definitely take it to a Genius Bar. There are quite a few settings that are stored in NVRAM and having it non-functional will be a pain.
 
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