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Mac Clicking But Won't Start. Help!

Cleaning My Computer?

By the way when I popped open my MAC PRO I saw it was caked with dust! I mean the inside is gray and fuzzy! Is there a safe way to vacuum out the innards or is that ill-advised? I can't believe all that gunk should be ignored.
 
Doctor-Obble said:
By the way when I popped open my MAC PRO I saw it was caked with dust! I mean the inside is gray and fuzzy! Is there a safe way to vacuum out the innards or is that ill-advised? I can't believe all that gunk should be ignored.
Click to expand...

Buy a can of compressed air and blow out the air. Do not vacuum the computer, that could damage it.

Blowing the dust is the key, not sucking. :)
 
goMac said:
Buy a can of compressed air and blow out the air. Do not vacuum the computer, that could damage it.

Blowing the dust is the key, not sucking. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah. I would peel off any "blankets" that have matt-formed first before you blow it out. But if it's that bad I would use an air-compressor myself. Those canned air things don't move enough volume of air to clear out a really dusty system.

  1. Pull all the drives and drive sleds out.
  2. Remove the RAM trays.
  3. If you can figure out how I would remove the CPU cover too.
    To remove that there is a rear twin-fan harness that's held in with a single screw. Unscrew it and lift straight up. The whole fan "cage and fans" lifts out as one piece. After that is out there is a very thin aluminum cover that is fitted over the CPUs there. you slide it a few MM to the left or right you can see the tabs that hold it in place. Slide it far enough that the edges clear the tabs and it angles out - exposing the heat-sinks for the CPUs. Those will be fully blanketed in dust-blankets. Peel and blow them out.​
  4. Clean the fans you pulled out.
  5. Clean the rest of the system using a combination of compressed air and a paint-brush.
  6. Put everything back in. (thin cover 1st, then rear fan cage) then all RAM boards and drive sleds.

Now wait a few hours before you turn it on. Compressed air and air-compressors can introduce quite a lot of water into the system so give it 3 or 4 hours to dry after you'e done.

Power it up and it should just all work. Check to see if all the RAM is recognized by selecting "About This Mac" in the Apple menu. It it says less then it did before or if the machine doesn't start then remove the RAM riser boards again (yes, simple as an ink-cartridge indeed!) and clean the edges with some rubbing alcohol and reinsert them.

Of course do all the blowing and brush-dusting in your garage! When finished it'll look like you just gave a 18 year old african man his first haircut. There'll likely be that much "hair" in there. Here's some pics of my 1st MacPro1,1 cleaning after only 18 months:

Dust_Bunnies_01.jpg


Dust_Bunnies_02.jpg

​


You have to do this about once a year with MacPro 1,1 (your model MacPro).
 
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BTW, I sent you a PM with a link to a Service Manual of sorts for your machine. This will detail all the steps I mentioned (and lots more too).

:)
 
HI Doctor-Obble. Your Mac Pro is the 1,1 2006-2007 model? In case if it's the 3,1 2008 model, take note the rear twin fan has TWO screws, one on the top similar to the 1,1 Mac Pro and the second screw at the bottom near the processors.
 
goMac said:
Buy a can of compressed air and blow out the air. Do not vacuum the computer, that could damage it.

Blowing the dust is the key, not sucking. :)
Click to expand...

Vacuuming itself is safe, you only need to be cautious.
Static electricity danger is overestimated a bit. It could damage components which aren't grounded (e.g. not mounted on PCB).

I'm vacuuming my MP every 1-2 month (I have pets) since 7 years.
Not to mention 200+ PPC Macs I have had. Every single one was vacuumed before selling, including PSU. No single damage.
 
Doctor-Obble said:
I have a big, silver, 40lb MAC PRO 10.4.8. Purchased in 2006.

Here's some other stuff about it that I don't understand, Processor: Dual-
Core Intel Xeon. Processor Speed: 3 GHz. / Number Of Processors: 2 / Total Numbers Of Cores: 4 / L2 Cache (per processor): 4MB / Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz / Memory: 2 GB / Boot ROM Version: MP11.005C.B04 / SMC Version: 1.7f8 / Capacity: 232.57 GB

It suddenly stopped working yesterday. When I try to start it up it just makes a bunch of loud clicking noises and then a folder flashes in the middle of the screen with a “?” on it. I read about a similar problem on here and it was advised that the person use their Install Disc 1 while pressing the “D” and run a diagnostic. I did this (3 passes) and the Hardware Test said there was “No Trouble.” Yeah, sure.

Then unfortunately I couldn’t get the computer to spit out the disc and when I turned it on again I forgot to hold down the “D.” So it got to some first section with menu options and I kept quitting out of everything I could! Finally it returned the disc! So NOW I don’t know if my computer is repairable and I also don’t know if I have now wiped out anything that may have been store on my hard drive! AUUGH!!!

Am I aloud to post video here? This is my computer. The screen works; I
forgot I had disconnected the monitor when I recorded this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq6F3x3d-ok

I'm having a very bad day.
Click to expand...

Clicking noise is a hard drive problem. Pl backup and replace your hard drive. Thanks.
 
Doctor-Obble said:
The Apple Store in NJ where I originally purchased the computer said they wouldn't install a new drive because my computer was too old!
Click to expand...

It's extremely easy, you'll do it in a min.

By the way, once the new HDD is installed, you could have a slight possibility to recover your data with DiskWarrior. Just run it after installing the new drive and see if anything can be recovered. My startup drive died recently, and though thanks to DW I was able to recover basically everything I needed. It's a long process, but it's worth it.
 
Interesting alternate anecdote to this problem, I had *two* brand new Mac Pros (2008 iirc) out of the box not boot and just make audible "clicking" sounds.

Found out it was due to them being plugged into one of the APC UPS multi-outlet things. Both booted just fine once they were plugged into anything else, even some cheap ol' power strip.
 
Got the Hard Drive! Now What??

WOW! I didn’t mean to disappear on everyone here. I had no idea there was such an informative thread continuing here. It’s going to take me a while to digest all of this!

Anyway, the hard drive arrived today and I successfully installed it into the computer. No more clicking sound but when I start it up all I get is a blinking folder and a question mark. I suppose it needs to be formatted before I insert the install disks? I have looked on YouTube and can’t find a video about what to do next! Anyone have a link? Do I need to start my MAC in safe mode to install the new drive? Sorry to bug you all again! I hope no one has been affected by this madness in Boston.
 
Doctor-Obble said:
Anyway, the hard drive arrived today and I successfully installed it into the computer. No more clicking sound but when I start it up all I get is a blinking folder and a question mark. I suppose it needs to be formatted before I insert the install disks?
Click to expand...

Have you installed Mac OS on the new drive? Sounds like you have at the moment a working drive without OS on it.
 
sash: I'm such an idiot. I haven't installed it because I thought you needed to do something to the hard drive first before you could start putting data onto it. Obviously I'm wrong? :confused:
 
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Tesselator said:
Yeah. I would peel off any "blankets" that have matt-formed first before you blow it out. But if it's that bad I would use an air-compressor myself. Those canned air things don't move enough volume of air to clear out a really dusty system.


Now wait a few hours before you turn it on. Compressed air and air-compressors can introduce quite a lot of water into the system so give it 3 or 4 hours to dry after you'e done.


You have to do this about once a year with MacPro 1,1 (your model MacPro).
Click to expand...

Your comments are always very knowledgeable but here I think you make a big mistake.

Never ever use compressed air from a compressor, compressed air from a can is OK though.
Reason, compressed air from a compressor can be dangerous for electronics due to static electricity.

I use a flat paintbrush, different sizes do the job.
Best ones are non synthetic ones.(Real hair)

BTW, do you or anyone smoke in the house, seems like it when I look at the pictures of your MacPro.
 
justperry said:
Your comments are always very knowledgeable but here I think you make a big mistake.

Never ever use compressed air from a compressor, compressed air from a can is OK though.
Reason, compressed air from a compressor can be dangerous for electronics due to static electricity.

I use a flat paintbrush, different sizes do the job.
Best ones are non synthetic ones.(Real hair)

BTW, do you or anyone smoke in the house, seems like it when I look at the pictures of your MacPro.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree with your assessment of compressed air. I also disagree with those who say vacuum cleaners cause static discharges too. Such anal poppycock! But to answer your question the reason it looks like that is because I live in a 100+ year-old mud house and that's the color of the particulates that come from the mud walls, ceiling, and tatami (rice-matt) floors.

tumblr_lu9f2t8RmC1qjhgalo1_1280.jpg



tumblr_m58cu92uCU1r3xd37o1_500.jpg



OAInternetWohnraum_01.jpg

​

.
 
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I remember those nasty dust photos. I had no idea that was your computer. Also, yeah, very nice house!

I use a vacuum AND canned air together when I clean. I hold the vacuum nozzle behind the blast of canned air, so it sucks it up instead of letting it settle anywhere. I remove all parts, and blow everything, including the power supply. It looks factory to this day, and I'm on the original OS install from 2009 (cloned to an SSD.)
 
I like when you all debate things...I learn stuff, LOL. And now I want Tesselator's house.
 
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