Mac Pro (4)5,1 Keyboard keys not working during boot

[galstaph]

So since I fixed my main install of High Sierra a few months back I've been unable to boot into my windows drive. I've also found out I cannot reset pram, smc or go to recovery partition - none of the startup keys will work.
So I think to myself well, maybe I can get the boot selector back by using bootcamp and reinstalling the windows drive - sounded good in theory, but now I am stuck with a win 10 dvd in my machine (without a way to eject it - both the eject and mouse do not do it) and a boot loop that will only boot to the win 10 dvd. I cna't proceed with that due to some partition garbage win 10 thinks is going on (cannot use the new ntfs partition) (tried all the tricks I could think of with that).

I am using the original mac pro aluminium keyboard with number keys (wired of course), and a razor mouse hardwired.

Any suggestions short of pulling the dvd drive's power?

Thanks in advance

 

[galstaph]

So since I fixed my main install of High Sierra a few months back I've been unable to boot into my windows drive. I've also found out I cannot reset pram, smc or go to recovery partition - none of the startup keys will work.
So I think to myself well, maybe I can get the boot selector back by using bootcamp and reinstalling the windows drive - sounded good in theory, but now I am stuck with a win 10 dvd in my machine (without a way to eject it - both the eject and mouse do not do it) and a boot loop that will only boot to the win 10 dvd. I cna't proceed with that due to some partition garbage win 10 thinks is going on (cannot use the new ntfs partition) (tried all the tricks I could think of with that).

I am using the original mac pro aluminium keyboard with number keys (wired of course), and a razor mouse hardwired.

Any suggestions short of pulling the dvd drive's power?

Thanks in advance

I managed to get the DVD out. Forgot that these old mac pros have a physical button on the drive. Now it is just the keys not working for boot selection. Any ideas?

 

[skizzo]

I managed to get the DVD out. Forgot that these old mac pros have a physical button on the drive. Now it is just the keys not working for boot selection. Any ideas?

I am quite confused because there is no physical button to eject or close the trays on the tower. The only physical button is located on the OEM Apple keyboards, or there are 3rd party keyboards that have a button for that function too. Which doesn't help you given keyboard is not being recognized. Are you referring to some kind of button on the CD/DVD drive that you can only access if you open the side panel of the tower, as in, you had to get inside the tower to eject the tray? I was not aware of such a button existing if that is what you are saying.

 

[ActionableMango]

Now it is just the keys not working for boot selection. Any ideas?

Try a different keyboard. The wired aluminum keyboard that came with mine also wouldn't work during startup, and couple of others here have reported the same. Don't ask me why it works for most people but not some of us. All I know is that trying a different wired keyboard worked.

I am quite confused because there is no physical button to eject or close the trays on the tower.

Yes there is. The superdrive is just a normal optical drive with the faceplate removed. It still has the eject button up front. The button is behind the cheesegrater grill, so you have to trigger it with a paperclip pushed through one of the holes directly in front of the button.

Then you have to pull the paperclip out, because it is in the way of the slot cover coming down when the tray ejects.

 

[skizzo]

Yes there is. The superdrive is just a normal optical drive with the faceplate removed. It still has the eject button up front. The button is behind the cheesegrater grill, so you have to trigger it with a paperclip pushed through one of the holes directly in front of the button.

Then you have to pull the paperclip out, because it is in the way of the slot cover coming down when the tray ejects.

OK that is good to know! But I would not consider that on the tower being it's hidden behind the tower's chassis, its on the actual CD/DVD drive, and requires a professional tool like a paper clip LOL. I was referring to having a clearly identified button just like the power button is.

 

[ActionableMango]

OK that is good to know! But I would not consider that on the tower being it's hidden behind the tower's chassis, its on the actual CD/DVD drive, and requires a professional tool like a paper clip LOL. I was referring to having a clearly identified button just like the power button is.

Well to be fair Apple has been using "paperclip through a chassis hole" eject button method for about 30 years. It's just not obvious on the Cheesegrater because there are so many holes.

 

[galstaph]

Try a different keyboard. The wired aluminum keyboard that came with mine also wouldn't work during startup, and couple of others here have reported the same. Don't ask me why it works for most people but not some of us. All I know is that trying a different wired keyboard worked.



Yes there is. The superdrive is just a normal optical drive with the faceplate removed. It still has the eject button up front. The button is behind the cheesegrater grill, so you have to trigger it with a paperclip pushed through one of the holes directly in front of the button.

Then you have to pull the paperclip out, because it is in the way of the slot cover coming down when the tray ejects.

Yeah I pulled the drive to get to the button.

Managed to get my bootcamp set up fine now I just need to get back to osx. Prolly easier to pull the windows drive to do that. Lol. Will maybe have to pick up a new keyboard and try that. Thanks for the help!