MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 5,1 Mojave Install Problems

[petermg]

I'm in the process of getting rid of my Mac Pro 5,1. It had Mojave on it, and when I proceeded to re-install Mojave, I received the apfs preboot volume error.

I restarted my computer to install Mojave from a USB Install, but all I received was a black screen.

Now during normal boot-ups, this was normal until the computer had fully started. I have a Radeon RX Vega 56 8GB installed. But now I'm entirely blind to get into recovery mode..etc.

So I installed the original ATI Radeon HD 5770. When the computer boots, not surprisingly I receive the gray screen with a question mark / file folder icon. When I try to go into recovery mode, I receive this same icon though.

If I try to boot to the (option) startup manager, I only get a gray screen and a mouse cursor. So I can't even try to boot from my USB.

Any tips? I'm a little lost of what to do at this point.

 

[tsialex]

A lot of things could be wrong, it will be easier if you install HighSierra (or Sierra/ElCapitan) with your AppleOEM GPU to a new/fully erased disk.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

After installed, the first thing to check is the BootROM firmware version, if you already did all the upgrades should be 144.0.0.0.0. It it's not 144.0.0.0.0, follow the first post steps to upgrade it:

MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)

Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...

forums.macrumors.com

Also run DriveDX and check for any errors on the disk that you had trouble before.

DriveDx - the most advanced drive health diagnostics and monitoring utility

DriveDx - the most advanced drive health (S.M.A.R.T.) diagnostics and monitoring utility. Save yourself the data loss and downtime that is associated with unexpected SSD and HDD failures. Don't worry about losing your important data, music, and photographs.

www.binaryfruit.com

 

[petermg]

Right, but my main problem is that I can't install ANY Mac OS right now. I can't get into Recovery Mode or Startup Manager.

 

[tsialex]

Start making a createinstallmedia of Sierra/ElCapitan with another Mac, boot from the createinstallmedia USB installer with your Mac Pro and HD 5770, nuke your disk, partition/format it, finally do the macOS install to the disk.

Even with your VEGA GPU without pre-boot configuration support (aka BootScreens/BootPicker), your Mac Pro will boot from the createinstallmedia USB installer when you only have the installer and a new/erased disk on your Mac Pro.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Start making a createinstallmedia of Sierra/ElCapitan with another Mac, boot from the createinstallmedia USB installer with your Mac Pro and HD 5770, nuke your disk, partition/format it, finally do the macOS install to the disk.

Even with your VEGA GPU without pre-boot configuration support (aka BootScreens/BootPicker), your Mac Pro will boot from the createinstallmedia USB installer when you only have the installer and a new/erased disk on your Mac Pro.

I upgraded my two macs with a security updates from Apple. Both updates killed my internet on both machines.

Story: On Wednesday 19th July 2023, I accepted Apple's security update on my 5,1 Mac Pro running Monterey.

Then, the internet became patchy on the machine.

I felt this was a security concern, so I accepted the security update on the OS Ventura running my MacBook 15.4" Pro circa late 2017, and that update completely and straight away, killed the internet on the MacBook Pro. That was running Ventura 13.3.1.

I spent considerable time trying to get the MacBook Pro's internet working again. Eventually I took it to Apple where they put the OS on the machine. In their Genius Bar environment, the recovery mode saw the Apple server. The machine now works, now running Ventura 13.5.

As said, the Mac Pro also lost its internet (although Safari would work under recovery mode, a software install from Apple's server would not work, the call being not being able to see the server (being Apple's).

A re-install is difficult on a Mac Pro because I run a 580 X metal card in order to run Monterey etc. So there seems no way that I can quickly re-install Monterey from a USB stick, due to the black screen (I presume as the graphic drivers cannot be loaded early on) and hence I cannot choose which drive to install Monterey, even if there is only one formatted and empty drive in the 5,1 machine.

Is there a way to install OS without replacing the GPU card with Apple's original 5770? I have an almost new Eizo monitor, and I am unsure if the original GPU will connect to it. Plus there is the time factor ... but now I am desperate and so, I am prepared for the long haul.

I do have an early non metal OS on a hard drive which I can pop in after replacing the GPU, and start from there ... I presume the internet will work, but I am unsure of the steps forward from there ... Help would be appreciated.

If I can recover the machine, I will use super duper etc to make an identical internal drive with Monterey on it ...

This is annoying a I did have a Sierra OS in partition of 4TB back up drive, but when I tried to reboot from that Sierra drive, the system would not load. I suspect due to some corruption in that 4TB back drive, or maybe it was due to it being partitioned.

Can someone point me to the steps required to start from scratch on the 5,1 to get back to Monterey?

I'd like to mention too, that the Genius at the Applestore, pointed me to a page for getting the OS to upgrade the 5,1, and he said if that doesn't work, then bring it in. But now Apple have informed me that the machine is not supported and if I want help, to go to a non Apple owned repairer. They do not acknowledge any fault with their security update ... which soon changed. The Applestore knew of the problem, and my internet provider said that many Apple users had lost their internet capacity while the Windows machines in the same environments had no issues. So it was definitely an Apple update problem - no doubt due to the M processor commitment.

 

[tsialex]

I upgrade my two macs with a security updates from Apple, both updates killed my internet on both machines.

Story: On Wednesday 19th July 2023, I accepted Apple's security update on my 5,1 Mac Pro running Monterey.

Then, the internet became patchy on the machine.

I felt this was a security concern, so I accepted the security update on Ventura running my MacBook 15.4" Pro circa late 2017, and that update immediately killed the internet on the MacBook Pro. That was Ventura 13.3.1.

I spent time trying to get the MacBook Pro's internet working again. Eventually I took it to Apple where they put the OS on the machine. In their environment, the recovery mode saw the Apple server. The machine now works, now running Ventura 13.5.

But the Mac Pro also lost its internet (although Safari would work under recovery mode, a software install from Apple's server would not work, the call being not being able to see the server (being Apple's).

A re-install is difficult on a Mac Pro because I run a 580 X metal card in order to run Monterey etc. So there seems no way that I can quickly re-install Monterey from a USB stick, due to the black screen (I presume as the graphic drivers cannot be loaded early on).

Is there a way to install a without replacing the GPU with Apple's original? I have an almost new Eizo monitor, and I am unsure if the original GPU will connect to it. Plus there is the time factor ... but now I am desperate and I am prepared for the long haul.

I do have an OS on a hard drive which I can pop in after replacing the GPU, and start from there ... I presume the internet will work, but I am unsure of the steps forward from there ... Help would be appreciated.

If I can recover the machine, I will super duper a drive with Monterey on it ... i did have Sierra in a back 4TB drive in one partition, but when I tried to reboot from that, the system would not load. I suspect due to some corruption in that 4TB back drive.

You literally quoted the steps that you need to follow.

You can't install Monterey to a MacPro5,1 like you can to a supported Mac. You need an intermediate step, like installing HighSierra/Mojave, then installing OpenCore/Monterey or creating a OCLP Monterey installed using another Mac.

If you want the second option, you will need to ask help on a OCLP thread, I'm not the right person to help with OCLP installs and etc. There are threads for that, like the Monterey Unsupported.

Btw, the black screen at boot issue with a PC GPU - the correct term here is missing pre-boot configuration support - can be solved adding EnableGop to a reconstructed BootROM image and flashing it to the Mac Pro. After that, if your AMD RX 580 still have the factory firmware unmodified, you will have native boot screens/Boot Picker/etc with your Mac Pro exactly like the AppleOEM HD 5770.

 

[Melbourne Park]

You literally quoted the steps that you need to follow.

You can't install Monterey to a MacPro5,1 like you can to a supported Mac. You need an intermediate step, like installing HighSierra/Mojave, then installing OpenCore/Monterey or creating a OCLP Monterey installed using another Mac.

If you want the second option, you will need to ask help on a OCLP thread, I'm not the right person to help with OCLP installs and etc. There are threads for that, like the Monterey Unsupported.

Btw, the black screen at boot issue with a PC GPU - the correct term here is missing pre-boot configuration support - can be solved adding EnableGop to a reconstructed BootROM image and flashing it to the Mac Pro. After that, if your AMD RX 580 still have the factory firmware unmodified, you will have native boot screens/Boot Picker/etc with your Mac Pro exactly like the AppleOEM HD 5770.

I have not gone to Open core yet, and may not. I have thought about a used 7,2, but they aren't perfect either. Or a Mac Studio. And I'll need a reasonable size drive with them, and boy, does Apple charge for its internal storage.

But firstly - thank you for the reply. Hope you are going well. My son is employing a Brazilian who is organising his citizenship. An immensely impressive fellow! And my cousins partner is Brazilian too (he lives in the USA).

Is EnableGop yours? It sounds the answer.

I have not been able to get a USB High Sierra bootable USB thumb drive to be installed - I get "no command" errors in terminal. I've checked that the file is the big one (5.23 GB), and that it's in the app folder, and that the thumb drive name matches the command - which was copied and pasted from Apple's site.

I tried DosDude's High Sierra install to thumb drive software, and it also failed with the High Sierra install to boot install thumb drive. It did do an install onto a thumb drive with Monterey though using Dosdude's software.

The strange thing is that for Dosdude's Sierra install version of his software, there is no link to Sierra software, where I presume the download comes from his or a non apple server. I am no longer able to download Sierra from the App Store using my MacBook Pro.

I suspect the software I have downloaded from Apple is different to the Mac Pro's. Because the Mac Pro has lost its internet, I have had to download using a MacBook Pro 2017. So I suspect the High Sierra coming down, is somehow different, or perhaps, it's a corrupt file. Which sounds more likely.

There used to be a site which had full versions of Apple OS software ... it appears that site is gone. Apple gets its way I guess ...

If I manage to get a boot thumb drive of Sierra, would that load with my RX580?

I have now installed the original GPU though - the 5770 - and there is an inlet on the new Eizo for it. The rotating screen is very handy for putting on obscure monitor cables!

I am hoping that with the early OS, I will be able to get the internet, and then try to do a recovery install of Monterey, using the original software ...

Tell me about the flash and that software too! You know my email I think as you provided a flash solution for me a few years ago. Although I never used it - I did the flash myself.

I am also a bit concerned as I tried a parameter ram zap, and I recall I will fill up the memory on that chip if its done too often ... over 13 years, I worry about that zapping process!

Cheers and thanks for the reply!

 

[tsialex]

I have not gone to Open core yet, and may not.

You can run Big Sur or Monterey without OpenCore, so, whatever the method of install that you are using, is OpenCore based.

I have thought about a used 7,2, but they aren't perfect either. Or a Mac Studio. And I'll need a reasonable size drive with them, and boy, does Apple charge for its internal storage.

But firstly - thank you for the reply. Hope you are going well. My son is employing a Brazilian who is organising his citizenship. An immensely impressive fellow! And my cousins partner is Brazilian too (he lives in the USA).

Is EnableGop yours? It sounds the answer.

No, it's a work in progress of @Bmju, but for 95% of the users is already working perfectly, just some edge cases to address.

I have not been able to get a USB High Sierra bootable USB thumb drive to be installed - I get "no command" errors in terminal. I've checked that the file is the big one (5.23 GB), and that it's in the app folder, and that the thumb drive name matches the command - which was copied and pasted from Apple's site.

Maybe you are doing some of the steps incorrectly, just follow Apple support article instructions.

I tried DosDude's High Sierra install to thumb drive software, and it also failed with the High Sierra install to boot install thumb drive.

Run createinstallmedia and do it as instructed.

Create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support (UK)

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users who are familiar with entering commands in Terminal.

support.apple.com

It did do an install onto a thumb drive with Monterey though using Dosdude's software.

Not even possible, you are mistaking something here. Dosdude stoped patching unsupported macOS releases with Catalina, years ago, see for yourself:

The strange thing is that for Dosdude's Sierra install version of his software, there is no link to Sierra software, where I presume the download comes from his or a non apple server. I am no longer able to download Sierra from the App Store using my MacBook Pro.

Apple offer official links, this is the support page, go to the "Use the App Store" section.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

I suspect the software I have downloaded from Apple is different to the Mac Pro's. Because the Mac Pro has lost its internet, I have had to download using a MacBook Pro 2017. So I suspect the High Sierra coming down, is somehow different, or perhaps, it's a corrupt file. Which sounds more likely.

Also unlikely, there is no special images or different image for new hardware for the final High Sierra release. High Sierra is set in stone, there is just one 10.13.6 installer.

There used to be a site which had full versions of Apple OS software ... it appears that site is gone. Apple gets its way I guess ...

Get it directly from the mothership. Official. Free. Easy. Simple.

Create a bootable installer for macOS – Apple Support (UK)

You can use a USB flash drive or other secondary volume as a startup disk from which to install the Mac operating system. These steps are primarily for system administrators and other experienced users who are familiar with entering commands in Terminal.

support.apple.com

If I manage to get a boot thumb drive of Sierra, would that load with my RX580?

Not right now, later when you flash the EnableGop image, yes.

For now, remove the RX 580 and install the AppleOEM HD 5770.

I have now installed the original GPU though - the 5770 - and there is an inlet on the new Eizo for it. The rotating screen is very handy for putting on obscure monitor cables!

I am hoping that with the early OS, I will be able to get the internet, and then try to do a recovery install of Monterey, using the original software ...

Install the AppleOEM GPU and install High Sierra, then we can talk about a reconstructed image with EnableGop after you get you Mac Pro working.

Tell me about the flash and that software too! You know my email I think as you provided a flash solution for me a few years ago. Although I never used it - I did the flash myself.

I am also a bit concerned as I tried a parameter ram zap, and I recall I will fill up the memory on that chip if its done too often ... over 13 years, I worry about that zapping process!

Cheers and thanks for the reply!

I'll send you a PM tomorrow.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Look forward to your email info and thanks.

I mean't to type Mojave - DosDude's installed the install thumb drive, but it would not install the High Sierra. I have not tried his High Sierra though.

Apple will not let me download from the App store did allow me to download High Sierra on my MacBook Pro late 2017. But now ( a few days later ) they will not allow it.

Once you could log on with your password and view all one's purchases and downloads. It's not possible on the MacBook to see Mac Pro downloads etc though.

I hope with the re-install, I will get the internet back on my Mac Pro 5,1 and then I should be able to download the appropriate upgrade software for the Mac Pro 5,1. Hopefully.

As far as Apple's support goes, they try hard, but I suspect they are ignorant of the hardware, and just follow AI based screams with questions and check boxes etc.

 

[tsialex]

Look forward to your email info and thanks.

It's 2 AM here, I'll send you a PM tomorrow.

I mean't to type Mojave - DosDude's installed the install thumb drive, but it would not install the High Sierra. I have not tried his High Sierra though.

Ok, but Apple sent the last update to Mojave back in 2021:

Security Update 2021-005 (Mojave) – Apple Support (UK)

Security Update 2021-005 is recommended for all users and improves the security of macOS.

support.apple.com

You waited almost two years to install it? This also does not make sense, all support of of Mojave, even the Security Updates, ended in August 2021. There is nothing more from Apple since then.

 

[tsialex]

Apple will not let me download from the App store did allow me to download High Sierra on my MacBook Pro late 2017. But now ( a few days later ) they will not allow it.

Once you could log on with your password and view all one's purchases and downloads. It's not possible on the MacBook to see Mac Pro downloads etc though.

Sierra and earlier releases are available from Apple servers OUTSIDE the App Store - "Use a web browser" section of the support article - just clean install Sierra to a spare disk instead.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.

support.apple.com

It will be just a way to get you online again and later you can nuke it.

You'll need to open the InstallOS.dmg downloaded from Apple and run the InstallOS.pkg installer for Sierra to go to the Applications folder, after the installer is correctly placed into the Applications folder, you can then run createinstallmedia to make a USB installer of Sierra.

Btw, this is working perfectly fine, just downloaded it, opened, run InstallOS.pkg and Sierra is now on my Applications folder with my MacPro6,1 running 12.6.8.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Ok, but Apple sent the last update to Mojave back in 2021:

Security Update 2021-005 (Mojave) (UK)
You waited almost two years to install it? This also does not make sense, all support of of Mojave, even the Security Updates, ended in August 2021. There is nothing more from Apple since then.

No, I have been running security updates. I do not know why I got one - it certainly appeared to be from Apple.

Perhaps it has been because I have resisted using Two-Factor authentication from Apple. I re-installed a 4K Video receiver, and the Apple TV demanded Two-Factor for it to work again. I suspect when I revoked it the next day, that effected various security issues. Maybe related to iCloud.

What has now happened to me:

Booted on a Carbon Cloner copied SSD drive which was a copy I made of the Mojave SSD I have been using as a boot drive. This copy was made a few days ago.

Booted from that SSD drive (still no internet on that drive, which as said runs Mojave)

Formatted the normal boot Mojave Drive SSD. I presumed it was failing as Disk Utility hung. It's an el cheap Green WD SSD, so I ordered another SSD drive.

Installed a 250 GB SSD into an ATI port (one of the top DVD enclosure spaces), which was an old OS.

Removed the RX 580 Card and put in the 5570.

Put in the install thumb drive with Mojave download (sourced from Dosdude and installed with his software.

Had the (maybe faulty) just erased SSD drive formatted as APFS in one of the 5,1's drive bays.

I left the RAID card in the machine.

I rebooted and an install instruction came up. I approved.

The machine rebooted and the disk drive choices were provided. I selected the Mojave SSD drive.

The machine booted in Mojave, 10.14.6.

The internet is now working.

I also re-booted with the option key down, and there were three boot options showing - the thumb drive, the 250 GB (OS 10.9.1) and the now installed SSD based Mojave.

I chose the 10.9 drive, and it booted fine.

I then restarted and it showed boot options, and I chose the Mojave SSD. It booted, and the screen works fine.

I will now install the 580 metal GPU.

I did not realise the 5770 card runs Mojave though, as I thought it required a metal GPU. It seems it does not.

 

[Melbourne Park]

This is running with the original 5770 GPU. I did not realise it could run in Mojave.

 

[Melbourne Park]

And yes tsialex, looking forward to getting boot choices with the 580 card. It's a recommended Sapphire branded 8 GB version. Thanks again for your efforts, they are fabulous.

 

[Bmju]

No, it's a work in progress of @Bmju, but for 95% of the users is already working perfectly, just some edge cases to address.

It's more than 95% really. I'm not aware of any card which works with OpenCore and macOS, on supported machines, and which doesn't work with EnableGop, except for the Radeon VII (which is usable, but with imperfect gfx with EG, pre-OC).

For some cards, especially AMD, there may be an issue with insufficient free space in VBIOS, but EG can go in firmware instead of VBIOS to resolve that, on MacPro (or on iMac, but modifying main firmware is harder to do there), and I think the iMac guys managed to create enough space one way or another on all known cards there.

 

[tsialex]

It's more than 95% really. I'm not aware of any card which works with OpenCore and macOS, on supported machines, and which doesn't work with EnableGop, except for the Radeon VII (which is usable, but with imperfect gfx with EG, pre-OC).

For some cards, especially AMD, there may be an issue with insufficient free space in VBIOS, but EG can go in firmware instead of VBIOS to resolve that, on MacPro (or on iMac, but modifying main firmware is harder to do there), and I think the iMac guys managed to create enough space one way or another on all known cards there.

I just did a discount for the incompatible MacVidCards flashed GPUs and the pre-UEFI mess, I'll up that for next time. Even with a VII, EnableGop works enough to be useful.

 

[tsialex]

View attachment 2238387

This is running with the original 5770 GPU. I did not realise it could run in Mojave.

After you installed Mojave with a METAL GPU, you can boot it with an AppleOEM non-METAL GPU and even some PC GPUs, but it's now using a fail-safe unaccelerated mode. Also, you can't install Mojave without a METAL supported GPU and it's so slow to run Mojave with a HD 5770 that even using the browser is painful.

Anything that requires 3D and video acceleration will work very incorrectly and Mojave native apps News, Stocks, Voice Memos and Home do not even open.

Btw, I've sent you a PM.

 

[Melbourne Park]

I have Mojave installed and I have cloned that drive to another drive. When I use migration assistant to move files to the newly installed Mojave drive, my internet stops working. I then have to boot from another drive and erase the corrupted drive and clone the "clean" Mojave drive onto the newly erased drive. I have now had to do this this three times.

I have tried partial migration assistant transfers a couple of times but every time, something comes across that is killing my internet, which shows itself working but it doesn't (on both WiFi and ethernet connections).

Can I drag files myself across from another back drive or by using time machine, very selectively? I need the Mac Pro to have the internet ...