MP 6,1 MacPro 6,1 Trashcan crashes after ~10 seconds

[hbanko]

Hi Guys,

I picked up a free 2013 Trashcan MacPro with an issue.

The owner reported having random crashes and after reinstalling OSX to be pretty much in a reboot loop.

Well, the installation pops up after turning it on with the country selection. You can make it to the WiFi section (and past that if you are lucky) and it goes black screen. Then comes up with the crash message in the 28 different languages and it all starts again. Also just leaving it for 10+ seconds on the country selection will lead to the same result.

Only basic things have been tried so far. I have dust cleaned it (removed fan - was quite a lot in it) and checked the screws from the power rails to the internal cards to be tight. They are fine.

Anything else worth trying?

 

[Bigwaff]

Run hardware diagnostics

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

Apple Diagnostics, formerly known as Apple Hardware Test, can check your Mac for hardware issues.

support.apple.com

Try boot into internet recovery

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac

Learn how to use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac.

support.apple.com

Can be flaky over WiFi. Recommend use Ethernet wired cable.

 

[macguru9999]

Its probably a motherboard fault .... i had one it was the board the ram plugs into and it did not go away until this board was changed. I dont think its worth fixing nowadays, i was lucky and i had 2 machines for parts that i could combine... one had a bad cpu, the other had a bad mobo as i said.

 

[krakman]

check for dodgy Ram module....

Remove all RAM Dimms, reinstall 1 DIMM try to start the computer. repeat for each DIMM to eliminate possible bad DIMM. it could just be corrosion on the metal contacts.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

Which System? Which Firmware?

I think there was a crash problem with a special Firmware and Montery. Did you test an other System?

Perhaps a faulty SSD. Did you test an external drive?

Did it also crash in the boot menu (press alt at boot) after 10 seconds?

More infos, please.

 

[hbanko]

Thanks Guys, great suggeststions

@TzunamiOSX
It can stay in the boot menu forever! No reboot after 10 seconds here. I dont know about firwmare or the software (OSX) version but I assume he tried an internet recovery.

I've got this little NVMe adapter bought for a MacBook upgrade and an M.2 SSD. Should that work in these machines?

 

[TzunamiOSX]

Thanks Guys, great suggeststions

@TzunamiOSX
It can stay in the boot menu forever! No reboot after 10 seconds here. I dont know about firwmare or the software (OSX) version but I assume he tried an internet recovery.

I've got this little NVMe adapter bought for a MacBook upgrade and an M.2 SSD. Should that work in these machines?

If this MacBook is from the years 2013-2015, then you can use the adapter.

If you have a working Mac and a USB Stick with 16 GB or more, make a bootstick with Big Sur and install and test this System.

All links to Apples server can be found here:

macOS Big Sur Full Installer Database. Download Directly from Apple!

You can now download Beta & Final versions of macOS Big Sur 11 my new database! Every available version of Big Sur listed for quick download!

mrmacintosh.com

Command to make a bootable stick. MyVolume must be replaced by the name of the USB-Stick

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

 

[hbanko]

ok, I reinstalled the system via internet recovery to a new SSD. The system that was installed this way was Monterey.

No issues throughout the installation but after I would end up in close to the same. Instead of blackscreen and reboot, it just freezes after 10+ seconds.

I managed to create a user this time but there is not enough time to completely login. I see the problem report popping up (which I would love to look at) but the time is up before I get to open it.

Next thing I did was removing RAM sticks. Only left in and also swapped that out with another from the stack. Same.

So I gave Apple Diagnostics a shot (never used before) and it completes the diagnistics with "no issues found".

 

[macguru9999]

ok, I reinstalled the system via internet recovery to a new SSD. The system that was installed this way was Monterey.

No issues throughout the installation but after I would end up in close to the same. Instead of blackscreen and reboot, it just freezes after 10+ seconds.

I managed to create a user this time but there is not enough time to completely login. I see the problem report popping up (which I would love to look at) but the time is up before I get to open it.

Next thing I did was removing RAM sticks. Only left in and also swapped that out with another from the stack. Same.

So I gave Apple Diagnostics a shot (never used before) and it completes the diagnistics with "no issues found".

motherboard

 

[krakman]

So I gave Apple Diagnostics a shot (never used before) and it completes the diagnistics with "no issues found".

It can stay in the boot menu forever!

So you can install an OS, which completes and takes a good 20 mins of up time.

You can run Apple diagnostics and that completes.

The boot menu works.

But when you try to set up a user account it crashes?

You can make it to the WiFi section (and past that if you are lucky) and it goes black screen

Wifi works because how else would you download the fresh OS? Did you use an ethernet cable?

Have you done the basic NVRAM reset?

Start the computer and hold cmd+alt+P+R on the keyboard (best use a usb keyboard), the computer will restart.

A deep NVRAM clean can be done if you hold the keys and allow the computer to restart 5 times in a row.

Check the Real time clock battery. Unfortunately you have to take the computer apart to replace it.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

ok, I reinstalled the system via internet recovery to a new SSD. The system that was installed this way was Monterey.

No issues throughout the installation but after I would end up in close to the same. Instead of blackscreen and reboot, it just freezes after 10+ seconds.

I managed to create a user this time but there is not enough time to completely login. I see the problem report popping up (which I would love to look at) but the time is up before I get to open it.

Next thing I did was removing RAM sticks. Only left in and also swapped that out with another from the stack. Same.

So I gave Apple Diagnostics a shot (never used before) and it completes the diagnistics with "no issues found".

You are wasting your lifetime.

First software, then hardware. Make a Big Sur Stick and stop using internet recovery!

 

[tsialex]

MacPro6,1 ASD 3s159 sometimes works better than Apple Diagnostics, did you tried it?

Also, go old school and try to install Mavericks instead - install back the factory AppleOEM AHCI SSD, no 3rd party NVMe support with anything earlier than Sierra - maybe you can find what is really causing the freezes.

If you get it booting, check the BootROM/SystemFirmware version.

 

[macguru9999]

If its what I said, a misc mobo fault, then there is a good chance a software diagnostic wont find it anyways. as i said, i cannibalised 2 machines to fix mine, you have to be very determined and i am not sure its worth it anymore, for that model...

 

[hbanko]

Hi Guys,

So following the advice I put back in the original SSD and made a Big Sur USB stick.

After installing Big Sur I was able to create a user and download Google Chrome. Opening Chrome immediately froze the Mac again. Booting it now I'll end up with an open Google Chrome instantly freezing it straight after login.

Guess I can bypass the old session with holding shift to check the Firmware?

 

[hbanko]

Ok. Here is the firmware version: 481.0.0.0.0

Looking at the crash report as well I can see the AMDRadeonX4000 kext in the top quarter of the report coming up a few times.

My bet is that it is the GFX card that is to blame for this behaviour. If true I guess I am screwed anyway. Don't have another parts machine or source for a replacement.

I got a hot air rework station and some experience with surface mount components. But my main experience is with older gear with good old through hole components.

All I can do is a reflow at best. For reballing I do not have equipment.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

You need a tool that show you the temps of the gpus. Perhaps it is only a thermal paste problem, perhaps the gpu is damaged. Time to test.

 

[hbanko]

Good point, I'll install iStat Menus today and look at the temps.