Mac Pro running OS El Capitan refuses to complete startup

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image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Mac Pro running OS El Capitan refuses to complete startup

Mac Pro, 10.11

Posted on Feb 21, 2024 2:07 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,249 points

Feb 27, 2024 4:37 PM in response to image.magic

When I suggested above that you NOT replace like-for-like I wanted to be sure you did not simply replace that old 2600 card with a fixed up version of the same old card, because graphics technology has moved along briskly since the 2600 was a good card.

You can still buy a good Apple-firmware 5770 card for not a lot of money, and it will work better and run much cooler than the original card, because the chips on it are newer technology that runs cooler.

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Aux câbles sometimes come with the new card, but are always re-usable from the old card. they are about 6 inches long and plug into some sockets on the backplane nearby, because the PCIe slots can't provide all the power needed to run most graphics cards.

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Answer 2

Feb 21, 2024 7:54 AM in response to image.magic

The initial "chime" sound is generated in software when your Mac passes the Power-On Self Test. If the chime occurs and/or startup continues, your Mac is working. The screen should light up and draw a blank gray screen. Then on to the Disk Drive.

Accessing the Boot drive:

The solid Apple is not in the Mac's ROM at Cold start. The Apple logo can only appear when it is fetched in the first "blob" of software loaded from a 'magic' place on the boot drive, or re-run after a Restart. Then a whole lot of stuff is initialized, and the progress Bar moves part way across. After a cold start, seeing the solid Apple appear says your drive was able to produce the software that contains the Apple logo.

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the trash on the screen at the same time suggests your graphics card may be failing. if this is the original card, I recommend you not replace like-for-like, as there are much better alternatives available.

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Answer 3

Feb 24, 2024 7:06 AM in response to image.magic

an inexpensive used replacement for your current graphics card would be the Apple-firmware AMD/ATI 5770 card. it supports up to three displays with dual-Link DVI and two Mini-DisplayPort. it requires only one Aux power cable. it is very reasonable for ordinary tasks,

a really cheap used graphics card is the Apple-firmware GT120. it does not require an Aux power cable. It works fine but users report "it's not much of a graphics card."

it is VERY important that any card you buy has Apple/Mac firmware, which supports Boot-up screens for starting and testing your Mac.

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Answer 4

Mar 4, 2024 11:29 AM in response to image.magic

DVI Single link does not use the six center pins (whether present or not) and supports display up to 1920 wide, but not wider.

To simplify, I suggest you cut the disk drive and software out of the equation.

The simplest thing that Mac Pro can do is boot to Startup Manager, whose code is all in ROM. Invoke with the Alt-Option key held at startup.

it will draw a gray screen, then proceed to add ani Icon for each discovered potentially-bootable drive. the picture should stay stable and predictable.

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Answer 5

Mar 6, 2024 7:20 AM in response to image.magic

Alt/Option boot is VERY simple, and its code is all in ROM.

if you don't get a stable screen, the fault is Likely in the graphics card.

Perhaps the card you received was not as good as the seller expected. Sometimes one interface on a card can collapse while other are still working. The seller may not have tested all interfaces. That card may work GREAT with its mini DisplayPort interfaces, but the DVI might not be working.

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Answer 6

Mar 4, 2024 6:38 AM in response to image.magic

do you get ANY activity on the display at all, such as gray [not completely black] screen?

what cables adapters and docks are you using to make the connection to what display?

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Answer 7

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 4, 2024 10:29 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I have two screens; a Mac Studio display and a Dell screen. When I first tried the new graphics card it was with the Studio display - just got continuous chime after chime. With the Dell plugged in and attached, the first time we tried it we got the grey screen and just for a brief second or two the apple logo; which disappeared quickly leaving the blank grey screen. Trying again we got a blank black screen, and when I went back to check to answer your query I tried again with the Dell and got chime after chime after chime :(... The plugs that connect the Dell and the Studio Display are slightly different. In the illustration that I have sent below: the studio display has the configuration of the plug on the RHS top; DVI-D Single Link; the Dell has the configuration immediatly below DVI-D Dual Link. Thank you again for your reply and question.

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Answer 8

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 23, 2024 3:23 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you again. I am very grateful for all of your advice. I purchased another card, fitted it, and this time BINGO! I'm back into the computer. Can't believe it - it is working as it should! The start-up is not seamless; I still get a bit of 'interference' on the screen as the bar under the Apple logo progresses, but not the same as it was, and the start-up process completes even without the alt/option key being held down. I get the El Capitan picture :) and the computer is running smoothly and much quicker than it was... tremendously relieved! Can I ask you one last question? I have been given some advice that I should keep this machine 'away' from the internet - that is not allow it to access my WiFi. Got no real problem with that as I have another computer, but I am wondering why?

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Answer 9

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 22, 2024 6:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you; your reply has really helped, as I had no idea what was failing or happening. This computer is important to me because of a negative scanner that I need to use that works with it... At roughly the point shown in the image, the 'progress' bar stops and the loading of the software fails to complete. I cannot get any further than this. If I replace the graphics card, what would you recommend? Is it the graphics card that determines how the computer can/cannot be upgraded to the latest versions of the OS software? Thank you again for replying.

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Answer 10

image.magic Author

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9 points

Feb 24, 2024 6:21 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I can't get into the menu as I can't get into the computer... this is a Mac Tower; it was built to specific specifications; it has two Hard Drives (RAID array?) I guess I could get inside the case and take a look at what the graphics card is, but I'd have to get some help with that which I can do... I have thought of calling Apple and asking them for the exact specifications as the serial number of the computer is listed as one of my devices in my icloud account. Don't seem to be able to find anything more specific about the device that I can access via the cloud.

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Answer 11

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 24, 2024 6:44 AM in response to image.magic

Apple have given me the following information about the options for the serial number of my machine: Mac Pro (Early 2008) - Technical Specifications: Mac Pro (Early 2008) - Technical Specifications

Thanks again for helping out!

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Answer 12

Feb 24, 2024 7:12 AM in response to image.magic

another way to get (or confirm) computer information on Silver tower Mac Pro models is to "look down its back." From above, you can find a white sticker (facing straight up) on the divider just below the I/O ports, with a cryptic description of your Mac's factory-original features.

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Answer 13

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 27, 2024 1:06 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant; I have found a site that will supply a used refurbished graphics card that is the same as the one in my computer if I send the old one in exchange... I'm thinking however about your comment that this - ATI Radeon HD2600 XT - "is not very much of a graphics card!" Would you recommend that I try to replace it with the ATI 577? When you say it requires an auxiliary power cable - does this mean it has to be plugged in seperately to the rest of the computer? Sorry if my lack of knowledge about these things is on display here...

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Answer 14

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 28, 2024 11:43 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you. Looked up the Apple Firmware 5770 card and have been able to source one to purchase. Thank you for all your advice and help - very much appreciated. Fingers Crossed I can resurrect my Mac Pro Tower!

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Answer 15

image.magic Author

Level 1

9 points

Mar 4, 2024 4:42 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant - have replaced my existing graphics card with the 5770. It came with one Aux cable which was plugged in...the Mac started and I got a chime, but no Apple logo and progress bar. Was wondering if I needed to use another cable? Also the graphics card that was in the machine was a Nividia GeForce. (I can send pics if necessary) Do I need to source some firmware for the 5770? Thank you...

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Mac Pro running OS El Capitan refuses to complete startup

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