Cleaned dust off internals of early 2006 mac pro and now it won't boot..

[downhillski1]

Before I opened it and cleaned it , it was going into safe boot, and even upon disconnecting everything except power and video, it still went into safe boot.

It was then I decided I might as well clean it anyways. I cleaned off all the dust inside, down to the heatsinks, graphics card and everything. Reapplied new thermal grease to the CPUs and put everything back together. Now when I boot it nothing shows up on my screen and the fan for the graphics card runs at full speed, though everything else sounds normal. I booted it with just the power and video cable attached and got the same result.

Specs are as follows:
Early 2006 Mac Pro
2.66 Dual Core Xeons (x2)
6GB Ram
ATI x1900XT graphics card
250GB HDD
Single super drive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Cindori]

what did you clean it with?

[downhillski1]

what did you clean it with?

A dry paper towel. No cleaning liquids.

[The Rominator]

When you mentioned safe boot, was that because you were having trouble to begin with?

The X1900 fails something like that...getting worse until always black.

Don't suppose you have "Screen Sharing" on and a macbook Pro handy?

Have you at least done the "volume button" test to see if it has booted completely?

[Cindori]

or checked internal LEDs

[downhillski1]

When you mentioned safe boot, was that because you were having trouble to begin with?

The X1900 fails something like that...getting worse until always black.

Don't suppose you have "Screen Sharing" on and a macbook Pro handy?

Have you at least done the "volume button" test to see if it has booted completely?

I tried to ARD in from my mbp, and it wouldn't show up on my local network list. I'm not sure why it went into safe boot in the first place. I wasn't having any trouble with it before that.

[downhillski1]

or checked internal LEDs

What should I be looking for on the LEDs?

[name99]

Before I opened it and cleaned it , it was going into safe boot, and even upon disconnecting everything except power and video, it still went into safe boot.

It was then I decided I might as well clean it anyways. I cleaned off all the dust inside, down to the heatsinks, graphics card and everything. Reapplied new thermal grease to the CPUs and put everything back together. Now when I boot it nothing shows up on my screen and the fan for the graphics card runs at full speed, though everything else sounds normal. I booted it with just the power and video cable attached and got the same result.

Specs are as follows:
Early 2006 Mac Pro
2.66 Dual Core Xeons (x2)
6GB Ram
ATI x1900XT graphics card
250GB HDD
Single super drive.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!


You need to be more specific about how far you get.
Let's think. A Mac boot first gives the donnngggg. Then the screen goes grey and an Apple is drawn. Then the spinning cursor/fan thingie then the login window/finder screen.

So how far along this do you get? "blank screen" could mean anything.

In particular, are there reasons to believe that the problem is with the HD? So that booting off a CD fixes things.

Or are there reasons to believe the problem is with the monitor and/or graphics card? So the system boots fully (and can be accessed over the network via VNC or SSH).

Are you sure that the problem is not as simple, and as dumb, as that you slightly unseated the RAM, or the CPUs, or a drive, or the graphics card, or the VRAM on the graphics card, etc etc. It's easy to sometimes knock a part so that it's no longer seated properly, and all you need to do is go through making sure everything is tight, with good contact.

[downhillski1]

You need to be more specific about how far you get.
Let's think. A Mac boot first gives the donnngggg. Then the screen goes grey and an Apple is drawn. Then the spinning cursor/fan thingie then the login window/finder screen.

So how far along this do you get? "blank screen" could mean anything.

In particular, are there reasons to believe that the problem is with the HD? So that booting off a CD fixes things.

Or are there reasons to believe the problem is with the monitor and/or graphics card? So the system boots fully (and can be accessed over the network via VNC or SSH).

Are you sure that the problem is not as simple, and as dumb, as that you slightly unseated the RAM, or the CPUs, or a drive, or the graphics card, or the VRAM on the graphics card, etc etc. It's easy to sometimes knock a part so that it's no longer seated properly, and all you need to do is go through making sure everything is tight, with good contact.


Blank screen as in I don't even get to the startup 'dong' My monitor says auto detecting input, it switches to DVI and then goes to a normal black screen as if a video cable is disconnected, but it isnt. I also checked all cables and made sure everything was seated correctly.

[The Rominator]

try booting with X1900 out.

It seems either card has failed or you didn't put something back right.

To see if machine has booted, you can just hit the volume up and down keys.

If it is running, you will hear their sound.

[downhillski1]

try booting with X1900 out.

It seems either card has failed or you didn't put something back right.

To see if machine has booted, you can just hit the volume up and down keys.

If it is running, you will hear their sound.

Negative. Probably something else. I might just take it to the apple store, but I'd rather not have to drag it there if I can help it.

[AlphaDogg]

Negative. Probably something else. I might just take it to the apple store, but I'd rather not have to drag it there if I can help it.

DO NOT tell them that you were dusting it, if you are under warranty. You probably aren't under warranty, though.

[downhillski1]

DO NOT tell them that you were dusting it, if you are under warranty. You probably aren't under warranty, though.

Unfortunately, I'm not under warranty. It expired last August.

[diazj3]

I recently had the same situation: helped a friend clean his old G5, and it would not boot afterwards... turned out the problem was the graphics card was not connected properly.

Before taking it to Apple Service, try to resettle all RAM modules, battery, CPU, GPU and HDD connections. My wild guess is the problem comes from meddling with the CPU... so double-check it.

Good luck.

[downhillski1]

I recently had the same situation: helped a friend clean his old G5, and it would not boot afterwards... turned out the problem was the graphics card was not connected properly.

Before taking it to Apple Service, try to resettle all RAM modules, battery, CPU, GPU and HDD connections. My wild guess is the problem comes from meddling with the CPU... so double-check it.

Good luck.


Yeah I was thinking it could have been that too but I reseated everything except the processors and tried the gfx card in a different slot and still nothing. Oh well..

[WardC]

You could have bricked it when you applied the thermal grease. You have to be extra careful to make sure it DOES NOT CONTACT any part of your actual processor, or the whole system might not POST. This could be why you aren't even getting a "dong" when you try to boot. You could have shorted one of the processors.

[downhillski1]

You could have bricked it when you applied the thermal grease. You have to be extra careful to make sure it DOES NOT CONTACT any part of your actual processor, or the whole system might not POST. This could be why you aren't even getting a "dong" when you try to boot. You could have shorted one of the processors.

Is the top of the processor and the holder conductive? I used non conductive thermal grease though. I don't think any of it came in contact when I reapplied it but I don't know for sure.

[AlphaDogg]

I am interested in how this ends! Keep us posted! IMHO, you might need a new MP. But, if you do need a new MP, wait for the 2010 MP's or 2011, idk when it will be released :confused:;), but thats Apple for ya :apple::D

[downhillski1]

I am interested in how this ends! Keep us posted! IMHO, you might need a new MP. But, if you do need a new MP, wait for the 2010 MP's or 2011, idk when it will be released :confused:;), but thats Apple for ya :apple::D

I definitely will...I have an appointment at the genius bar on Monday. And if I do need a new one, I'll wait for the new MP. Or use the money for some more photo gear instead as I also have a new MBP (one week old).

Thanks for the help guys!

[AlphaDogg]

I definitely will...I have an appointment at the genius bar on Monday. And if I do need a new one, I'll wait for the new MP. Or use the money for some more photo gear instead as I also have a new MBP (one week old).

Thanks for the help guys!

If you already have a MBP, sell the MP as "as is-for parts" and save the money for hobbies, such as photography. I support photography hobbies, as it does not just benefit you, but it also benefits all of the people viewing the photographs (on sites like flickr, etc...). My cousin is a great photographer (IMHO), and you should check out his flickr. Link to his flickr is here. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craighalp/)

[666sheep]

Check CPU heatsinks thermal sensor cables and/or reseat them.

[AlphaDogg]

Unfortunately, I'm not under warranty. It expired last August.

In this case, explain to them exactly what you did, in great detail.

[gaspra]

Reapplied new thermal grease to the CPUs and put everything back together.

Usually the thermal grease becomes more and more efficient with time going on. It gets hardened and seals the gap between heatsink and CPU. Unless you have a good reason for it (like change a new heatsink or upgrade CPU), it's better not to reapply the thermal grease.

[flatfoot]

Check CPU heatsinks thermal sensor cables and/or reseat them.

+1

Maybe you just forgot to reseat the senor cables.

[AlphaDogg]

Usually the thermal grease becomes more and more efficient with time going on. It gets hardened and seals the gap between heatsink and CPU. Unless you have a good reason for it (like change a new heatsink or upgrade CPU), it's better not to reapply the thermal grease.

Except when the thermal paste dries out. Then, it can damage the CPU, because of the heat.

[Spacedust]

Check diagnostics LED's. That's the first rule !

Press RESET button on the logic board (upper right corner).

[deanburchell]

I recently had some system freezing issues, deduced it was a video problem — assumed it was software only to find the air channels in the GeForce 8800 card I was using was completely clogged with dust. I have to remove the cover from the video card to find this. I'm not sure how the X1900 is designed to know if this is something to check.

[downhillski1]

Good news - Went to the genius bar today and they thought it might be a failed logic board or gfx card, so they are going to replace them. Even though it is out of warranty, they said it would be covered unless they find major damage somewhere else.

[downhillski1]

Hey guys, I know some of you were wondering what was wrong with it and it turned out to be the logic board. Even though I didn't have apple care on it, and my original warranty expired in mid July of 2007, apple covered it for free, which saved me $631. Thanks for all your help!

[sboerup]

Wow, now that's a great device story and a company that I don't mind giving my monies to!