MP will not start (almost). Any advice?

gxgn · Nov 23, 2012, 08:05 AM

Hi, I have a 2009 2.8 quad MP, 16GB. For the last 3-5 months my computer is very reluctant to start.

I have to press the start button once, keep it pressed a bit, hear a little click noise, release the button, press it again and keep it a bit longer and then it will start.

It doesn't matter if it's a cold start or a wake up from sleep - same issue.
I did try to reset the NVram, SMC, unplug etc. It doesn't work.

Has anyone else seen this issue?

thanks
George

FrancoisC · Nov 23, 2012, 08:32 AM

Sound a lot like a power supply failure.

Loa · Nov 23, 2012, 11:52 AM

Hello,

I agree: power supply. Can you take one from another Mac Pro to test? (not an easy thing to switch, but cheaper than bringing it to an Apple Store)

Loa

gxgn · Nov 23, 2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loa

Hello,

I agree: power supply. Can you take one from another Mac Pro to test? (not an easy thing to switch, but cheaper than bringing it to an Apple Store)

Loa

I wish I had a way to test it. I don't know anyone else with a MP and I live pretty far from the store.

DanielCoffey · Nov 24, 2012, 06:59 AM

Excuse me if I am mistaken, but can some Mac Pros boot without a graphics card? I know you can't use the machine when it is running "headless" but it would reduce the load on the power supply significantly and be useful as a test.

Disconnect any non-boot drives and take out the graphics card temporarily and then see if it starts up and shuts down more reliably. Then put the graphics card back in and see if there is a difference.

Is this a case where the Apple Hardware Test would be useful once the machine has actually booted?

Details : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509?v...S&locale=en_US

El Awesome · Nov 24, 2012, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielCoffey

Excuse me if I am mistaken, but can some Mac Pros boot without a graphics card? I know you can't use the machine when it is running "headless" but it would reduce the load on the power supply significantly and be useful as a test.

Disconnect any non-boot drives and take out the graphics card temporarily and then see if it starts up and shuts down more reliably. Then put the graphics card back in and see if there is a difference.

Is this a case where the Apple Hardware Test would be useful once the machine has actually booted?

Details : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509?v...S&locale=en_US

You can actually use another device to Remote-control the GPU-less Mac Pro to check if it works.

DanielCoffey · Nov 24, 2012, 07:21 AM

Replacement PSU for the Early-2009 seems to cost about £180 plus shipping on the UK eBay site and there are vids around to show removal.

Since you are out of warranty, that would be one option. The other is to make a non-AppleCare appointment in a major Apple Store and ask for a quote.

bax2003 · Nov 24, 2012, 07:22 AM

Thread about Mac Pro without video card:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1004618

About click noise - dead power supply.

Nov 23, 2012, 08:05 AM	#1
gxgn macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011	MP will not start (almost). Any advice? Hi, I have a 2009 2.8 quad MP, 16GB. For the last 3-5 months my computer is very reluctant to start. I have to press the start button once, keep it pressed a bit, hear a little click noise, release the button, press it again and keep it a bit longer and then it will start. It doesn't matter if it's a cold start or a wake up from sleep - same issue. I did try to reset the NVram, SMC, unplug etc. It doesn't work. Has anyone else seen this issue? thanks George
	0

Nov 23, 2012, 08:32 AM	#2
FrancoisC macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal, Qc	Sound a lot like a power supply failure. __________________ 27' iMac late 2012, 3,2GHz + GTX 680, 16GB, Intel 320 SSD (600GB)
	0

Nov 24, 2012, 06:59 AM	#5
DanielCoffey macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK	Excuse me if I am mistaken, but can some Mac Pros boot without a graphics card? I know you can't use the machine when it is running "headless" but it would reduce the load on the power supply significantly and be useful as a test. Disconnect any non-boot drives and take out the graphics card temporarily and then see if it starts up and shuts down more reliably. Then put the graphics card back in and see if there is a difference. Is this a case where the Apple Hardware Test would be useful once the machine has actually booted? Details : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509?v...S&locale=en_US __________________ MacPro 5,1: 6 x 3.33 GHz / 12 GB RAM / AMD 7950 3Gb / 120Gb SSD, 240Gb SSD, 500Gb HDD / ACD 27" / APC SMT1000I iPhone 5: 32Gb White / O2 3G / TwigCase Bamboo / BodyGuardz Pure
	0

Nov 24, 2012, 07:21 AM	#7
DanielCoffey macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK	Replacement PSU for the Early-2009 seems to cost about £180 plus shipping on the UK eBay site and there are vids around to show removal. Since you are out of warranty, that would be one option. The other is to make a non-AppleCare appointment in a major Apple Store and ask for a quote. __________________ MacPro 5,1: 6 x 3.33 GHz / 12 GB RAM / AMD 7950 3Gb / 120Gb SSD, 240Gb SSD, 500Gb HDD / ACD 27" / APC SMT1000I iPhone 5: 32Gb White / O2 3G / TwigCase Bamboo / BodyGuardz Pure
	0

Nov 24, 2012, 07:22 AM	#8
bax2003 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Belgrade, Serbia	Thread about Mac Pro without video card: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1004618 About click noise - dead power supply. __________________ Mac Pro (mid 2010 8-core), Power Mac G5 Quad and Power Mac G4 MDD (1.42 GHz FW800) iPad mini 16GB WiFi and iPhone 4 32GB
	0

Nov 23, 2012, 11:52 AM	#3
Loa macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Québec	Hello, I agree: power supply. Can you take one from another Mac Pro to test? (not an easy thing to switch, but cheaper than bringing it to an Apple Store) Loa
	0

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