Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MP 1,1-5,1 Mac Pro 3,1 unable to boot from USB

S

SheetLorde

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 17, 2020
21
11
Hi,

I tried everything, but once I select the USB drive and press enter the machine froze.

I connect the same USB drive using SATA adaptor and it works, at this point I believe this is a firmware issue. But USB boot should be supported right?
 
What do you try to boot?

Do Smc and a deep nvram reset (3 times in a row, hold keys pressed for a minute or two until it chimes 4 times)
 
Macschrauber said:
What do you try to boot?

Do Smc and a deep nvram reset (3 times in a row, hold keys pressed for a minute or two until it chimes 4 times)
Click to expand...
I tried everything, Windows Installer/OSX installer/Linux/DOS, nothing works on USB but all works on SATA. I will try reset thanks

Also anything else than HFS or FAT32 won't boot, exFAT won't, my installed Windows with NTFS also won't.
I have to create a FAT32 boot volume to redirect to my NTFS windows volume
 
Last edited:
Which USB ports are you using?
I've heard reports from some people that they have issues booting via USB on the front panel ports but the rear ones work fine.
I've never had that issue personally though.

Also, have you tried more than one USB stick?
 
Ludacrisvp said:
Which USB ports are you using?
I've heard reports from some people that they have issues booting via USB on the front panel ports but the rear ones work fine.
I've never had that issue personally though.

Also, have you tried more than one USB stick?
Click to expand...
I tried both. What's the bootrom version I should be at? Maybe previous owner messed up the bootrom.
 
You could indicate the reason you want to boot from your USB drive so the members here may provide more suggestions on possible solutions. Like if you’re installing an OS or Windows or booting from a bootable OS drive. Unless I’m mistaken, you mentioned FAT32 and EXFat, these formats are not supported in Mac OS for booting. You can only boot from the Firewire and USB 2.0 ports. The Calidigit Pro 2nd Gen model, allows booting but only via the eSATA ports. I have this Caldigit and I can boot via eSATA only.
 
Macschrauber said:
If a Deep nvram reset is not working the TE can try to use the generic firmware mp51.fd from Mojave Full Install as a test run. Just testing, Mac is without identity, no serial number etc.
Click to expand...
Why you are suggesting cross flashing a MP5,1 firmware on a MP3,1??!?!
 
SheetLorde said:
maybe copy the Bootrom from another working 3,1
Click to expand...
Nope. You will be cloning the other Mac and Apple will block both. Never mess with a MP3,1 BootROM, it's the easiest Mac to brick and the most difficult to unbrick because uses two different types of flash memory for the BootROM.
 
I find it highly unlikely to have anything to do with BootROM.
Probably a USB stick that just isn't bootable on a mac, I have a couple that will never boot from on any machine regardless of formatting style or what i'm trying to boot.
 
tsialex said:
Nope. You will be cloning the other Mac and Apple will block both. Never mess with a MP3,1 BootROM, it's the easiest Mac to brick and the most difficult to unbrick because uses two different types of flash memory for the BootROM.
Click to expand...
Cool, I did flashed NVME boot support, works fine. Thanks for the advice, I guess I can live without USB boot, maybe create a boot drive using rufus instead of unetbootin/Bootcamp.
[automerge]1587399608[/automerge]
Ludacrisvp said:
I find it highly unlikely to have anything to do with BootROM.
Probably a USB stick that just isn't bootable on a mac, I have a couple that will never boot from on any machine regardless of formatting style or what i'm trying to boot.
Click to expand...
I tried 4 different USB drive
 
  • Like
Reactions: jmp473
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back