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MP 7,1 Mac Pro 7,1 will not boot after Tahoe 26.3 update

Fastsavage

Fastsavage

macrumors regular
Original poster
Ok - so stupid me updated my 2019 Mac Pro to 26.3 - and then I walked away, came back in the morning and it won't start up.

Note: I have tried all below with my apple wireless keyboard and then plugged the keyboard in and 1 x windows keyboard just to be sure...

All I have is blank screens
I can hear the fans running and if I twist the handle to remove the case the fans speed up.
I can hear the Time Machine disk (spinner) working.

I tried resetting the NVRAM and SMC - no dings so not sure if it worked and didn't boot up afterwards anyway....

I tried
Booting into recovery mode
Booting into Internet recovery
Booting to Safe Mode

No good same as above.

I removed the TimeMachine disk, my OWC card and tried again - No good.

I connected my MacBook and entered DFU mode OK - Tried Revive, got not error messages and tried again - No good
I then tried restore and got 1/2 way through Install (power light on the Mac Pro was flashing orange) and then it switched off and the install failed -
Same story with Apple Configurator

Tried booting from USB drive - ........ won't even do that


Not sure what else to try - so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Cheers
 
Bigwaff said:
Have you tried Apple 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 support.apple.com
Click to expand...
Yeah - thanks I did - there is no feedback from the screen or the Bong noise so its like its not even getting input from the keyboard although I have tried various ones. I know the monitors work as when doing a DFU restore there was the apple logo and progress bar before it shut off
BUT given I think I am not able to use a keyboard for whatever reason I probably can't get to Diagnostics
 
Last edited:
Further thinking.....

There is no Video or Audio output and not accepting Keyboard input.
I found another keyboard with a Caps Lock light - I thought that should come on when pressing Caps Lock but "NO"

Something screwy going on
 
Apple Configurator is very finicky, restoring via Finder is usually even worse.

Some days you have to try multiple times and when Apple releases new versions and everyone is downloading at the same time is better to just give up and wait for a time without congestion.

There is a thread/several posts from @Regulus67 about the issues.
 
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Ok - Update - Leave it unplugged overnight - try Apple Configurator again - Restore failed But Revive worked

*** EDIT *** Then while reinstalling Tahoe - crashed out and back to previous...
 
Last edited:
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What display is connected to your Mac? I had the same issue, had to disconnect my Thunderbolt Display and use a TV connected on an HDMI port to finish the upgrade.
 
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M-B-D said:
What display is connected to your Mac? I had the same issue, had to disconnect my Thunderbolt Display and use a TV connected on an HDMI port to finish the upgrade.
Click to expand...
Thanks tried that just now plugged an HDMI monitor into the HDMI port on the MPX module - no joy...
The monitor comes on with Apple Logo and Progress bar - then go off (like there is no input) and then I get with Apple Configurator is this lock and nothing further

Am I missing something?

Screenshot 2026-02-14 at 09.35.18.png
 
Fastsavage said:
…. then I get with Apple Configurator is this lock and nothing further
Click to expand...
I have not installed Tahoe on any of my machines, and I have never used the Revive option.

And I am not sure I understand what steps you have made to get there. Seems like you have tried all options, at different occasions. Thus I am unsure if I can be of any assistance in this case.

The lock is normal in Apple Configurator, and says the DFU process has been successfully executed.

At that stage I would disconnect the USB-C cable.
Restart the Mac Pro and using a version of Command + R, to initiate a macOS install.
Then start utilities and format the storage drive.
When format is complete, exit the utility.
Choose install disk and proceed the macOS installation.
 
Regulus67 said:
I have not installed Tahoe on any of my machines, and I have never used the Revive option.

And I am not sure I understand what steps you have made to get there. Seems like you have tried all options, at different occasions. Thus I am unsure if I can be of any assistance in this case.

The lock is normal in Apple Configurator, and says the DFU process has been successfully executed.

At that stage I would disconnect the USB-C cable.
Restart the Mac Pro and using a version of Command + R, to initiate a macOS install.
Then start utilities and format the storage drive.
When format is complete, exit the utility.
Choose install disk and proceed the macOS installation.
Click to expand...
Yeah thanks -

During a restore or revive the installer gets about a third of the way through and then the machine restarts (sometimes) and then nothing.....
If I need to restart it then yes, I use a version of Command-R - however that doesn't work.
I have also tried a Bootable USB - that doesn't work either....

I have tried different keyboards / Monitors / both plugged into different ports

Might need to go to an Apple Repair Shop.....

Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 09.04.20.png


Screenshot 2026-02-16 at 09.05.27.png
 
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Fastsavage said:
Yeah thanks -

During a restore or revive the installer gets about a third of the way through and then the machine restarts (sometimes) and then nothing.....
If I need to restart it then yes, I use a version of Command-R - however that doesn't work.
I have also tried a Bootable USB - that doesn't work either....

I have tried different keyboards / Monitors / both plugged into different ports

Might need to go to an Apple Repair Shop.....
Click to expand...
I had the issue with the installer going a third as well. When using Ethernet cable.
Lately, I used wi-fi only. With good results. As I prefer to start with the original macOS, I use command + shift + option + R.

When I boot after a DFU restore, I hold the keys, until I see the choose wi-fi option.
Release to early, after the chime and Apple logo, it fails.
 
The problems that can pop up during the process of a Restore, and I suspect, Revive, despite doing the steps according to Apple’s guidelines. Makes me suspect they have made adjustments in either the Apple Configurator software, or the BridgeOS.
The fact that the Finder app is used for Apple Silicon DFU revive/restore processes, points to a shift.
The Finder app behaves similar in DFU mode on the iMac Pro, and the Mac Pro 7,1. Although I haven’t had success with it.

Apple Configurator has also changed what macOS version it will accept.
My last Restore failed running macOS Sonoma, without any error message.
Only when I tried running macOS Monterey on my iMac Pro, it said it required macOS Sequoia, or later.
 
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Regulus67 said:
I had the issue with the installer going a third as well. When using Ethernet cable.
Lately, I used wi-fi only. With good results. As I prefer to start with the original macOS, I use command + shift + option + R.

When I boot after a DFU restore, I hold the keys, until I see the choose wi-fi option.
Release to early, after the chime and Apple logo, it fails.
Click to expand...
Thanks @Regulus67 - issue is that it doesn't want to accept keyboard inputs and there is no output to the screen (except during the restore - for about 5 seconds I get the Apple Logo and progress bar) The Progress bar finishes and the screen goes off.

BTW The Power light on the Mac 7,1 goes orange when Restore or Revive.
 
I have not had a screen connected when running the DFU process. Didn’t think it will power on, while installing the BridgeOS. Neither did I pay attention to the Power light. Sorry.

If a Mac Pro is in firmware recovery mode, the status indicator light will rapidly flash amber three times, briefly flash amber three times, then rapidly flash amber three times. This sequence will repeat until the computer is turned off.

Unfortunately it does sound like there is a hardware problem.
I guess you have tried to hold the Option key when booting, to see if the keyboard is registered.

If there is an error with the BridgeOS, the Power light should give the SOS signal, when booting.

Mac Pro (2019) status indicator light behaviour – Apple Support (UK)

Find out more about the different status indicator light patterns that you may see on your Mac Pro.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
 
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Do you happen to have Checkpoint Endpoint Security installed?
Apparently it causes a kernel panic.
 
So, managed to get Internet Recovery going and I don't know why it went - I didn't do anything different...

BUT it failed with error -2005f.

Anyone know what that means?
 
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