Issues with Mac Pro: red LED on RAM, reboot...
fabbaf
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fabbaf Posted messages 58 Status Member -
Hello,
I just recovered a Mac Pro 2.66 GHz, 2x512MB RAM (upgraded with 4 sticks of 1GB), GeForce 7300GT, originally 250GB HDD (upgraded with 2 1TB HDDs).
It wouldn’t start. I took it to the Genius bar where they said one of the 512MB sticks was causing issues and that it would work better once removed.
I tested it once I got home, and it indeed played the famous JM Jarre sound at startup.
However, after a certain loading time on the white screen with the Apple logo, the HDD suddenly slows down and the computer reboots before I even see the desktop.
On the lower RAM riser (B), the LED for the second RAM stick was lit before I removed the RAM. Out of curiosity, I then put another RAM stick in its place. Again, a red light appeared, in a different position!
I tried several configurations but couldn’t pinpoint which stick or slot wasn’t working. Eventually, I managed to install all the sticks without any lights coming on, except during startup and shutdown (all LEDs from both racks).
Is this normal?
In any case, the computer continued to reboot constantly (in the end, Jarre is less enjoyable).
I then tried removing all the HDDs and plugged in an old HDD from a previous Mac Pro that I knew was working and had the system installed.
At this point, the computer finally started!
I tried connecting the other HDDs one by one, and for all of them, the computer started normally, even with the original HDD that was causing reboots.
Could it be because it’s set as a slave?
And if so, do I need to reformat my HDD?
And if yes, how do I reinstall OS X 10.5 (without a CD, knowing it’s properly installed on the troubleshooting HDD)?
One last important detail: in "About This Mac," all the 1GB riser is not recognized, while both 512MB sticks are recognized, although diagnosed as dead...
Finally, if I should only use 4 sticks, is it better to put them all in one riser? If yes, which one, A or B? And if it’s better to do 2-2, does it matter where they are placed in the riser?
Thanks in any case for your valuable help and I’m really sorry for this lengthy topic :)
Have a good evening!
Configuration: Mac OS X Lion (10.7.5) / Chrome 23.0.1271.101
I just recovered a Mac Pro 2.66 GHz, 2x512MB RAM (upgraded with 4 sticks of 1GB), GeForce 7300GT, originally 250GB HDD (upgraded with 2 1TB HDDs).
It wouldn’t start. I took it to the Genius bar where they said one of the 512MB sticks was causing issues and that it would work better once removed.
I tested it once I got home, and it indeed played the famous JM Jarre sound at startup.
However, after a certain loading time on the white screen with the Apple logo, the HDD suddenly slows down and the computer reboots before I even see the desktop.
On the lower RAM riser (B), the LED for the second RAM stick was lit before I removed the RAM. Out of curiosity, I then put another RAM stick in its place. Again, a red light appeared, in a different position!
I tried several configurations but couldn’t pinpoint which stick or slot wasn’t working. Eventually, I managed to install all the sticks without any lights coming on, except during startup and shutdown (all LEDs from both racks).
Is this normal?
In any case, the computer continued to reboot constantly (in the end, Jarre is less enjoyable).
I then tried removing all the HDDs and plugged in an old HDD from a previous Mac Pro that I knew was working and had the system installed.
At this point, the computer finally started!
I tried connecting the other HDDs one by one, and for all of them, the computer started normally, even with the original HDD that was causing reboots.
Could it be because it’s set as a slave?
And if so, do I need to reformat my HDD?
And if yes, how do I reinstall OS X 10.5 (without a CD, knowing it’s properly installed on the troubleshooting HDD)?
One last important detail: in "About This Mac," all the 1GB riser is not recognized, while both 512MB sticks are recognized, although diagnosed as dead...
Finally, if I should only use 4 sticks, is it better to put them all in one riser? If yes, which one, A or B? And if it’s better to do 2-2, does it matter where they are placed in the riser?
Thanks in any case for your valuable help and I’m really sorry for this lengthy topic :)
Have a good evening!
Configuration: Mac OS X Lion (10.7.5) / Chrome 23.0.1271.101
2 answers
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Ah! I just tested putting one of the other hard drives in the first position, but actually all are rebooting...
For your information, when I start with the recovery hard drive and the other three as slaves, they all appear on the desktop, but two are locked (I don't have access permissions...).
I don't know if that helps, but there you go...
Thanks again! -
Good evening,
After several other tests, I understood that the RAM sticks are mounted in series and in pairs.
So I definitely have one of my RAM sticks dead, but if it stays plugged in and I put the second 1GB stick that is still working, the Mac turns on and in "About This Mac" the 1GB RAM is recognized but divided across the pair of slots.
I didn't mind that, but after a few restarts, they are no longer recognized at all (after a reboot during the update to 10.5.8).
I would like to know if I can replace the faulty one with a 128MB stick, just to not lose the second 1GB, if I can use pairs of different capacities.
Otherwise, I managed to reinstall 10.5, and after removing the RAM that were rebooting during the update to 10.5.8, now I'm trying the update to Leopard!
I just hope that the reboot issue is indeed caused by the RAM..
Thanks again!