Startup Strangeness

[Rick Cornish]

This morning, when I started up my late-2011 MacPro (Monterey) the startup chime sounded and then repeated continuously. I only got it to stop by unplugging the power cable from the back. After I plugged it back in, it restarted just fine.

It has been taking longer to boot up since I installed a new blade and migrated to Monterey, but I assumed that to be normal because of doubling the internal memory.

I've never experienced this before on any Mac I've owned in the 35 years I've been using them. Anything to be concerned about?

[mikehalloran]

Hardware? How old is that CR2032 battery? It’s a good idea to change every 5 years. Apple uses a BR2032 (available on Amazon) but if you’ve replaced the HHDs with cooler SSDs, there’s no need for the high-heat version. How long has it been since you’ve cleared the dust from the CPU cooling fins?

If it shut down unexpectedly for any reason, the following could be affected: Reset the NV RAM, Do a Safe Boot. Reset the SMC. Reset the Launch Services. Reaffirm the correct drive as the Startup in System Preferences.

[Rick Cornish]

Thanks, as always, Mike!

Hardware? How old is that CR2032 battery? It’s a good idea to change every 5 years.

Hmmm.... Didn't know there was a CR2032 in my Mac Pro. Are you referring to the CMOS battery? I read the PRAM is powered from a capacitor in the late-2011 Mac Pro. If it's the CMOS battery, I just took a look at the instructions at iFixit.com and the tear-down has 31 steps! Not sure I'd be up for that.

How long has it been since you’ve cleared the dust from the CPU cooling fins?

Good call… I cleaned it thoroughly when I swapped-in the new blade.

Oh—and my machine is a late-2013 Mac Pro (trashcan).

[mikehalloran]

Huh?

A 2011 Mac Pro battery takes a few minutes—if that.

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/12 ... ac+pro+3.1

[Rick Cornish]

Hey Mike.... I think I misled you… my Mac Pro is a late-2013 (trashcan).

[mikehalloran]

Hey Mike.... I think I misled you… my Mac Pro is a late-2013 (trashcan).

Yes, the 6.1 does take quite a few steps but the first 11 are just removing the fan. The key is patience and you do need a few Torx drivers. I see that I commented on this 3 years ago.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+Pro+L ... ment/21216

This kit has all of the drivers, tweezers and a spudger
https://smile.amazon.com/Kingsdun-Scre ... ref=sr_1_7

Because of the heat, a 6.1 one should have the BR2032. Not available at the corner drug store but readily available at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BR203 ... ref=sr_1_4

You’ve already exhibited one of the symptoms. As the battery gets worse, there are others including the the GPU acting up. Lots of diagnostic dollars get spent needlessly when the batteries age. There are techs who can get this done in less than an hour — being one-handed, it takes me a little over two.

[bayswater]

I wouldn't worry about the number of steps. But watch the videos and make sure you know just what is going to happen as you do each step. Some of the videos and still shots are not entirely clear at first glance.

I made the mistake of not being entirely clear on just one step when I added ram to the 2018 Mini, and disconnected the light that tells you the Mac is running. It doesn't affect anything important but it would be nice to have that light.

[mikehalloran]

Indeed.

This battery isn’t that hard (40 min to 2 hours) but studying the steps and any videos (I’ve not found one but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist) will tell you if you want to tackle this or not. If not, there are techs and shops that will.


Example:
My 5 year old iPad Pro gets less 5 hours between charges less than half what it did new. Apple checked it out, giving it a clean bill of health but won’t replace the battery ($99) because the battery health is over 80%. Damn. Local shops are quoting $180 part & labor so... I checked and I can pick up a new battery for $50, ok. Then I watched a couple videos where step 1 is baking it to soften the glues and the final is baking again to set the new glues and lots of steps in between requiring two hands and special clamps... Yikes! I’ve concluded that $180 is a bargain and will drop my iPad off tomorrow so I can get it back on Wednesday.

[Rick Cornish]

Hey Mike.... I think I misled you… my Mac Pro is a late-2013 (trashcan).

Yes, the 6.1 does take quite a few steps but the first 11 are just removing the fan. The key is patience and you do need a few Torx drivers. I see that I commented on this 3 years ago.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac+Pro+L ... ment/21216

This kit has all of the drivers, tweezers and a spudger
https://smile.amazon.com/Kingsdun-Scre ... ref=sr_1_7

Because of the heat, a 6.1 one should have the BR2032. Not available at the corner drug store but readily available at Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BR203 ... ref=sr_1_4

You’ve already exhibited one of the symptoms. As the battery gets worse, there are others including the the GPU acting up. Lots of diagnostic dollars get spent needlessly when the batteries age. There are techs who can get this done in less than an hour — being one-handed, it takes me a little over two.

Thanks, Mike. You've encouraged me to take a closer look at this and maybe give it a try. I think I might already have all the tools, left behind by my IT guy at my production company that I closed in 2013.

BTW: Any special instructions on restart? Reset SMC, zap NVRAM, etc.?
The iFixit guide doesn't say.

Thanks (as always) for sharing your experience and words of wisdom.

[Rick Cornish]

I wouldn't worry about the number of steps. But watch the videos and make sure you know just what is going to happen as you do each step. Some of the videos and still shots are not entirely clear at first glance.

I made the mistake of not being entirely clear on just one step when I added ram to the 2018 Mini, and disconnected the light that tells you the Mac is running. It doesn't affect anything important but it would be nice to have that light.

Thanks for the advice, Bayswater. I feel ya'. This is quite a heavy tear-down, but I think I'm up for it.The iFixit instructions seem very clear and the photos are good.

[Rick Cornish]

OK… did the tear-down today. Taking my time, it seemed easy enough… until it was time to remove a little ribbon connector from the I/O board and the socket popped right off the board with the connector.


Briefly considered super-gluing the socket to the board, then found a replacement I/O board on eBay. Hopefully they'll ship today.

Arghhh....

[James Steele]

OK… did the tear-down today. Taking my time, it seemed easy enough… until it was time to remove a little ribbon connector from the I/O board and the socket popped right off the board with the connector.


Briefly considered super-gluing the socket to the board, then found a replacement I/O board on eBay. Hopefully they'll ship today.

Arghhh....

Oh man, I’m sorry Rick. That’s a bummer. If that had happened to me, I’d have made a few utterances that would make hardened criminals blush!! Glad you found a board!

BTW, thanks again for your Beyond Black theme… I enjoy using it so much. I tend to sort of alternate between it (in the evening) and a lighter one during daytime. But it’s great. Thanks!

[Rick Cornish]

BTW, thanks again for your Beyond Black theme… I enjoy using it so much. I tend to sort of alternate between it (in the evening) and a lighter one during daytime. But it’s great. Thanks!

Hey man, glad it's working for ya'. Until I wrecked my Mac Pro today, I've been using it daily as I get started on my album. --Beyond Black all the way--

[bayswater]

OK… did the tear-down today. Taking my time, it seemed easy enough… until it was time to remove a little ribbon connector from the I/O board and the socket popped right off the board with the connector.
Arghhh....

Arghhh indeed. That’s what I did. Except all it did was disconnect the LED that tells you the computer is powered up, so I just live with it.

[Rick Cornish]

That’s what I did. Except all it did was disconnect the LED that tells you the computer is powered up, so I just live with it.

Yep… wish I would've been that "lucky," but you can't fake it without a good connection to the power supply data cable. The good news is, the new board is coming tomorrow and confirmed to be the right one for my machine, so hopefully by this time tomorrow, I'll be back up.