Apple mac pro server mid 2010 User Manual

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 31 2010-12-06
Resetting the Parameter RAM (PRAM)
To reset PRAM:
1. If the computer is on, turn it off.
2.  Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to 
hold these keys down simultaneously in Step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4.  Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. 
Important: You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 32 2010-12-06
Real Time Clock (RTC) Reset
The Real Time Clock (RTC) is a chip on the backplane board that controls the date and time 
functions of the computer. Resetting the RTC may resolve booting issues.
1. From the Apple menu, choose Shut Down (or if the computer is not responding, hold the 
power button until it turns off ).
2.  Unplug the AC power cord.
3. Remove the battery for at least 20 seconds. You may need to remove a PCI Express card to...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 33 2010-12-06
Minimum Configuration Testing
The following procedure can help you troubleshoot a “No Power” or other startup related 
symptom.
The method gradually builds up the system from a minimum configuration and verifies 
expected behaviors at each step. This approach helps determine which modules function 
together. The goal is to identify which module(s) cause a symptom to recur when they are 
added. This method may also help you discover a...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 34 2010-12-06
2. Attach a known good power cord from a known good AC source to the Mac Pro. 
Note: When connecting the Mac Pro to AC power, verify that the LEDs for OVTMP CPUA and 
OVTMP CPUB briefly flash red (less than 0.5 sec). The LEDs are located under hard drive bay 1 
on the backplane board. If they do not illuminate briefly, there is an issue with either the power 
supply or the backplane board. Generally speaking, power supplies can be...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 35 2010-12-06
a verify step, as you’ve added modules since previous step.
Expected behavior: 
5V STBY LED illuminates, confirming power to the backplane board. If the LED does not 
illuminate, suspect power supply or backplane board failure. 
6. Momentarily jump the SYS_PWR solder pads to turn ON the Mac Pro. 
Expected behavior: 
• Front and rear processor cage fans (and PCIe fan, if installed) should spin slowly
• One red-colored error LED...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 36 2010-12-06
panel board, power button, and cable, instead of jumpering SYS_PWR solder pads.
9. Reconnect internal speaker. Reinstall a processor and heatsink in processor A connector, and 
one known good and compatible Apple memory DIMM in slot 1. 
Notes: 
• The Mac Pro won’t start if you use processor B only on a dual-processor board. Use 
processor A connector.
• Verify no damaged pins on DIMM or processor connectors or mating connector of...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 37 2010-12-06
Notes:
• Verify no damaged PCIe  pins on the video card and mating PCIe connector on backplane 
board.
• Verify no grime or foreign debris is causing contact issues on the video card and mating 
connector on backplane board.
15. Connect AC power cord. Power Mac Pro ON either by PWR_ON solder pads or front panel 
board.
Expected behavior: 
• Listen for sound of hard drive boot.
• Verify good uncorrupted video on display.
Processor...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Take Apart — General Troubleshooting 38 2010-12-06
Dual Processor Board
Troubleshooting CPU Diagnostic LEDs
• Determine if the error LED follows the processor heatsink
• Verify the heatsink is physically undamaged and properly connected to the processor board
• Check that adequate thermal grease is applied, and verify the fan is operating
• For dual processor boards only: determine if the error LED follows the processor by 
swapping processor A and processor B locations.  

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Symptom Charts
 39 2010-12-06
Symptom Charts Overview
Use the following as a general troubleshooting road map for Mac Pro (Mid 2010).
CheckResultAction
1.  Plug known good power source and 
power ON computer. 
Does computer power ON?
YesComputer powers on. Go to step 2.
NoGo to No Power Quick Check.
2.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime (increase 
sound volume and retest, if unsure.)
Connect external DVI or Mini Display 
Port monitor and restart unit. Is video 
observed on the...

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) Symptom Charts  40 2010-12-06
5. √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
Does computer stay ON. Does it sleep 
and wake, and not shutdown?
YesComputer sleeps/wakes and does 
not shut down. Go to step 6.
NoPossible power-related issue. Go 
to Intermittent Shutdown Quick 
Check.
6.  √ Computer powers on
√ Startup sound chime 
√ Video present
√ Boots from Install DVD and drive
√ Reaches the desktop without kernel 
panic/freezes 
√...