PC fettling and repairs thread

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Location
Cheshire
working a treat! new samsung evo 500gb ssd six times quicker than 128gb HP junk i took out, luckily already got 8gb of RAM so feels proper snappy :okay:
 

MontyVeda

a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
My laptop has started not opening tabs
Well, when I close it down, I leave the most used ones open (NLS/Geograph/Bing-Maps)

Now, when I restart it, they've been closed/not appearing
I've not changed any settings
What do I look at?
Thanks

are they browser tabs?
If so it might be the browser rather than the laptop or your settings.

you could pin the tabs you frequently use.
 
Location
Cheshire
My laptop has started not opening tabs
Well, when I close it down, I leave the most used ones open (NLS/Geograph/Bing-Maps)

Now, when I restart it, they've been closed/not appearing
I've not changed any settings
What do I look at?
Thanks

Maybe try in 'Sleep' when you shut down? Not sure if closing the lid does the same thing.
 

Dadam

Über Member
Location
SW Leeds
@MontyVeda
well site that are open, so I guess 'browser tabs'
Sites will be open in a web browser such as Chrome or Firefox (on multiple platforms), Edge (if on Windows), Safari (if on Mac or iPad).
It will be a setting in the browser and it may have changed in a new update. For instance in Chrome on Mac (what I'm using at the moment) you click on the 3 dots at the side, select Settings then On start-up and there are 3 options: Open the new tab page, Continue where you left off, and Open a specific page or set of pages. Continue where you left off re-opens the tabs you had open when you last closed the browser.
Most browsers have similar options.

Another possible explanation is that if you have a bunch of tabs open in your main window and for some reason you view a site in a tab in a different window, but close that second window last, it will remember the tab(s) in the one you last closed, and not all the ones you want to keep in the main window. This can be annoying if you've forgotten about the other window when you shut down.
 

pubrunner

Legendary Member
Morning, All.

This might be an obscure question, but please stick with me.

It's probably heresy to some, but via DVD, I've just installed Windows 10 on my (2009) Mac Pro 4.1 A1289 (and I soon hope to install Windows 11).

Given that Windows is the sole operating system that's installed, will I still face the same constraints that I'd have with an Apple OS, with regard to upgrading hardware - eg. better PCIE Graphics card etc. In other words, when putting in a better graphics card with Windows on the Mac Pro, do I 'have' to have a "Metal" compatible graphics card that would be required for a graphics upgrade with a Mac OS ?

Likewise, with Windows, can I just make a straight replacement of the CPUs ? (I'm also looking to fit two Xeon X5675 cpus).

I'd really appreciate any recommendations regarding upgrades (especially graphics cards/ram) that I can make on a Mac Pro under Windows 10/11 - I'll certainly be going for a SSD PCIe card.

Thank you for any suggestions.
 

StuAff

Silencing his legs regularly
Location
Portsmouth
Morning, All.

This might be an obscure question, but please stick with me.

It's probably heresy to some, but via DVD, I've just installed Windows 10 on my (2009) Mac Pro 4.1 A1289 (and I soon hope to install Windows 11).

Given that Windows is the sole operating system that's installed, will I still face the same constraints that I'd have with an Apple OS, with regard to upgrading hardware - eg. better PCIE Graphics card etc. In other words, when putting in a better graphics card with Windows on the Mac Pro, do I 'have' to have a "Metal" compatible graphics card that would be required for a graphics upgrade with a Mac OS ?

Likewise, with Windows, can I just make a straight replacement of the CPUs ? (I'm also looking to fit two Xeon X5675 cpus).

I'd really appreciate any recommendations regarding upgrades (especially graphics cards/ram) that I can make on a Mac Pro under Windows 10/11 - I'll certainly be going for a SSD PCIe card.

Thank you for any suggestions.

I see you've posted over on macrumors, which is probably the best place, but since I'm here....

No, you don't need a card with Mac firmware and/or Metal support if you're only running Windows. So, yes, an RTX5090 (etc) will work if you can power it safely. If you leave the GT120 in and attached to a monitor you'll still be able to see the boot screen, on that monitor. Regardless of OS, you'll only get a working display from the new card when the drivers in the OS load. This is a Mac firmware thing not a Mac OS (or Windows) thing. For a boot screen, you need to use OpenCore or get a card with Mac firmware- so AMD only (unless you want to go to a GTX900 series card). RX580 probably still the best bang for the buck.


CPUs: Any Xeon of the same series will work. In a 4,1 they have to be delidded (integrated heat spreader removed). Dual processor trays have to have X-series Xeons, single processor models will work with W or X. I have an X5690 in my 5,1. Make sure the firmware is flashed to 5,1- six-core chips won't work in an unflashed 4,1, and the flash will mean the RAM works at 1333mhz rather than 1066 (with compatible CPUs).

Best one-stop shop for hints and tips is Greg Gant's guide here.
 

pubrunner

Legendary Member
No, you don't need a card with Mac firmware and/or Metal support if you're only running Windows. So, yes, an RTX5090 (etc) will work if you can power it safely. If you leave the GT120 in and attached to a monitor you'll still be able to see the boot screen, on that monitor. Regardless of OS, you'll only get a working display from the new card when the drivers in the OS load. This is a Mac firmware thing not a Mac OS (or Windows) thing. For a boot screen, you need to use OpenCore or get a card with Mac firmware- so AMD only (unless you want to go to a GTX900 series card). RX580 probably still the best bang for the buck.

First, thank you for a detailed and very helpful reply - it'll surely help me to make some forward progress.

The graphics card on mine, is the original Nvidia Geforce GT 120 512mb and I'd like to upgrade it, given that I've just been gifted a very nice 32" gaming monitor from my son. Thank you for the suggestion of an RX580 - they look ideal and would just be Plug & Play,

CPUs: Any Xeon of the same series will work. In a 4,1 they have to be delidded (integrated heat spreader removed). Dual processor trays have to have X-series Xeons, single processor models will work with W or X. I have an X5690 in my 5,1. Make sure the firmware is flashed to 5,1- six-core chips won't work in an unflashed 4,1, and the flash will mean the RAM works at 1333mhz rather than 1066 (with compatible CPUs).

I understand the need for the CPU to be de-lidded - I understand that it's quite a 'fiddly' job to accomplish. I'm looking to install a couple of X5675 CPUs - if all goes to plan.

The one thing of which I'm uncertain, is how to flash the firmware to 5.1 ? The guidance that I've seen on various forums, is to download the required Mac Pro firmware tools - but surely, those files won't work in Windows ? {It seems that I've made it difficult for myself, by installing Windows only - I can't find any user guides which relate to this scenario}.

As you will have gathered, I'm not at all familiar with Mac Pros, but I'm very impressed with it's modular nature and heavyweight construction. By comparison, the PCs that I've had, have been very 'flimsy' - my current GMKtec is tiny, yet very powerful, but it offers no scope for 'tinkering'. I'm really enjoying the process of learning about the Mac Pros and looking into components which will improve it.

Hopefully, I'll find some use for it, when the upgrades have all been completed - my missus doesn't even know I've got the Mac Pro . . . she'll find out about it eventually, because as you'll appreciate, it's not easy to hide away.

Out of interest, do you have a dual-boot system ? If so, how do you find Windows - does it run well ?

Thank you, once again, for such a prompt and helpful reply - appreciated.
 
Last edited:

StuAff

Silencing his legs regularly
Location
Portsmouth
First, thank you for a detailed and very helpful reply - it'll surely help me to make some forward progress.

The graphics card on mine, is the original Nvidia Geforce GT 120 512mb and I'd like to upgrade it, given that I've just been gifted a very nice 32" gaming monitor from my son.



I understand the need for the CPU to be de-lidded - I understand that it's quite a 'fiddly' job to accomplish. I'm looking to install a couple of X5675 CPUs - if all goes to plan.

The one thing of which I'm uncertain, is how to flash the firmware to 5.1 ? The guidance that I've seen on various forums, is to download the required Mac Pro firmware tools - but surely, those files won't work in Windows ? {It seems that I've made it difficult for myself, by installing Windows only - I can't find any user guides which relate to this scenario}.

As you will have gathered, I'm not at all familiar with Mac Pros, but I'm very impressed with it's modular nature and heavyweight construction. By comparison, the PCs that I've had, have been very 'flimsy' - my current GMKtec is tiny, yet very powerful, but it offers no scope for 'tinkering'. I'm really enjoying the process of learning about the Mac Pros and looking into components which will improve it.

Hopefully, I'll find some use for it, when the upgrades have all been completed - my missus doesn't even know I've got the Mac Pro . . . she'll find out about it eventually, because as you'll appreciate, it's not easy to hide away.

Out of interest, do you have a dual-boot system ? If so, how do you find Windows - does it run well ?

Thank you, once again, for such a prompt and helpful reply - appreciated.

https://thehouseofmoth.com/turning-a-2009-41-mac-pro-into-a-2010-2012-51-mac-pro-2021-edition/ is up to date. The download links work. You'll need a Mac OS version installed to run the firmware upgrade tool, but, yes, you can set up a Mac OS installer from Windows. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com...te-a-macos-bootable-usb-on-windows-10/4235083

Been dual-booting since 2006, and the 5,1 has Win 10 on it. I've only booted the thing- occasionally- into Windows, since I got this MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, and much faster for most things) in January 2023. It works very well- C: drive is a dedicated SSD in one of the drive bays, and I added another SSD for the Steam & Epic Game Store library. NVMe Windows install is possible if you use OpenCore. Don't run Windows off an HD (unless it's 7 or older...), it's like wading through treacle. Win 11 can work, see https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/windows-11-on-mac-pro-5-1.2356603/
 

pubrunner

Legendary Member
https://thehouseofmoth.com/turning-a-2009-41-mac-pro-into-a-2010-2012-51-mac-pro-2021-edition/ is up to date. The download links work. You'll need a Mac OS version installed to run the firmware upgrade tool, but, yes, you can set up a Mac OS installer from Windows. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com...te-a-macos-bootable-usb-on-windows-10/4235083

Been dual-booting since 2006, and the 5,1 has Win 10 on it. I've only booted the thing- occasionally- into Windows, since I got this MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, and much faster for most things) in January 2023. It works very well- C: drive is a dedicated SSD in one of the drive bays, and I added another SSD for the Steam & Epic Game Store library. NVMe Windows install is possible if you use OpenCore. Don't run Windows off an HD (unless it's 7 or older...), it's like wading through treacle. Win 11 can work, see https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/windows-11-on-mac-pro-5-1.2356603/

That's great help - thank you so much; you've provided some really good links which tell me how to go about updating the firmware - it should be plain sailing from now.
 
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