Mac Pro shows black screen with white stripes, stops at 40%

I have a 2012/3 MacPro (cylinder shape with the latest possible system) which is now suddenly showing a black screen with some evenly spaced white stripes down the screen. Progress bar gets to about 40% and stops there. Nothing else.


Suggestions or prognosis?

Without yet a service, any idea if the data is retrievable?


cheers 👍

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 3:57 PM

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Posted on Nov 12, 2025 7:17 PM

that does appear to follow the computer, not the display.


try safe mode, as I described above.

Because it does not load the accelerated display drivers, it MIGHT complete startup, and allow you to enable File Sharing or Screen Sharing to another Mac.


if safe mode does not complete startup, on an older machine like the 2013 Mac Pro, you can still invoke Target Disk Mode, which is implemented in the older Mac's ROM, and does not require MacOS to boot up.


Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support




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Nov 12, 2025 7:17 PM in response to attidude

that does appear to follow the computer, not the display.


try safe mode, as I described above.

Because it does not load the accelerated display drivers, it MIGHT complete startup, and allow you to enable File Sharing or Screen Sharing to another Mac.


if safe mode does not complete startup, on an older machine like the 2013 Mac Pro, you can still invoke Target Disk Mode, which is implemented in the older Mac's ROM, and does not require MacOS to boot up.


Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode - Apple Support




Nov 12, 2025 7:22 PM in response to attidude

<< So plugging into a working newer Mac might work, but I still have data on the internal Mac HD. Which could come from Tine-machine? >>


The Internal drive in a 2013 Mac Pro is a proprietary SSD, which will be difficult to move to another enclosure. but if you have Time Machine backups, you don't need the original.


if you have been backing up, a copy of your data is on the Time Machine drive, and could be restored all-at-once to a different Mac, or you could restore individual files or folders.



Nov 12, 2025 4:13 PM in response to attidude

"Mac Pro shows black screen with white stripes, stops at 40%: I have a 2012/3 MacPro (cylinder shape with the latest possible system) which is now suddenly showing a black screen with some evenly spaced white stripes down the screen. Progress bar gets to about 40% and stops there. Nothing else. Suggestions or prognosis? Without yet a service, any idea if the data is retrievable?"

-------


Retrieving Data from a Mac Pro:

Seems your display may be failing. So, do you have access to another external screen, from a monitor to a projector? If so, connect to it, and mirror your screen to it, through use of you keyboard. Try Either of the Following:

  • [Command + F1]
  • [Command + FN + F1]

Nov 12, 2025 6:49 PM in response to attidude

"So plugging into a working newer Mac might work, but I still have data on the internal Mac HD. Which could come from Tine-machine?"

-------


Thanks for clarifying all of that.


Recovering this:

I'm not so certain you could remove the hard drive, but, if you could, purchasing a Hard Drive Toaster may allow you to get this data --if not erased nor failed. From Amazon: hard drive toaster

Nov 12, 2025 6:10 PM in response to TheLittles

Yeah it’s been on a surge protector its whole life. All devices are disconnected. I have/had Time Machine backing up to separate drive.


Seems I can’t even get to select a boot disc?


Can I boot or connect to the Mac HD from another Mac?


looking to anything here…


been so reliable up to now. Working fine one day - next day this. No warning at all.


Sorry about all the questions.. been a while since I had to get into the nitty gritty or restore and recover.


Thanks for help so far…


Nov 12, 2025 6:34 PM in response to TheLittles

Im assuming I need to recover the OS.

OR boot up from somewhere else so I can access my drive ( I only have an older iMac which has its own issues.


You might be right, but I made no config changes or downloads recently (apart from auto Mac system updates).


So plugging into a working newer Mac might work, but I still have data on the internal Mac HD. Which could come from Tine-machine?

And I need to buy / get another Mac ($$$!!)


Nov 13, 2025 7:32 AM in response to attidude

Keep in mid through all of this that you have another copy of your files on your backup drive.


Re-installing MacOS re-writes around 15 GB of data and over 350,000 files.


If you get to the point that you are retrieving files off a damaged drive, you want YOUR FILES, not all of MacOS as well.


if you do need a new Mac, the cheapest Apple-silicon Mac outperforms you old 2013 Mac Pro by a wide margin. Be sure to get minimum 16 GB RAM, preferably more.


good luck!

post back if you get stuck!

Nov 20, 2025 4:46 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi,

well after a few attempts to reinstall the OS from the internet- nothing has changed.

Wgen I reboot to reinstall the OS, I select the wifi and it begins a download. Few minutes later it attempts to restart and I get the same as before - start-up stalls at about 30-40%. Left it there for a day or more at times.

Im officially stumped. 🤔

seems like only a new Mac might be the option (or service)unless anyone has new ideas.

cheers


Mac Pro shows black screen with white stripes, stops at 40%

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