How to Reset Mac Pro Memory

A USB keyboard is required to reset your Macintosh memory.

Macintosh computers store hardware-specific information about your system within internal memory modules for easy access by Mac OS X. The Parameter RAM is a form of non-volatile RAM used to store information about your display, video settings, volume, recent errors and DVD region. Resetting your Macintosh memory fixes common software problems, such as distorted audio or video, and is necessary to correctly diagnose system issues.

Things You'll Need

• Mac Pro desktop computer
• Apple USB keyboard

Instructions

1. Close all running applications and click on the "Apple" menu, select "Shut Down" and click the "Shut Down" button when prompted. Wait for your system to power off completely, then unplug the computer from the wall.

2. Unplug all peripherals from the computer, including network cables, USB devices, and audio or video cables. Press and hold the power button for 60 seconds. Plug the peripherals back into the computer, starting with the power adapter.

3. Turn on your computer and immediately hold down the "Command," "Option," "P" and "R" keys simultaneously before the gray screen appears.

4. Continue pressing the keys until the computer reboots and you hear the traditional startup chime. Release the keys when the system begins booting into Mac OS X.

Tips & Warnings

• If problems persist after resetting your Macintosh's memory, contact Apple Computing for advanced troubleshooting assistance.

• The Apple Bluetooth keyboard will not let you reset the PRAM and NVRAM.

References

• Apple: What's stored in PRAM
• Apple: When to reset NVRAM or PRAM

Resources

• Apple: Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM