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Mid 2006 / Model Number: A1181 / black or white case / 1.83 or 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor

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Powering up without an optical drive

My MacBook (model from late 2006) all of a sudden was not able to boot-up to the login screen. I am not able to even see the apple logo which leads me to believe that one of the main system checks is not performing properly. I was told by an Apple Genius that the problem was the optical drive (as he was able to remove and test the hard drive to verify it was fine - i also tested on a friends MacBook by replacing my hard drive with his and it was fine). So I followed your guide on removing the optical drive. Everything went smoothly. I again tried to boot the machine without the optical drive to no avail. Assuming that the problem is the optical drive, should I be able to boot the machine if I have removed that drive? What I am asking is if I can run my computer without a drive or does it need that in order to reach the login screen? I assume that if it does not need the optical drive to boot, than the problem is something else. Any feedback is much appreciated. Great work on this site, as it has saved me a number of times!

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I realize that there may have been some confusion regarding one of my comments above. The specific line: "I also tested on a friends MacBook by replacing my hard drive with his and it was fine". What was meant here is that I was able to place my hard drive into my friends MacBook and boot-up with no problem (not vice versa). So I can deduce that the Hard Drive isnt the issue, it must be something else. Any other ideas on this? I am almost to the point of taking it to someone to look at just because I don't want to screw anything else up. Do you guys do any work on machines like this or have any suggestions of folks who could help (at a reasonable price) in San Diego or in the online community that I could send my computer to?

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At this point I question whether you optical drive is the problem. Try resetting the SMC on your machine and the PRAM and let us know if that changes anything. Ralph

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379

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not an real simple fix for this one. Tried and error and patience. +

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Unfortunately I get the same result when I try both of these options. The display flickers when I hit the power button initially and I hear fans working, but I do not see anything on the screen nor do I hear a beep or anything when trying to reset the PRAM. The light located on the bottom panel turns on as well and stays on when I turn the computer on, but nothing else happens.

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You shouldn't need the optical drive. Try starting up in Target Mode. Connect the Book to another Mac via firewire and start yours holding down the "T" key. Your hard drive icon should appear on the other Mac. Run disk utilities on it till it runs clear. Then try it on its own.

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I did not suggest that because he said the drive works fine on another computer but its worth a try. Ralph

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When I get a chance to try this I will...do you think cleaning up the disk utilities via another machine may be the fix?

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