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Mid 2012 model, A1278 / 2.5 GHz i5 or 2.9 GHz i7 processor.

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Power Button Not Responding as Normal

Hey Guys,

So I fix computers a lot, but this one has baffled me.

My friend gave me her MacBook Pro that she bought second hand, because the power button doesn’t turn the computer on. First I though the battery could be dead, or the board could have died.

After further diagnostics, I found that if you unplug the battery, plug it back in, press the power button, and then, once you connect the power adapter, it boots up.

So the computer ‘technically’ works completely fine as it should.

My question is, what could be causing this? And are there any hardware fixes I can do to solve this?

Note: I have replaced the thermal paste on the machine, updated the software and replaced the battery already and neither of these solved the issue.

Thanks in advance guys!

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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What you are getting (or doing unknowingly) is exactly the right thing to do a spontaneous restart, Disconnecting the battery and magsafe, doing an SMC reset. Doing it this way you don't have to find the power pads. This does sound very much like a water damaged keyboard. Replace the keyboard and your problem should be solved.

Here's how to do it:

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2010 Keyboard Replacement

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Thanks for the reply :) silly question but why does this mean a water damaged keyboard? Because if I disconnect the battery, and only plug in Magsafe, it doesn’t boot up, so it must be getting some form of signal from the power button? But I will try this, thanks :)

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Bradley it's doesn't HAVE to be a water damaged keyboard, but this is by far the most common cause for keyboard and power button failure.

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Just tried the keyboard replacement and this has worked. Thank you so much. Saved my friends computer

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did you look at the connctor of the power button, how does it feel if you push it. Maybee it had a water damage.

You could try to power it on right at the connector pins with a wire, to see if the button is the issue.

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Button feels normal, and none of the indicators have gone off, so I don’t think it’s water damage. I will try powering it on the board tomorrow when I have access to it again, and will let you know.

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Bradley Mason will be eternally grateful.
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