Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Model A1286. Released February 2011 / 2.0, 2.2, or 2.3 GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7 Processor

586 Questions View all

Options

Can't power up MacBook Pro

Hi all,

I have an early 2011 Unibody MacBook Pro 15", and I can't get it to power up.

I rarely use this machine these days, but keep it plugged in all the time, because it non longer worked on battery power. I tried waking it from sleep today, and when it wouldn't, I tried restarting it– holding the power button down, etc. to no avail. Black screen.

Tried the SMC reset for unibody Macbooks several times. Didn't seem to help. Still wouldn't start up.

I took off the back and unplugged the battery. Still wouldn't start up, with only AC power.

I finally got it to start up, to an extent, by unplugging the Magsafe power plug, holding down the power button for 5 seconds, and putting the Magsafe back in while holding the power button down. That got the fans whirring on high, the screen lit up with the Apple, chimes... Great!

But now it keeps restarting itself in this high-fan mode, and never gets any further than the apple screen before it shuts down and starts the process over again.

I tried resetting the PRAM a couple of times (and got the second chime), but that didn't seem to make a difference.

What else can I try?? Any ideas would be so appreciated!!

Update (01/08/2018)

Hi Joe, I will add that I'd read that the revving of the fans is an expected response when you boot the system in this way– plugging in the AC while the power button is depressed. Don't ask me why, but I guess this is normal behavior for a Mac. I wanted to try it, just to confirm that the thing is still "alive," to some extent.

My point was, it does get this far, and enables the machine to *sort of* start up– I just am not sure what to do from hereon in.

I could try booting from an external drive, but am not sure how I would do this, since pressing the power button with the AC plugged in does nothing. Hmm.

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 0

2 Comments:

@subiej - Hold tight here! Joe is still learning and I want to help guide him a bit here to get you the help you need. Diagnosing remotely is not easy! From what one does in the shop which is a lot different.

by

Ok sounds good. Thanks Dan!

by

Add a comment

1 Answer

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest

Options

I would suggest cleaning out the cooling system and replacing the thermal paste for starters, next I would attempt to boot off of external media. This could be an external drive with a cloned os. Or it could be your install media such as a lion flash drive, etc. If you get one of those to boot then run disk utility and check your disk for errors and such. If none of that works you may be dealing with logic board issues.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 0

14 Comments:

@j0vian - A dead system won't be fixed by cleaning or applying fresh thermal paste.

For the sake of argument lets say the OP does all of this and it didn't change anything what then?

Lets focus on the root issue first. Hint: what is the POST process of a Mac system & why is the fan running at high speed (which has nothing to do with the root issue)?

by

@danj Are you referring to the beep codes,or whether or not it chimes, or ram, or checking to see if there is output to an external display? Im more of a hands on person. Sometimes its easier to do than to explain...

by

This system isn’t getting that far... Susan has given us a few good clues. The system is getting power as the fan is coming on with no beep codes. She is getting a startup screen (Apple logo) but it then reboots.

by

@danj Alright you have my attention: Where do we go from here.

by

I would run the onboard diagnostics holding the D key when the systems is started up. Reference this Apple T/N Mac startup key combinations

by

Show 9 more comments

Add a comment

Add your answer

Susan JOhnson will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 278