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Late 2011 model, A1278 / 2.4 GHz i5 or 2.8 GHz i7 processor.

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Stuck apple logo with full loading bar - no safe/recovery mode

I know this issue has been brought up a lot but unfortunately I am still unable to find a fix for it.

My MacBook was working fine yesterday then froze while I was typing on it. After a while I opted for the on/off approach to be met by the Apple logo and the progress bar which fills to 100% yet then progresses no further in the start up.

I have tried the following in an effort to sort it:

  • Reset the SMC
  • Reset the NVRAM
  • Tried starting in safe mode
  • Tried starting in recovery mode

Every attempt I make has the start process differ ever so slightly (in terms of length of time for Apple logo to appear/number of chimes etc as expected) only to find myself back at the Apple logo with the progress bar filling back to 100% at differing rates and getting stuck. On trying recovery mode I left it loading over night and still the luck.

I have not installed any new software I'm aware of recently nor made any other changes to the laptop.

Unfortunately I'm currently out the country with work and will be for the foreseeable so I'm unable to go to an Apple Store with the problem. Any assistance provided with this issue will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Update (05/18/2018)

I've managed to get the hardware test run and found the following fault: error 4MEM/ 9/ 4000000: 0x84c35a18.

Is this an issue with the RAM? I updated this years ago but have never had any issues with it until now.

Thanks

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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Carefully remove one RAM module to see if you can either identify a bad module or if the RAM slot is bad. If the system still fails with the module in that slot move the module to the other slot, then try the other module in the same manor until you've tried all four possible options. Did that solve it?

Here's a bit more on beep codes that too might offer a clue: About Mac startup tones

You may also have a bad HD drive cable. Both of the unibody systems (13" & 15") tend to abrade the cable on the rough surface of the aluminum uppercase where it rests when carried over time. The movement is what does you in.

For now carefully remove the drive and clean the cable with some isopropyl alcohol then place some electricians tape on the uppercase when the cable rests. Here's the IFIXIT guide to replace it: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Cable Replacement and here is the newer better cable to use: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable once you get back.

Update (05/19/2018)

At this point I think you'll need to find a fresh set of modules to see if that works. If not any better (as far as the beep error code) your logic board memory address lines (high bank) to the PCH (or the PCH its self) has a problem.

Unlike the 15" models yours uses the onboard graphics engine alone (doesn't have a dedicated GPU's RAM). So we can't blame the dedicated GPU for failing here.

Given the fact you are getting stuck during the boot process, aims me to the logic board having a problem.

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable Image

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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody (Mid 2012) Hard Drive Cable

$34.99

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Ok so I have had a play with the RAM and while I got 3 beeps on one RAM I'm one slot after removing and refitting it seemed to boot up in all 4 combinations. Unfortunately I still can't get back the apple logo and full progress bar however.

I have done a test on the RAM individually and while I got the error when both were checked together when tested individually they both passes with no trouble found in the results.

With regards to the HD drive cable I don't have any isopropyl alcohol unfortunately yet I disconnected it all and reconnected and gave it a wipe down on the exterior cable (which looks to be in a reasonable condition, does it generally look degraded?) and unfortunately still no joy with booting up the laptop.

Sadly starting to run out of ideas. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Regards

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Thank you for the updates. Until I get home I will unfortunately be unable to swap out the RAM. I have managed to get internet recovery to work. Repairing the drives has unfortunately provided nothing with it stating they are ok. I have then tried to reinstall the OS yet unfortunately when I get as far as selecting the disk to install there are none to select from. I googled this and it suggests erasing the disk in disk utility first yet sadly there is no option for this. Just partition or repair. I am now wondering if it is the hard drive or back to the cable as was suggested earlier.

Disk utility shows OS X base system under disk images (this one I can only first aid or partition). If I look at all drives I can then see internal is Samsung SSD 850 evo with container disk2 below that. I can erase this yet I am not sure if it will help in anyway to erase all the HD.

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try the ram to see if any is faulty

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