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Model A1502 / 2.4, 2.6, or 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel processor / Released October 2013

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MacBook Pro (2013) black screen on boot - please help

Hey all,

I have this old MacBook Pro from 2013 that I use pretty much for a video playing device at this point.

However suddenly on boot it has gone black and nothing happens.

It does the bootup sound and after a while the screen is blacklit but still displaying nothing.

I have tried various methods of key combinations for booting, check in the hardware to see if there are any issues.

I've followed this guide also on the hardware side but that has not changed a bit either: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKejJwQ3...

At this point I am at a loss what I could still do. The computer seems functional but I can't get it to show anything sadly.

Do you have any recommendations what I can do here?

P.S. I'll add some pictures though not sure how helpful they are. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1...

Answer this question I have this problem too

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OK, there’s a lot of mis-information in the YouTube vid.

Let’s start off on how to do the startup options. Review this Apple doc Mac startup key combinations as we can see the keys only work just after powering the system. Holding the power button doesn’t help here. Give them a try I don’t think it will help here.

The needed test is plugging in an external display to see if the systems graphics is still working. If it is the issue is your displays T-CON logic which is part of the display.

If the external display fails to work, that points to a failed CPU as the graphics is part of it. Which will require a new logic board.

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Hey Dan,

Good call. I've plugged the device into a monitor and while it started out good. The Apple logo and progress bar was visible and moving (here is a pic):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vcSn6rq...

Before the progress bar went all the way the screen turned black and we had the same blacklighting coming on the laptop's screen:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jl5anL3...

So I don't know what to think. The computer seems to start booting, and the systems graphics might not work but it still can't finish the boot sequence, so I assume it's not just a screen issue.

by

@balintsipos - Sadly this is not that uncommon!

Checkout Step-11 in this MacBook Pro 13" Retina Display Late 2013 Teardown here you can see what the heat sink covers. I’m suspected your dies which are adhered to the green substrate are showing damage from excessive heat.

Time for a new logic board or I would recommend looking for a newer used system.

Sorry for the bad news. Don’t forget to score the answer and accept it - Thanks.

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Hey Dan,

I went through the startup combinations and I've managed to do a boot-up in safe mode only and with screen mirroring.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1inZJOcU...

Here are some details on the system:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rLQEtaw...

I managed to do a startup with Apple Diagnostics - but it wasn't really helpful:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mLZLLWl...

So I am still a bit confused on what's wrong.

Safe mode works so is the logic board wrong here?

It still doesn't boot in non-safe mode and I still can't see anything on the laptop screen.

Is there anything I can do from safe mode?

Any closer idea what's going on?

by

@balintsipos - It looks like you are able to get the external to work, not the internal is that correct?

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@dan - Yes, correct. But it only works in Safe mode.

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Bálint Sipos will be eternally grateful.
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