E_Louise

Q: Won't start up; charger blinking orange

Came home from work and went to turn on my late-2011 MacBook Pro. It won't start up. Nothing happens (no tone, no motor noise, nothing). When plugged in (MagSafe power charger that came with the unit) the charger unit blinks orange. Tried the charger on my other computer - works just fine. Tried 2 other MagSafe power chargers (from other Macs I own/have owned) and all act the same way with this computer, but work just fine with another Mac.

 

Anyone have any idea what's going on? I have owned Macs since 1988 (over the years I've owned a Macintosh II, Macintosh Performa, Power Mac, Power Book, and another MacBook Pro before this one). I've never had a problem like this one before...HELP!

 

[A side note: There have been NO spills, no tumbles, no falls, nothing to prompt any sort of issues....This was a completely RANDOM "dead" laptop!]

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011)

Posted on Sep 5, 2012 8:03 PM

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Q: Won't start up; charger blinking orange

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  • by Joshua Kapellen,

    Joshua Kapellen Joshua Kapellen Sep 5, 2012 8:13 PM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Sep 5, 2012 8:13 PM in response to E_Louise

    There might be a problem with your battery in the computer. What do the battery level lights show on the side of the computer?

     

    It would also be wise to visually inspect the magsafe receptacle on your computer and see that it's not damaged or plugged up with some foreign object or debris. This could be preventing one of the pogo-pins from making proper contact to enable charging.

     

    =Josh

  • by E_Louise,

    E_Louise E_Louise Sep 5, 2012 8:34 PM in response to Joshua Kapellen
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 5, 2012 8:34 PM in response to Joshua Kapellen

    Thanks for your response. The battery indicator lights are completely dead (not even the first light flashing). I've inspected and used compressed air to clean both the MagSafe charger as well as the receptable on my computer. Neither is damaged or dirty.

     

    What would cause a complete, utter, SUDDEN/unexpected battery "death" in a relatively new (<1 year old) well-taken-care-of MacBook Pro?

  • by Joshua Kapellen,

    Joshua Kapellen Joshua Kapellen Sep 5, 2012 9:32 PM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (25 points)
    Sep 5, 2012 9:32 PM in response to E_Louise

    It could just be your system management controller. Try resetting it using the following procedure:

    Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

    Note: Portable computers that have a battery you should not remove on your own include MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (Late 2009).

    1. Shut down the computer.
    2. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
    3. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
    4. Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
    5. Press the power button to turn on the computer. 
      Note
      : The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

    This was found here:

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

     

    If that doesn't give any love it may actually be a battery problem. The part may just have been defective. Manufacturig isn't perfect, especially when you introduce things like Humans and Fridays. That is why we have warranties.

     

    Hopefully the SMC reset helps!

     

    =Josh

  • by SJKabir,

    SJKabir SJKabir Sep 23, 2012 7:41 AM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 23, 2012 7:41 AM in response to E_Louise

    I am having exactly the same problems that you mentioned. LED blinking orange. No battery indicator lights are working. Resetting the SMC not working. Connecting another magsafe charger not working. But i feel some vibration when I touch the laptop when the Magsafe charger is connected. Seems like the fan is working.

     

    Can anyone help please!

  • by dbartul,Helpful

    dbartul dbartul Jan 14, 2013 7:49 AM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 14, 2013 7:49 AM in response to E_Louise

    Had the same problem with my MacBook Pro 13" (Late 2011), switching adapters didn't work, SMC reset didn't work and I was just about to quit trying and take it to the shop when out of frustration I've unplugged the battery connector and plugged it right back in and that FIXED IT!!

    (note: do not remove the battery since that will void the warranty, just remove the connector)

  • by H4wk_Taka,

    H4wk_Taka H4wk_Taka Jan 16, 2013 4:55 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2013 4:55 AM in response to dbartul

    I had the same problem with my MacBook Pro 17" (Early 2011).

     

    Started to convert a file, all of a sudden the fans start working overtime, next minute, my Mac crashes. The Magsafe Power Charger started to blinking a very vague orange. Looked at the forums and tried to reset the SMC, but that didn't work. So I took the advice of (dbartul) and opened up my MacBook and disconnected the Battery Connector, then plugged it back in. And...voila!!! FIXED.

     

    Don't know why there was a problem? All I know is my MBP works fine now. Thanks (dbartul).

     

    (note: DO NOT REMOVE the Battery as this will VOID your WARRANT. Just remove the connector)

  • by tori8hughes,

    tori8hughes tori8hughes Feb 26, 2013 12:12 PM in response to H4wk_Taka
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2013 12:12 PM in response to H4wk_Taka

    How do you do this?

  • by dbartul,Helpful

    dbartul dbartul Feb 26, 2013 12:19 PM in response to tori8hughes
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 26, 2013 12:19 PM in response to tori8hughes

    there's a little cable going from the battery to the connector on the motherboard (low right corner), you just have to unplug it and plug it right back in.

  • by tori8hughes,

    tori8hughes tori8hughes Feb 26, 2013 12:21 PM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 26, 2013 12:21 PM in response to dbartul

    Do you need a really tiny screwdriver to get the back off then too? I'll try and find one. Thanks!

  • by dbartul,

    dbartul dbartul Feb 26, 2013 12:22 PM in response to tori8hughes
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 26, 2013 12:22 PM in response to tori8hughes

    you have to take the lid off first, of course

  • by jpettijohn,

    jpettijohn jpettijohn Mar 8, 2013 9:54 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2013 9:54 AM in response to dbartul

    Just encountered same issue...MacBook Pro completely died in the middle of working in iTunes...charger faintly flashing orange.   Tried the instructions from dbartul...removed screws from the bottom, removed the lid and gently disconnected battery connector.   Reconnected after a minute or so and back in business!   Thanks dbartul!

  • by Apple MDC,

    Apple MDC Apple MDC Apr 24, 2013 7:43 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2013 7:43 AM in response to dbartul

    Had exactly the same issue.  Thanks dbartul

  • by yajustnick,

    yajustnick yajustnick May 18, 2013 7:21 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 18, 2013 7:21 AM in response to dbartul

    Do you have a picture of which one to unplug?

  • by leocr1384,

    leocr1384 leocr1384 Jun 3, 2013 9:56 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2013 9:56 AM in response to dbartul

    dbartul wrote:

     

    Had the same problem with my MacBook Pro 13" (Late 2011), switching adapters didn't work, SMC reset didn't work and I was just about to quit trying and take it to the shop when out of frustration I've unplugged the battery connector and plugged it right back in and that FIXED IT!!

    (note: do not remove the battery since that will void the warranty, just remove the connector)

    Thanks dbartul, it was loose, maybe with all the moovement everyday, but anyways it woks for me!

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