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 irunthisbar,

    irunthisbar irunthisbar Dec 29, 2014 1:48 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 29, 2014 1:48 AM in response to dbartul

    You are the man dbartul! Perfect advice! Disonnect...Reconnect...easy as sipping Amaretto! Ever find yourself in Washington D.C., drinks on me bro!

    Cheers!

  • by armisszeal,

    armisszeal armisszeal Jan 16, 2015 9:04 AM in response to anna_lowri
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 16, 2015 9:04 AM in response to anna_lowri

    I also had the issue (Macbook powered down and power cable light blinking orange) happen when plugging in a 3rd party lightning cable for my iPhone 5s while my Macbook Pro was asleep. I heard it instantly power down (whirring slowing from fans).

     

    However, dbartul's fix worked exactly as so many others said. It is tremendously easy compared to other fixes and upgrades I've done (one was replacing the bulb in a Macbook screen...not recommended). First time I opened this MacBook Pro of mine.

     

    When I rebooted and started iTunes again, I plugged the same 3rd party cable and it didn't have the same effect. I'm wondering if its only when the MacBook Pro is asleep or maybe the connector is just fidgety and will randomly cause problems (as others have described). The issue is definitely related to plugging into the USB but I'm not sure its just a 3rd party cable that would do it. It seems there is a safety breaker that trips the system when it tries to manage the power supply to the USB.

     

    My advice would be to only use 3rd party cables for charging and use the original Apple cable to connect to the MacBook. Unless someone has other advice or evidence that its only when the Macbook is asleep?

  • by Grossergon,

    Grossergon Grossergon Jan 19, 2015 10:42 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2015 10:42 AM in response to dbartul

    Had the problem today and solved it thank's to your advice - a very big THANK YOU!

  • by spudnuty,

    spudnuty spudnuty Jan 19, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Grossergon
    Level 5 (7,097 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 19, 2015 10:55 AM in response to Grossergon

    Good to know that dbartul's advice still continues to work.

    This is the same thing as an SMC reset when you could remove the battery which has been quite a while. Apparently the keyboard reset is not quite the same thing.

  • by Noori1313,

    Noori1313 Noori1313 Jan 25, 2015 3:18 PM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2015 3:18 PM in response to E_Louise

    thanks dbartul, worked like a charm. weird as the connection wasn't loose or faulty in anyway. you saved me a massive hassle!

  • by fernandomac,

    fernandomac fernandomac Feb 22, 2015 10:26 AM in response to leocr1384
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2015 10:26 AM in response to leocr1384

    I had the issue, macbook pro suddenly dead, battery check lights dead, won't start up, and the megasafe charge had a dim green light. I was veru worry, i google and found this post. I opn the back, unplug the connector of the battery , plug it back and SOLVED, and Macbook back to life. Open the back is easy , and so to find the connector, but for any who fill scare to do it , ifixit have great guides.

     

    here is teh Link to the guide for the battery connector.

     

    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Early+2011+Battery+Repl acement/5116

     

    THANKS a lot for your help to sort the problem

    F.

  • by spudnuty,

    spudnuty spudnuty Feb 22, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Noori1313
    Level 5 (7,097 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 22, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Noori1313

    I also just had an issue w/ a early 2010 MBP 13" that had sleep problems. It would wake up from sleep after much prompting, sometimes it wouldn't wake at all. Once it was awake it would go back to sleep after only a few seconds and be difficult to wake again.

    So naturally I'm thinking SMC right? Actually I was also thinking battery. Anyway standard SMC reset had no affect so I did my "hard SMC reset": disconnect the battery, let it sit for a few minutes and push the power button. In this case I actually swapped in another batter, started it up and problem gone! Put in the old battery and problem gone. I'm still suspicious of that old battery tho'!

  • by Jajanini,

    Jajanini Jajanini Feb 27, 2015 2:18 AM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 27, 2015 2:18 AM in response to E_Louise

    I Had the same issue and tried to fix it now. My macbook pro is now working for i have followed the instructions correctly. But then i had another problem, my keyboard is not working ever since my macbook worked. Please help.. What can i do?

  • by tt9498,

    tt9498 tt9498 Apr 1, 2015 12:10 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2015 12:10 AM in response to dbartul

    Thank you dbartul & Fiachrag, with your teaching, my son's Macbook Pro works again!!! You help me to save time and money, thank you thank you very much!!!

  • by DrDoug85,

    DrDoug85 DrDoug85 Apr 5, 2015 7:55 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 5, 2015 7:55 AM in response to dbartul

    Thanks from Brazil, save my presentation. thanks a lot

  • by bamabetz1,

    bamabetz1 bamabetz1 Apr 6, 2015 4:45 AM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 6, 2015 4:45 AM in response to E_Louise

    Have a Early 2011 MBP. Laptop was dead when I came home. Tried SMC reset, tried disconnecting battery and neither work. Has newer OEM battery and have tried two different charging cables. Is it possible that the MagSafe DC-In Board adapter is damaged or not working properly?

  • by itscalebheyy ,

    itscalebheyy itscalebheyy Apr 13, 2015 6:10 PM in response to bamabetz1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 13, 2015 6:10 PM in response to bamabetz1

    I don't know how much I can help you, but I've realized that most of the time, the battery fix only works when the charger is blinking when you plug it in. Check if yours does blink. It might be hard to see so you might want to cup your hands over. And if the charger isn't blinking that could be the reason. Maybe.

  • by spudnuty,

    spudnuty spudnuty Apr 13, 2015 7:01 PM in response to bamabetz1
    Level 5 (7,097 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 13, 2015 7:01 PM in response to bamabetz1

    "Is it possible that the MagSafe DC-In Board adapter is damaged or not working properly?"

    Yes this can happen but it's rare usually it's the battery itself. Did you try a start w/o the battery connected?

  • by Fozzie01,

    Fozzie01 Fozzie01 Apr 14, 2015 8:03 AM in response to dbartul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2015 8:03 AM in response to dbartul

    Thanks a million.  This saved me a million headaches and a trip to the not so genius bar, which surely would have led to more headaches, more cost and more time without my computer!

  • by bamabetz1,

    bamabetz1 bamabetz1 Apr 14, 2015 10:22 AM in response to E_Louise
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 14, 2015 10:22 AM in response to E_Louise

    The solution that worked for me was leaving it unplugged overnight.

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