Walt

Q: After upgrade to Sierra only white screen, does not proceed further. The MacBook Pro is useless.

I Upgraded to Sierra and after install, shut down the MacBook Pro for the night. When I tried to use the computer the next morning, I got only a blank white screen. The computer never advanced to any other screen, not even panic screen. Anyone ever see this? What to do to correct?

 

Cordially,

WaltO

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Sep 26, 2016 12:52 PM

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Q: After upgrade to Sierra only white screen, does not proceed further. The MacBook Pro is useless.

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  • by Starr.C,

    Starr.C Starr.C Sep 27, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Walt
    Community Specialists
    Sep 27, 2016 3:45 PM in response to Walt
    Hi there, Walt!


    Thanks for reaching out via the Apple Support Communities. If I'm understanding, your MacBook Pro is not booting as expected after installing macOS Sierra; it just goes to a white screen. I use my own Mac every day, so I know it's important for it to boot. I'd be happy to help!


    I have some troubleshooting I can recommend; please try the following steps, in order. Test whether the computer boots after each step, stopping when the issue is resolved. 
     
    1. Reset the NVRAM, following the steps here: How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac
       
    2. Boot into safe mode, as instructed in this article: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up
       
    3. Use Disk Utility to check for errors and repair your disk. This article will explain how: Disk Utility for Mac: Repair a disk using Disk Utility

    Cheers!
  • by Walt,

    Walt Walt Sep 27, 2016 8:16 PM in response to Starr.C
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 8:16 PM in response to Starr.C

    I Attempted to reset theNVPRAM. I started the MacBook Pro and at the chime pressed the command, option, P, and R keys. Nothing at all happened. After about 3 - 4 minutes, I presses the power key for about 10 seconds. Then I restarted the MacBook Pro and at t he chime pressed the shift key. Again nothing at all happened. Again I forced the MacBook Pro to shut down. Then I inserted the install disc and at the chime when I started the MacBook Pro I pressed the command and R keys. Once again, nothing happened. This is where I am. I cannot get the disc drive to eject the install disc. What next?

  • by Lindsay_B.,

    Lindsay_B. Lindsay_B. Sep 28, 2016 9:40 AM in response to Walt
    Community Specialists
    Sep 28, 2016 9:40 AM in response to Walt
    Hey there, Walt! Thanks for the update.


    Since you're not seeing any results from the steps provided above, I would suggest reaching out to Apple Support directly. An Advisor can walk you through some additional troubleshooting and help further diagnose what's going on. You can get in touch with them here: Contact Apple Support


    Have a great day!
  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 28, 2016 9:47 AM in response to Walt
    Level 6 (12,436 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 9:47 AM in response to Walt

    You may have missed the right timing for the reset NVRAM.

    Hold down command-option-P-R IMMEDIATELY after pressing power, or even before that if you can.

     

    The moment you hear the chime you've probably missed the "train" already.

  • by Walt,

    Walt Walt Sep 28, 2016 7:39 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 7:39 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    I attempted to repeat the original tips but executing them prior to the occurrence of the chime. After pressing the power button and before the chime I pressed the command, option, P and R keys and held them for 3 minutes. As before nothing happened.

    I restarted the MacBook Pro and before the chime pressed command and shift keys and held them for 3 minutes. Again, nothing happened.

    Since the install disc is still in the DVD reader, I restarted the MacBook Pro and before the chime held down the command and R keys or 3 minutes. Once again nothing happened. Any other thoughts? Tomorrow morning I will try contacting Apple Support.

    Thanks for the help and suggestions.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM in response to Walt
    Level 6 (12,436 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 12:00 AM in response to Walt

    Something is definitely not right. Resetting NVRAM should have given you the chime after a few seconds, not minutes.

    Is this a MBP as it says in your profile? Using the built-in keyboard? If it is a Bluetooth keyboard there is always the doubt if the system is "seeing" the keyboard soon enough for those keys to take effect. (In my iMac, I can reset NVRAM if I restart, but was unable to do it from a cold start - presumably because the system was not seeing the BT keyboard in that situation).

  • by Walt,

    Walt Walt Sep 29, 2016 8:13 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 8:13 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    I Will try to clarify. I pressed the power key. Before the chime occurred, I pressed and held the command, option, P and R keys. The chime occurred as usual at a few seconds, but I continued to hold the keys in for 3 minutes. As I indicated, nothing happened. I am using a MacBook Pro 6,2 mid 2010 with built-in keyboard. The computer never passes the white screen phase.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 29, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Walt
    Level 6 (12,436 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Walt

    Thank you for the clarification.

    By keeping the keys down, the normal response of the system should have been to chime, and then chime again, and again every few seconds until you let go of the keys.

    It seems that this is not what you are seeing, so I am suspecting the chime you hear does NOT indicate the NVRAM reset, but it is proceeding to the normal boot process, which is failing.

     

    You may try yet another thing, that is to reset the SMC (system management controller), then try again the reset NVRAM and see if something has changed. If not, then you may have to take the machine to an Apple store or authorized repair shop and let them take a look at it.

     

    The procedure to reset the SMC varies with the model, but they are all described in this page:

    Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Walt,

    Walt Walt Sep 29, 2016 2:35 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 2:35 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    I read the article and executed the SMC reset sequence. Nothing seemed to have happened. I then reset the NVRAM and again nothing happened. I repeated the sequence a second time in case I was insufficiently synchronous in the key presses. Again nothing. I have insufficient time to contact apple now, so l will try tomorrow. Any other thoughts? Thank you for your thoughts and considerations.

  • by Walt,

    Walt Walt Oct 1, 2016 12:28 PM in response to Lindsay_B.
    Level 1 (43 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 12:28 PM in response to Lindsay_B.

    Lindsay.

     

    Thanks for the suggestion. I contacted the Apple Support folks and we executed a safe boot sequence and a recovery boot sequence. Since both failed, I was referred to the Genius Bar at the local Apple Store. I took the MacBook Pro by itself and the technician linked it to the Apple network by ethernet. He entered a few commands on his tablet to see the software systems I had resident. Then suddenly, the MacBook Pro came to life and all my systems were up and running. He checked out all systems, shutdown, start-up, sleep, wake, etc. Conclusion: everything now working, not sure why. Come back if it recurs.

     

    So I returned home, restarted the computer, re-attached the external drives I use for specific memory, and caught up on much of my needed work. Then I noted that the documents and downloads were no longer in the folders expected. The time machine had made two backup changes so I would have to get a backup from before the systems crash. I attempted to do this but when the computer restarted it froze in the white screen after the stars chime. The problem was back. Then I realized that the difference was the addition of the external drives. I unplugged them and lo! and behold! the computer restarted but did not have the desired backup in the HD. So it seems that the problem is that at least my download version of Sierra does not boot up if usb or firewire linked drives are attached. Have you or anyone else heard of this problem? Also, if this is the case then how will I be able to get my desired configuration reinstalled on my HD since my TimeMachine backup is on an external HD?