MacBook pro switches off during startup

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MacBook pro switches off during startup

My MacBook crashed yesterday during startup. My hunch is an ssd failure but I want to double check the symptoms here first. Super nervous and am hoping to save the device. Not really the time to be splurging on a new MacBook pro.

To start: this is a 2011 MacBook pro 13 inch. The original hard disk failed in 2017. I replaced it myself which failed again and then replaced that with a Samsung ssd 500gb in 2018.

Symptoms

Opened laptop from sleep, password entered and then froze at login screen. Manual power off via power button. Switch on to white screen. Manual power off and start again to an extremely slow apple logo and loading bar. Then switches of by itself. Totally dead. This repeats twice and then the Apple logo and loading bar starts loading normally till it gets half way then self switch off.

Tried safe mode but essentially same response. It kills itself.

Tried recovery mode but it went straight to internet recovery. The globe was spinning at first but then froze within seconds. Fans started blazing and after 20 minutes I manually powered off via holding power button.

When I started MacBook again; Prohibitive symbol appeared instead off apple logo. Then apple logo and loading bar. Then prohibiting symbol again. After 20 minutes I manually powered off.

Switched on again and this time straight to prohibiting symbol.

Tried recovery mode and again globe stopped spinning so I manually turned off.

Thoughts:

I feel like the ssd failed and I need to buy new one. However I want to make sure everything else is fine otherwise it's just a wasted money on a new ssd.

I think the power is fine because even though it crashed and switches off, it was also capable of running for 20 minutes during the internet recovery.

I also think I am now wiping the ssd by doing internet recovery hence the prohibiting symbol. I don't want to try that again and do further damage.

My question is: is the RAM fine? Do the symptoms only point to ssd? Are there any other issues here?

Also note: I have a somewhat recent backup that I can restore to a new ssd like before. But I don't want to wipe anymore of this ssd.

The condition otherwise I'd pretty good. I've taken good care. No liquid damage that I know off. I feel the device is good and strong for a couple years more. Any advice and opinions is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Oct 17, 2020 3:30 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

155,684 points

Oct 17, 2020 10:37 AM in response to hapsap

Try forcing the Internet version of Apple Diagnostics to load by pressing and holding option d at startup. Otherwise it will attempt to load AD from the Mac's internal storage, which doesn't appear to be working.

Do yourself a favor and throw out that Samdung SSD. They are junk. Purchase a replacement from a manufacturer known to support Macs.

Replace its cable also, as Grant Bennet-Alder recommended as a preventative measure.

If that Mac's RAM did not pass POST then the Mac would let you know: About Mac startup tones - Apple Support. It wouldn't even get as far as the white screen, let alone the "spinning globe" icon. That tells you it cannot load an operating system: if your Mac can't start up from macOS Recovery.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

155,684 points

Oct 17, 2020 5:26 AM in response to hapsap

You might try Apple Diagnostics: Diagnose problems with your Mac - Apple Support. If the MBA's RAM is failed it might conclusively identify it as the cause. However, it might be faulty and pass AD anyway.

Do the symptoms only point to ssd?

Although the symptoms you describe are consistent with that suspicion a conclusive determination is not possible. Samsung SSDs are cheap junk and typically fail in the manner you describe.

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Answer 3

Oct 17, 2020 7:22 AM in response to hapsap

Bad RAM usually fails during the Power-On Self Test, or kernel panics while running is a weird not-repeatable way I refer to as a NON-Trend -- dies for all different reasons, all over the Map.

If you want to substitute a new Boot Drive such as an SSD, get one ≥ 500 GB. Smaller drives can be VERY slow.

Sometimes the old drive cable is not good enough for the new fast drive.

If you can place it in an external enclosure while installing and setting up, or buy a new drive cable at the same time, you will not get caught by the overwhelming complexity of a new Drive AND not booting up after a new Install.

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Answer 4

Oct 17, 2020 4:17 AM in response to hapsap

Are you able to boot from your backup, which would then allow you to run Disk Utility, or other recovery software? (I use SuperDuper, which can create a bootable backup on an external drive). It does sound like a disk problem to me, which is unfortunate, being only two years old....

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Answer 5

Oct 17, 2020 8:16 AM in response to hapsap

The risk is that if it does not work, the complexity is overwhelming and debugging becomes impossible.

That is why you want to install OUTSIDE in an external enclosure, get it working perfectly, THEN do the surgery --OR-- just replace the drive cable as "preventive maintenance".

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

155,684 points

Oct 18, 2020 11:15 AM in response to hapsap

OWC has installation videos on their website so you can decide for yourself whether you want to do it. It's a fairly simple procedure. Personally I've never had that cable fail; I have only heard anecdotal reports about it. It's inexpensive enough to have on hand if you decide you want to replace it.

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Answer 7

hapsap Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 17, 2020 5:59 AM in response to John Galt

Hey. Thanks for your reply. I tried apple diagnostics just now by holding d in startup but after a long white screen it just goes to internet recovery. Everything seems to just lead to internet recovery now, does this new information tell us anything new?

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Answer 8

hapsap Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 17, 2020 7:14 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

thank you so much for the detailed response. I can't tell you much I appreciate all the help right now, really stressed with this! So the MacBook going to internet recovery, does that mean we can say the RAM is fine? My worry is swapping the ssd myself and when I restore from my only back up and something else being wrong with the device corrupts my back up too .

My current thinking is buy and swap new ssd tomorrow. Load a new macos and see if the device works like normal and then figure out a way to wipe the drive and restore from my backup now that I know the machine functions fine. What do you think?

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Answer 9

hapsap Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 17, 2020 8:25 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I'm not sure I follow. What do you mean debugging becomes impossible. I thought it's currently impossible anyway. And instead of the Samsung 860evo I was thinking to get the 850evo which worked for two years with the old cable. Or do mean the ssd right now could be fine but it's the cable that's ruined? Thanks again for your help, it's been very helpful.

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Answer 10

hapsap Author

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5 points

Oct 17, 2020 8:52 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Ah ok. In that case what if i just swap out the ssds. If I still have issues that would mean it's the cable, right? Because we know setting up a brand new ssd in an enclosure will definitely work. But then if i install it into the MacBook and it doesn't work it should be the cable at fault. So rather than restoring everything to the ssd first from an enclosure, wouldn't it be better just to do the surgery straight away and see if it works then spend the time to restore everything. Of course the argument here is a dodgy cable could backfire and corrupt my back up too right?

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Answer 11

hapsap Author

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5 points

Oct 17, 2020 10:59 AM in response to John Galt

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried command and d by accident and it loaded the apple.logo and the loading bar made it all the way before crashing and switching off. Last half took many minutes.

Then tried option d and it went to internet recovery.

So I take it RAM is good so hopefully if I replace the ssd and boot from my backup there won't be any risk to the backup disc right?

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Answer 12

hapsap Author

Level 1

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Oct 17, 2020 1:14 PM in response to hapsap

Also another question I have if anyone knows: if I replace just the ssd and not the cable. When I do the time machine restore is there any chance the backup disk will get corrupted? Be it from a dodgy cable or otherwise?

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Answer 13

hapsap Author

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Oct 17, 2020 7:50 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Ah ok. My current and new ssd would be 500gb. Are there any risks to my backup disk by swapping ssd in the current situation?

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Answer 14

hapsap Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 17, 2020 9:31 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Why only if it works? what do I lose by doing the surgery first. Thank you for being patient and ranking the time to explain all of this. It's immensely helpful.

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Answer 15

John Galt

Level 10

155,684 points

Oct 17, 2020 1:41 PM in response to hapsap

Restoring a Time Machine backup does not affect the backup.

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MacBook pro switches off during startup

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