Macbook Pro Slow to boot

Question

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Macbook Pro Slow to boot

Hi

I have a Macbook Pro 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo with 2GB RAM. The problem exists with both OSX 10.5 and 10.6.

Basically the computer is very slow to start typically 6 minutes plus form Apple logo to login screen. However if I insert a firewire cable into the port we have normal instant start usually straight to login.
I've run the diagnostics both supplied and downloaded - no reported problems.
I've repaired permissions.
I've disabled firewire and reinstalled.
I've done a clean install without installing any 3rd party apps for both Leopard and SL.
There are no peripherals attached.

And now I'm really fed up with it. I'm beginning to think the logic board is faulty although if that is the case what is the point of running diagnostics?

Please any one have any ideas what to do next.

Thanks

Macbook Pro 2.33 GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 28, 2010 10:41 AM

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Answer 1

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 28, 2010 12:38 PM in response to AFC 1998

Hi AFC,

AFC 1998 wrote:
Basically the computer is very slow to start typically 6 minutes plus form Apple logo to login screen. However if I insert a firewire cable into the port we have normal instant start usually straight to login.

Just so I'm clear, you connect just a FireWire cable, with nothing attached to it on the other end, and the MBP starts normally every time?

I've never heard of that, but try a PRAM reset and an SMC reset.

I'm beginning to think the logic board is faulty

It may well be. If a fresh OS install doesn't work, nor the PRAM or SMC reset, and if the RAM is known good, then it sounds like a bad LB (the FW port is built in to the LB). If that's the case, and you don't have AppleCare coverage, and you don't want to spend a lot to repair it, you may wish to run with that empty FW cable attached?

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Answer 2

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2010 1:06 PM in response to tjk

Hi

Many thanks for your time.

I've done the PRAM and SMC resets no joy. I don't have to keep the firewire cable in it just simply helps the laptop finish booting. I think it gets it past a POST issue where the computer searches for ports and eventually gives up and then boots. It is very frustrating.

Peter

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Answer 3

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 28, 2010 1:09 PM in response to AFC 1998

This is a strange one. If you've done fresh from scratch installs, this shouldn't be an issue, but go into Sys Prefs, Startup Disk and make sure your internal HD is selected.

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Answer 4

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2010 1:54 PM in response to tjk

Hi yes the internal is selected OK.

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Answer 5

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2010 2:41 PM in response to AFC 1998

I should add that the firewire cable trick is necessary to wake the laptop from sleep too!

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Answer 6

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 28, 2010 2:48 PM in response to AFC 1998

AFC 1998 wrote:
I should add that the firewire cable trick is necessary to wake the laptop from sleep too!

Very strange indeed. With a completely fresh/proper OS install, it has to be hardware related. If the RAM is known good, then it's the LB. If you feel like playing around a bit, you could remove one RAM module, try booting, move that module to the other slot, try again, and repeat with the second module. If this is not the original RAM, try it with the original RAM.

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Answer 7

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2010 2:52 PM in response to tjk

Hi tjk

Thanks for that I'll try it in the morning (getting a little late here) I'll let you know.

And again many thanks for your help.

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Answer 8

CMCSK

Level 6

11,452 points

Jul 28, 2010 2:52 PM in response to AFC 1998

Basically the computer is very slow to start typically 6 minutes plus form Apple logo to login screen.

Check your login items in system preferences.

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Answer 9

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 28, 2010 3:03 PM in response to AFC 1998

Should be interesting. 😉 Hope it works.

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Answer 10

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 28, 2010 11:44 PM in response to tjk

Not to start another thread but I unchecked all the log in options and lo and behold they still start at login. Do they have to be dragged to the trash to disable them? Seems a bit drastic!

On the memory side I've shuffled the two chips and tried different slot/chip combos. The odd thing is firewire trick doesn't work as well with only 1Gb of RAM installed. The only way to move on was to hold the power button to restart a couple of times. I don't need Firewire any more these days and I feel there must be a way to remove the Firewire port from the start process. At least this would confirm the port as the culprit.

Again thanks for your help

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Answer 11

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 29, 2010 12:10 AM in response to AFC 1998

After posting my last thread I found this - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1805732
I nervously removed IOFireWireFamily.kext and normal service is back. The computer wakes from sleep and boots normally. I assume I have no firewire at this point but I can live with that although when I get the time I'll book a slot at Apple and see what they say about "inherent" fault, not a lot I suspect.

I will play with the firewire later just to see.

Thanks

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Answer 12

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 29, 2010 12:22 AM in response to AFC 1998

AFC 1998 wrote:
Not to start another thread but I unchecked all the log in options and lo and behold they still start at login. Do they have to be dragged to the trash to disable them? Seems a bit drastic!

Click on the item to select it, then click on the minus sign and it will be deleted.

On the memory side I've shuffled the two chips and tried different slot/chip combos. The odd thing is firewire trick doesn't work as well with only 1Gb of RAM installed. The only way to move on was to hold the power button to restart a couple of times. I don't need Firewire any more these days and I feel there must be a way to remove the Firewire port from the start process. At least this would confirm the port as the culprit.

Unfortunately, with the FW port integrated into the LB, there really is no standard "fix" but to replace the LB.

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Answer 13

tjk

Level 9

51,116 points

Jul 29, 2010 12:22 AM in response to AFC 1998

AFC 1998 wrote:
After posting my last thread I found this - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1805732

Wow, nice find! I had not heard of that. If one can do without FW or with an Express Card like the one mentioned in the thread you linked, I guess that's a viable work-around. Now I'm wondering how much other hardware can be circumvented via similar means. 😉

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Answer 14

AFC 1998 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 29, 2010 6:26 AM in response to tjk

Yes it makes you wonder what the impact if any, would be on battery life or overall speed if you could disable things you didn't need. An experiment for another day I think. Right I'll now mark this question as "answered", again thanks for your help. It is amazing how going through the process with someone else even if they don't know the answer can lead you in the right direction. I should have done it sooner!

Cheers

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