Macbook Pro stuck at startup screen

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Macbook Pro stuck at startup screen

My macbook pro keeps getting stuck at the startup screen. I tried booting into safe mode which didnt work. I tried booting it with the install disc in while holding down 'c' but that doesnt seem to work either. Im not exactly sure how long to hold down 'c' though. If I start up holding 'c' until the apple comes up on the bluish gray screen it ejects the install disc and the wheel starts spinning. If I let go too early it goes into the install mac os x process which I dont think I want either.

any ideas?

EDIT: now it just ejects the disc no matter how long i hold down c for
EDIT2: it just flashed with a folder with a question mark on it for a few seconds before ejecting the disc and trying to boot up

Message was edited by: Johnny Mix

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jul 31, 2010 3:31 PM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

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Jul 31, 2010 3:36 PM in response to Johnny Mix

Welcome to Apple Discussions 🙂

Sadly it sounds like a problem with the logic board, you've tried the two things I'd suggest; the only other thing that might be worth a shot is doing a Parameter RAM reset - hold down command/option/p/r keys at start up and wait for three chimes before releasing the keys.

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Answer 2

Johnny Mix Author

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Jul 31, 2010 3:42 PM in response to iVmichael

thanks i tried that but now its back to the loading screen doing nothing. not sure if you saw my edits but it flashed a folder with a '?' on it momentarily before trying to boot up again.

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Answer 3

iVmichael

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13,740 points

Jul 31, 2010 4:18 PM in response to Johnny Mix

You're certain you're using the Install DVD that came with it ?

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Answer 4

Johnny Mix Author

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Jul 31, 2010 4:33 PM in response to iVmichael

yeah. i bought the computer in july of 2007 if that makes any difference. there are two disks and ive been using disk 1 which has instructions for booting from the disk and instructions for doing an apple hardware test printed on it. not sure what disk 2 does.

i also tried holding alt at bootup and that ejected the disk as well and just showed a picture of my hard drive, which i clicked on and got stuck at the startup screen again.

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Answer 5

Jul 31, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Johnny Mix

Instead of holding down c, hold down either Option or D. If Option you will see your hard drive. Don't click it. Ensure that your disk is in the drive before you turn on the computer. If this does not work, call apple care or go to an apple store. They will help.

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Answer 6

iVmichael

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13,740 points

Jul 31, 2010 4:57 PM in response to Johnny Mix

I think you've tried all you can, best contact Apple and get a technician to take a look 😟

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Answer 7

Johnny Mix Author

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Jul 31, 2010 5:00 PM in response to iVmichael

just realized that it came with tiger installed on it and i upgraded it to leopard. should i be using the leopard install disk instead?

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Answer 8

Johnny Mix Author

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Jul 31, 2010 5:13 PM in response to Community User

option caused it to eject as well. i tried holding option/alt and 'c' with the leopard disk too and that just got ejected as well

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Answer 9

iVmichael

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Jul 31, 2010 5:15 PM in response to Johnny Mix

Dang, I think you've exhausted all the options I'm afraid.

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Answer 10

Johnny Mix Author

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Jul 31, 2010 5:18 PM in response to iVmichael

well thanks for all your help. i'm going to contact apple and bring it into a technician. should i run the apple hardware test to see if the hard drive is bad first?

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