Macbook not turning on

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Level 1

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Macbook not turning on

My macbook unibody was run till it went flat, watching a movie. A few hours later i went to recharge it, but it doesnt start. The hard drive starts, then parks itself and then starts again, the fan comes on, but thats all. None of the comforting start up noises that I have grown to love, and a black screen. The sleep button comes on and stays on until i force shutdown (and the hard drive makes it clicky noise again)
Any suggestions out there?
Please

mac Book unibody, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Apr 7, 2011 1:35 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 7, 2011 11:38 AM in response to yetineti

Try resetting the SMC:

Resetting the SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own
Note: Portable computers that have a battery you should not remove on your own include MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, and MacBook (Late 2009).

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
3. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
4.Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
5.Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Note: The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

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Answer 2

yetineti Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2011 7:25 PM in response to mberardinelli

Thanks, I had tried that before, and thought I'd give it another go...alas
nothing new

There is definitely power getting in, fan goes and I can hear the HD whirring

Sadly i'm having to use my mother in laws PC to type this, oh the shame

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Answer 3

Apr 8, 2011 4:33 AM in response to yetineti

Try shutting that machine down completely and plug in the AC adapter and just leave it plugged in for a couple of hours until you know it's fully charged and then try booting normally again.

Have you tried anything else yet, like resetting the PRAM or performing a Safe Boot?

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Answer 4

vasili0s

Level 2

280 points

Apr 8, 2011 12:35 PM in response to yetineti

Usually the black screen coupled with the sleep light staying on is indicative (yet not always) of improperly installed RAM, try re-settling the RAM in their dependent slots, and see where it gets you. Course, it may also mean your logic board,cpu and or screen may have taken the plunge as well.

Id definitely go ahead and do the PRAM reset. hold the 'command option+PR' buttons upon powering on your macbook (where you would usually hear the chime)

Alternately, If that fails to achieve any results try the following: Remove power supply unit & battery, hold power button down for AT LEAST 10 SECONDS then hook up the battery and pmu and boot the system holding the above keys (command option+PR)

If all fails Id contact apple so you can at least get an idea on what exactly is wrong and what your best options are thereafter.

Good luck

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Answer 5

Apr 11, 2011 4:34 AM in response to vasili0s

Re-seating the RAM could help, as that does also cause this problem. However, I feel it is a power issue due to the fact that the machine was working fine until it was used to the point of the completely dead battery. Unless the laptop got super hot while in use and super cold after the battery died causing some major chip creep, I don't know that the RAM would have come unseated.

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